Where Rent in Austria is Still Affordable

According to the latest figures from Statistics Austria, the average gross rent including operating costs in the first quarter of 2025 was about 10 euros per square meter. This means that an Austrian household pays an average of around 664 euros per month for rent. The range is wide: while prices are exploding in some cities, moderate housing costs are still possible in other regions.

Tyrol, Vienna, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg remain particularly expensive

Tyrol, Vienna, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg remain particularly expensive. In Tyrol, the average rent is already over 20 euros per square meter – an increase of 5 percent compared to the previous year. In the federal capital Vienna, a historic high of an average of 20.42 euros per square meter has also been reached. Salzburg records an annual price increase of 13 percent with around 20.25 euros per square meter. These figures come from a recent analysis by ImmoScout24.

A particularly drastic example of rental development is Innsbruck, where rental prices for newly offered apartments now amount to up to 24.75 euros per square meter. According to a report by 5min.at, the city is the nationwide leader in terms of rental burden – a place that is hardly affordable for many average earners.

Rental prices in Upper Austria, Styria, and Lower Austria still comparatively low

However, the housing situation is not as dramatic everywhere in the country. In Upper Austria, Styria, and Lower Austria, rental prices are still relatively low at around 12 to 12.5 euros per square meter. In Burgenland and Carinthia, the rental level is about 13 to 14 euros. Klagenfurt stands out particularly positively: The capital of Carinthia offers one of the most affordable urban residential areas in the country with a net rent of around 9.63 euros per square meter. In Eisenstadt, the capital of Burgenland, the value is even only 8.85 euros. This data comes from an analysis by meinbezirk.at.

Affordability of Rents in Relation to Income

Another interesting aspect is the affordability of rents in relation to income. According to a study by PriceHubble, the proportion of rental costs to net income in cities like Graz or Linz is about 15 to 17 percent – a value considered affordable. In Vienna, however, the burden rises to about 21.3 percent. The difference becomes even more pronounced when purchasing residential property: In Innsbruck, for example, around 42 percent of the average household's net income would have to be spent on buying a home. The full study is available here.

The trend is therefore clear: While rental prices in urban centers like Vienna, Innsbruck, and Salzburg continue to rise and become unaffordable for many, regions like Burgenland, Carinthia, or parts of Styria still offer good opportunities for affordable living. Those who search outside the metropolitan areas can still find attractive offers. Especially for young families, students, and lower-income groups, moving can provide financial relief – provided that infrastructure and jobs are also accessible.

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(Red)

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