Features of the budget
By Russian standards, especially considering the current exchange rate, Austria is hard to call the most inexpensive place to live, although in recent times the local prices were quite reasonable for the Russians with average income. But for many Europeans, Austria remains an attractive destination for a comfortable and secure life, but also for shopping and buying food. Plus, the cost of real estate in the country far away, for example, to great Britain and France: here, you can still purchase homes for a reasonable budget, and it will steadily increase in price.
The highest cost of living, along with its corresponding quality, for foreigners in Vienna, the Austrian capital. Though here everything is relative. So, foreigners from Britain and France found life in Austria is relatively cheap, while for citizens of Netherlands, Spain or Russia the prices in Austria are higher than in their home countries.
To ensure equal levels of comfort and consideration of rental housing in the Russian and Austrian capitals, in Moscow will require a budget of €1350, and in Vienna €1640. Given that the average salary in Austria after tax is less than €2000, about one-third of income is spent on housing.
Of course, the cost of living varies depending on location (lives in the city center are always more expensive than rural areas) and personal preferences – a factor which critically may affect the state of the Bank account.
The main items of expenditure real estate (housing prices in Austria aspire to astronomical indicators) and teaching children in international schools; from the family budget allocated to food, the lion's share will be spent on the purchase of fresh winter vegetables and fruits.
Food prices
The cost of food in Austria is one of the highest in Europe. To minimize costs, buying products in chain stores, and cooking and eating at home is the best alternative for those who need to save the family budget. The most affordable network supermarket Penny Markt and Zielpunkt, and the more upscale and correspondingly expensive – Gourmet Spar and Merkur. On the other hand, in Austria quite cheap alcohol. So, a bottle of table wine can be purchased for €2, and a can of beer in supermarket – €0,8.
The average cost of a basic food basket as follows:
- Milk (1 liter) – €1,04
- Loaf of fresh white bread – €1,54
- Rice (1 kg) – €1,68
- Eggs (12 pieces) – €3,11
- Local cheese (1 kg) – €9,76
- Chicken fillet (1 kg) – €8,5
- Fruit (apples, oranges) – €2,0-2,3
- Vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes) – €1,6-2,5
- Drinking bottled water (1.5 l) – €0,67
- Bottle of wine – €5
- Local beer (0,5 l) – €0,93
- Imported beer (0,33 l) – €1,2
- A pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) – €4,8
Lunch in a cheap restaurant or fast food like McDonald's will cost €7-€9 and dinner for two consisting of three courses, the restaurant mid-range costs about €40. For local or imported beer in a restaurant will have to pay around €3,5.
Clothing, entertainment, communications
Levi's jeans can be purchased for €77, summer dress for €35, and men's shoes or a pair of Nike sneakers will cost €80-€100.
For the subscription in fitness-club have to pay about €32, - hour tennis court hire cost €15, and one ticket to the cinema costs €9,8.
1 minute call on a mobile phone in Austria is estimated at €0,07, and a month of unlimited Internet (speed of 10 Mbps) the national average cost of 20 euros.
Rent and maintaining the property
Foreigners who are not EU citizens and residents wishing to buy property in Austria, you must obtain a special permit for the purchase at the place of registration of future housing. Typically, this is done quickly and is not accompanied by additional difficulties, if all the requirements are fulfilled by the Austrian authorities. As for rental, prices vary greatly depending on the location of the housing. In Vienna the efforts of the government for the construction of state houses with preferential rental rates allow you to find affordable options even in prestigious areas. As a rule, it is a compact apartment, small in size, but acceptable for the cost of the rental.
When signing the lease contract, the tenant needs to factor in additional costs equivalent to the rent for two months (when hiring a realtor – payment of two to three months rent). This amount is paid as non-refundable Deposit.
Long term rent one bedroom apartment on the outskirts or in the centre of the Austrian cities costs about €500-€650 per month (€550-€770 in Vienna).
The prices for utility services are quite reasonable by European standards but high compared with Russian tariffs: the cost of electricity and gas (water is generally included in the rent) is approximately €150-€200 a month for an apartment of 100 sq. m.
Education
Foreign residents are entitled to educate their children in Austrian schools. It should be noted that the training program is conducted in German, and if the child owns it, then learning would be impossible. In the major cities of Austria has many international schools, although tuition can be quite high – about €18 000 per year. Prices will vary depending on school and age of the child. So foreigners coming to Austria under an employment contract, try to negotiate with the employer and make payment of training of children as part of the employment contract.
In international schools you can study the curriculum of their country and the international baccalaureate program (IB), which is taught in both English and the native language of the student. Many foreigners prefer to send their children to such schools, to address the complexity of a language barrier, and allow the children to continue with a familiar curriculum with a familiar style of teaching. Despite the high cost, the number of places in popular schools is strictly limited.
Part of the public education system are also bilingual schools where teaching is in English and German. In them, the pupils quickly acquire skills of speaking and have the opportunity to communicate with local students – and training is often free.
Transport
In most Austrian cities with well developed public transport system. The large cities have underground metro, tram lines, buses and even commuter rail, while remote and provincial cities have one or two modes of transport. Compared to Russian conditions, public transport in Austria is expensive – one trip on the metro in Vienna will cost €2.2, and unlimited monthly travel on all modes of transport will cost you €48,2.
The streets of many cities are adapted for movement on the bike, which you can rent for €5/hour.
To own a car in Austria is quite expensive. So, the car brand Volkswagen Golf here will cost 44% more expensive than in Moscow (€20 100 compared with €13 900), and the cost of a liter of fuel in Austria is more than twice the Russian price (€1.22 m against €0,57), the life of the motorist is complicated by the issue of Parking, both in terms of cost and the number of seats available.
Medical care
Foreigners coming to Austria, you can be sure that they are in a country with one of the best healthcare systems in Europe. The people working here are citizens of other countries (and paying taxes) will have access to free state health care. The concept of "free" in the Austrian medicine is very conditional, because there is a system of compulsory health insurance in which health insurance is paid in shares by the employees themselves and their employers.
Due to the wide coverage of compulsory insurance the majority of residents do not spend money to buy private health insurance policies. However, owners of private medical insurance have access to more services with less waiting time.
Basic medical services include treatment in public hospitals, medication, basic dental care, and consultations with some specialists. These services are provided free of charge to all citizens and residents of Austria, as well as tourists and those who live in the country on a temporary basis. Europeans from countries with which Austria has signed mutual agreements in the field of health, can also use on the territory of Austria European health insurance card (EHIC).
Laws about prescription drugs in Austria are very strict. For example, antibiotics, which in many countries is available for purchase in Austria are sold only by prescription and must be prescribed by a doctor. The majority of costs for the purchase of prescription drugs covered by public health insurance programme (medical insurance funds), however, foreigners in any case have to make a nominal charge for medicines. Holders of private insurance purchase drugs at their own expense, and then send the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement.
Due to lack of insurance one visit to the doctor will cost €25-€70.
Portal HomesOverseas.EN thanks for the help in preparing this article Nadia Prince (Prinz dom), Helen Utumapu (the INDUS) and Anastasia Bykov (Knight Frank).
photocredits: flickr
Olga Shoshina
HomesOverseas.ru
