Living in Austria as a Student - Study in Austria

Living in Austria as a Student

Moving to Austria means experiencing some of the highest quality of life in the world — and dealing with a fair amount of bureaucracy to get there. From finding a place to live to registering your address, setting up health insurance, and discovering the coffee house culture, there's a lot to handle in your first weeks. This guide covers everything you need to know about daily student life in Austria, with practical tips for Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Linz.

Finding Student Housing

Housing is the single biggest challenge and expense for students in Austria, especially in Vienna. Start your search as early as possible — ideally the moment you receive your admission letter.

Option 1 — Student Dormitory (Studentenheim)

Student dormitories are the most affordable option:

Major dormitory providers:

• OeAD Housing (housing.oead.at) — Austria's largest provider for international students
• Akademikerhilfe — widespread across Austria
• STUWO — modern facilities, primarily in Vienna
• Heimwerk — operates in multiple Austrian cities
• WIST — Graz and Styria region
• University-specific dormitories — some universities manage their own student housing

Option 2 — Shared Flat (WG / Wohngemeinschaft)

The most popular housing option for Austrian students:

Where to search:

• WG-Gesucht.at — the most popular WG search platform in the German-speaking world
• willhaben.at — Austria's biggest classified ads site (look under "Immobilien")
• Immobilienscout24.at — apartment and room listings
• Facebook groups — search for "WG [city name]" or "Wohnungssuche [city name]"
• University notice boards — physical and online boards at your university

WG search tips:

• Start searching 2-3 months before arrival
• Be ready to act fast — good WGs go within hours
• Prepare a short introduction about yourself (age, what you study, your habits)
• Video calls for viewings are common for international students
• Beware of scams — never transfer money before visiting or video-calling the place, and never pay without a proper contract

Option 3 — Private Apartment

A studio or one-bedroom apartment costs EUR 500-900+ per month depending on the city. This is the most expensive option but offers complete privacy. Consider this only if your budget allows or you're sharing with a partner.

Housing costs by city

City Guides for Students

Vienna (Wien)

Austria's capital and the cultural heart of Europe. Population: 2 million.

Why students love it:

• Nine universities and multiple FHs — the widest choice of programs
• World-class cultural scene: State Opera (standing tickets from EUR 4), Musikverein, museums (many free on first Sundays)
• Excellent public transport: U-Bahn (5 lines), trams, buses — semester ticket about EUR 75 (under 26)
• International and cosmopolitan — large expat and international student community
• Vibrant nightlife: from Bermuda Triangle bars to clubs along the Gürtel and Danube Canal

Districts popular with students:

• Josefstadt (8th) — central, cosy, many cafes
• Alsergrund (9th) — close to University of Vienna's main campus
• Favoriten (10th) — more affordable, well-connected
• Ottakring (16th) — diverse, creative, increasingly trendy
• Leopoldstadt (2nd) — near the Prater, good WU connection

Transport: The Wiener Linien semester ticket costs about EUR 75/semester for students under 26 (Jugendticket network). For year-round travel, the annual pass costs EUR 365 (EUR 1/day). The U-Bahn runs until around midnight on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends.

Graz

Austria's second city and a UNESCO City of Design. Population: 290,000.

Why students love it:

• About 60,000 students in a city of 290,000 — one of Austria's highest student-to-resident ratios
• More affordable than Vienna — rent is 20-30% less
• Beautiful UNESCO-listed old town with the Schlossberg (castle hill) at its centre
• Strong tech and automotive industry (Magna, AVL) for internships
• Vibrant student nightlife around the Univiertel (university quarter)

Transport: Graz has an efficient tram and bus network. A semester ticket costs about EUR 116. Cycling is very popular — the city is largely flat with good bike infrastructure.

Salzburg

Mozart's birthplace, Alpine setting. Population: 155,000.

Why students love it:

• Stunning location between mountains and a baroque old town
• World-leading music education (Mozarteum)
• Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) — one of the world's most prestigious performing arts festivals
• Close to the Alps — ski resorts within 1 hour
• Munich just 1.5 hours by train

Note: Salzburg is one of Austria's more expensive cities for rent, comparable to Innsbruck. Start your housing search early.

Innsbruck

The Alpine capital. Population: 130,000.

Why students love it:

• Mountains literally at your doorstep — Nordkette cable car from the city centre to 2,300m in 20 minutes
• World-class skiing: Stubai Glacier, Axamer Lizum, Nordpark — all accessible by public transport
• Compact, walkable city — you can cycle everywhere
• About 30,000 students in a city of 130,000 — intense student culture
• Gateway to the Alps and northern Italy (Brenner Pass)

Transport: Innsbruck has a good bus and tram network. An IVB semester ticket costs about EUR 95. A bike is arguably the best way to get around.

Linz

Industrial city turned cultural hub. Population: 210,000.

Why students love it:

• JKU (Johannes Kepler University) — strong in law, business, engineering, and AI research
• Ars Electronica Centre — world-famous digital arts and technology museum
• More affordable than Vienna, Salzburg, or Innsbruck
• Growing tech and start-up scene
• Danube riverside location

Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for all students in Austria.

