11 Things You Need To Know About Vienna Before You Move There

Vienna, Austria

The city of arts and music that created and nurtured many classical artists such as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Strauss, and the great mind of Sigmund Freud.

Vienna is one of the best cities in Europe to live in with a high quality of life and the most livable city. If you love the arts and want to be within surroundings that can help you get within the right mindset Vienna is the right place.

The previous Austro-Hungarian Empire Austrian empire that fell in the late 1910’s encompassed Austria, Hungry, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bosnia, and Croatia. Vienna was home to the well known empress Elisabeth of Austria also known as Sisi, though the empire is no more Vienna holds many architectural structures such as the Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna woods and Stadtpark city park.

1) Language

German is the official language of Austria with English being the second language that many natives speak in order to communicate with the global community. A large population of Austrians and Viennese people can speak English therefore you can get around not knowing German.

With this being said, if you truly want to integrate into Vienna it serves your best interest to learn German, especially if you intend to live in space for a while and will need to navigate society, governmental bodies and make friends with locals.

Depending on the area you are within the dialects that native speakers will change and depending on where you settle will depend on the dialect you are exposed to on a regular basis.

2) Accommodation

In order to feel truly comfortable in a city this is the most important aspect you need to find. There are many beautiful apartments in Vienna on platforms such as Spotahome. This platform can help you find the best place for all of your needs.

Protected from scams and all securely online so you don’t have to visit various homes around the city to find the perfect place for you!

3) Cost of Living

The average salary in Vienna is around 50,000 euros more or less, therefore the price of items are reflective of the price of everyday expenses that you will buy in the city.

Here are some of the prices that you will experience living in the city:

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs 13.50 euros.
Domestic beer 0.5 litres costs 4.20 euros.
A cappuccino costs 3.61 euros.
Pepsi 0.33 litres costs 2.59 euros.
1 kg of bananas cost 1.66 euros.
Mid range bottle of wine costs 6 euros.
12 eggs costs 3.60 euros.
Gym membership costs around 27 euros.
Cinema tickets for one person costs 11 euros.
Lettuce heads cost 1.47 euros.

4) Transport

Public transport is the best way to get around the city. It has a lot of transport links with trains, underground trains (metro), trams, buses and bike rentals. Tickets for public transport can be purchased at ticket machines at train stations or on the Wiener Linien app.

Here are a few ticket costs:

A single ticket costs 2.40 euros.
Monthly tickets cost 51 euros.
An annual ticket costs 365 euros.

Bike rentals is managed by the company WienMobil. There are 1,000 bikes around the city at over 180 location points around the city!

Bikes are also allowed on public transport at the cost of the 10% discount price on a single ticket. Place bikes within the designated spaces within the buses and train carts in order to not impede other passengers' journey.

5) Internet Speed

Austria has some of the fastest internet speed in the world, not as fast as some other European nations such as Copenhegan, Oslo or Antwerp.

The average mobile speed for downloads is 71.17 mbps, upload speed 13.53 mbps and latency of 18 ms. For fixed networks download speeds average 98.82 mbps, upload speed of 27.54 mbps and latency of 11ms.
Common providers in the country are 3, A1, Magenta and Fonira. Each provider can offer differs so ensure you do your research into the company that can offer you what you need.

6) Moving With Pets

Your four legged expats need attention too! In order to relocate your animal family to Vienna you must have proof of identification through microchip and proof your pet had had a rabies vaccination . Documentation is needed as proof otherwise your friends will have to be quarantined for 21 days.

A health certificate from your vet is also needed to show that your pet can be within the community without harming others.

When you enter the country, the border crossing will check the documents and if everything is in order you will be given a stamp of approval by the officer.

Other animal families excluding dogs and cats do not need a rabies vaccination certificate but they must have proof of health documentation.

When you enter Vienna finally you need to register your pet and the cost varies city to city. The more pets the cheaper the registration. This can be done at your closest municipal office. If you enter Vienna with a puppy once they reach 3 months old they can be registered. Be aware that in some municipalities dog and cats are required to have identity tags so ensure you check one you find the perfect home in Vienna.

7) Fun Fun Fun

In order to meet people you need to get out there and speak to people! Viennese people can be rather closed off so it may be easier to make friends with other foreigners in the city. Once you meet some great people, here are a few spots you can hang out:

WerkzeugH - leafy garden hand out spot.
Polkadot Bar - a great alternative bar.
1516 Brewing Company - alternative beer spot with great local and international food.
Café Stadtbahn - a great underground atmosphere.

8) Job Opportunities

Firstly, make sure that you have all the legal requirements to be able to work legally. If you are part of the EU, you are automatically eligible to work in Vienna. If you are from outside of the EU, check your visa and permit requirements.

Jobs that are in high demand in the city are tourism, gastronomy, IT professionals, health, restaurant, and hotel workers; medical and electrical technicians; vehicle machinery technicians; and scientists.

9) The Great Outdoors

Everyone needs a break from the city and get in touch with nature on a regular basis to maintain health.

There are a few parks with many open spaces. Stadtpark is a great city park for a quick break in the middle of the day to stretch your legs. The total area expands over 65,000 square meters!

Here are a few other beautiful parks to take a break and reset:

Türkenschanzpark
Volksgarten
Burggarten
Donaupark
Sigmund Freud Park
Rathauspark
Währinger Park
Rudolf-Bednar-Park
Augarten

10) The Positives

There are many benefits to living in Vienna that you will experience. Here are a few:

Well developed public transport system.
Ease of travelling to other European countries.
Vienna is very bicycle friendly with many dedicated paths in the city.
An amazing and thriving art scene.
The range of food, there are many amazing cuisines in the city that you can experience.
Active expat community.
English is widely spoken.
Great high quality health care.

11) The Negatives

While there are many amazing things there are always downsides to a country that should be acknowledged. Here are a few you can be aware of:

Housing is hard to find in the city. If you need help finding somewhere safe and secure to live in Vienna we have many you can choose from.
Long and cold winters.
It can be hard to make Viennese friends.
There is not a “service” culture; you will not get over the top service from workers within shops. They may seem rude if you are used to overly friendly service workers but they are just used to being straightforward and blunt.
Shops are closed on Sundays, make sure you get everything you need on Saturday!

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