Student self-insurance (ÖGK)

The most common option for international students is the Selbstversicherung für Studierende through ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse):

• Cost: About EUR 65/month
• Coverage: Doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, basic dental, specialist referrals
• How to apply: Visit your local ÖGK office with your passport, Meldezettel, and student enrolment confirmation
• Age limit: Available until age 30 (extensions possible in some cases)

EU students with EHIC

If you're an EU/EEA citizen with a European Health Insurance Card, you have basic coverage in Austria. However, the EHIC covers only the same care an Austrian public insurance holder would receive, and some services may not be included. Many EU students supplement with ÖGK student insurance for full coverage.

Compare student health insurance options for Austria →

Banking and Money

Opening a bank account

You'll need a local bank account for receiving wages, paying rent, and daily transactions:

What you need:

• Passport or EU ID card
• Meldezettel
• Student ID or university enrolment confirmation

Student-friendly banks:

• Erste Bank / Sparkasse — free student accounts, extensive ATM network, dedicated student programs
• Bank Austria (UniCredit) — free student accounts, ATMs across Austria
• Raiffeisen — strong in rural areas, good savings products
• N26 — digital bank, easy to set up, free basic account
• Revolut — useful as a second account for multi-currency transactions and travel

Most banks offer free Girokonto (current account) for students up to age 27.

Food and Shopping

Supermarkets

Student cafeterias (Mensa)

University Mensa facilities serve affordable hot meals:

• Full meal: EUR 3.50-7.00
• Most offer daily menus with meat, vegetarian, and vegan options
• The Mensen run by ÖH (student union) are typically the cheapest

Viennese coffee house culture

Vienna's coffee houses (Kaffeehäuser) are a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and an essential part of the student experience. Key things to know:

• A Melange is Vienna's version of a cappuccino — order this to fit in
• A Verlängerter is an espresso diluted with hot water (similar to an Americano)
• You're welcome to sit for hours with a single drink — this is the tradition
• Coffee houses are legitimate study spots (but bring your own laptop charger)
• Famous student-friendly options: Café Sperl, Café Prückel, Phil (bookshop-café), Café Korb

The Alpine Lifestyle

Living in Austria means the Alps are always accessible, even from the cities:

Skiing and snowboarding

• From Innsbruck: Multiple resorts within 30-60 minutes (Stubai, Axamer Lizum, Nordpark)
• From Salzburg: Ski Amadé region within 1 hour
• From Graz: Schladming-Dachstein region within 1.5 hours
• From Vienna: Day trips to Semmering or Stuhleck (1-2 hours)
• Student ski passes: Many resorts offer discounted student rates; expect EUR 30-50/day
• University ski trips: USI and student organizations offer group trips at reduced prices

Hiking and outdoor sports

• Thousands of marked hiking trails across Austria
• Austrian Alpine Club (Alpenverein) student membership: about EUR 30/year — includes alpine hut discounts, insurance for mountain activities, and access to guided tours
• Mountain biking, via ferrata (Klettersteig), paragliding, and lake swimming in summer
• Vienna's Wienerwald and Lobau provide green spaces minutes from the city

Austrian Culture — What to Know

Language

Austrian German has its own flavour:

• Grüß Gott — standard greeting (instead of "Hallo")
• Servus — informal greeting and farewell
• Bitte — used for "please," "you're welcome," and "here you go"
• Paradeiser — tomato (Tomate in standard German)
• Erdapfel — potato (Kartoffel in standard German)
• Semmel — bread roll (Brötchen in standard German)
• Jause — snack/light meal

Social norms

• Austrians value punctuality — being late is considered rude
• Quiet hours (Ruhezeiten): Respect quiet hours, typically 10 PM - 6 AM on weekdays, all day Sunday and public holidays
• Recycling: Austria takes recycling seriously. Separate paper, glass, plastic, metal, and organic waste
• Formal address: Use "Sie" (formal you) with professors, landlords, and officials until invited to use "du"
• Tipping: 5-10% in restaurants is standard; round up for taxis and small services

Public holidays

Austria has 13 public holidays per year — more than most European countries. Universities are closed on these days, and most shops close too. Notable holidays include:

• January 6 (Epiphany)
• May 1 (Labour Day)
• Ascension Day and Corpus Christi (moveable dates)
• August 15 (Assumption of Mary)
• October 26 (National Day)
• November 1 (All Saints' Day)
• December 8 (Immaculate Conception)
• December 25-26 (Christmas)

Safety

Austria is one of the safest countries in Europe:

• Low crime rates across all major cities
• Safe public transport, even late at night
• Reliable emergency services (call 112 for EU emergency, 133 for police, 144 for ambulance, 122 for fire)
• No areas in major Austrian cities that students need to avoid

Common Living Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not registering your address (Meldezettel) within 3 days — this is a legal requirement with potential fines
2. Underestimating Sunday closures — stock up on Saturday; virtually everything is closed on Sundays
3. Ignoring recycling rules — your neighbours and landlord will notice, and fines are possible
4. Not getting the semester ticket or Vorteilscard — these save significant money on transport
5. Missing the Alpenverein student membership — essential if you plan any mountain activities
6. Not learning basic German — even A1-A2 level makes daily life dramatically easier

Next Steps

• Explore work options — find student jobs and plan your career
• Understand costs — manage your budget effectively
• Prepare for your visa — if you haven't arrived yet
• Discover why Austria — share with friends who are considering studying abroad