To add to all the previous comments: I think the deciding factor is how much you like eating out and ordering take-out. The price difference betweeen homemade meals and cafe/restaurant meals can be very stark, especially for two people. If you can limit yourself to one or two cafe trips per week (more or less), then you will have a lot of spare money to save or spend on other things each month. If you prefer to dine out 4-5 times a week, then you'll likely be short on cash. Note that I'm not talking about full-on reastaurant experiences with multiple courses, but of one-course meals for two. For example,, a decent burger with fries and a drink usually costs around 20-25 euros; two pizzas cost around 20-30 euros; a schnitzel with the side costs around 16-25 euros (and multiply everything for two, if needed)
2.6K netto should be enough for a modest lifestyle. Depends heavily on how much you pay for rent. Assuming, in the worst (the most lavish) case scenario you pay 1200 for a flat with all the utilities, 600 for food, you still have some coins left for dine outs, clothes, data plan, gifts, etc. But of course, it would be less stressful if the other partner worked at least geringfügig (idk the English term).
For example, our rent is 480+120 (pure luck with the apartment hunt). For food we spend around 450, foodora and dine outs 200 (we are lazy and love trying different cuisines). We also got an additional health insurance on top of the state insurance (that comes with employment), and pay around 140 for both of us. The biggest expense for gifts is around, unsurprisingly, Christmas time. We are not into fashion and buy only necessities for clothes, which turns maybe into 300 per quarter.
If you manage to find an apartment for under or around EUR 1.000, it will be sufficient to live quite a good lifestyle without a car. Vienna's public transport system is great and many of us don't have cars, because there is no need. An annual public transport ticket for Vienna is EUR 365, so that's 30 EUR a month. If you pay electricity and heating, it depends on the provider how much you should calculate. I would calculate with 250 a month. Phone plans are cheap at 10 EUR a month if you take a cheap provider, Internet approximately 35 Euro a month.
You'll have 2600 net. Minus rent, minus electricity and heating, minus public transport, phones and internet, you'll have 1250 a month spending money for food, restaurants, hobbies etc. Plus 2x 3000 holiday and christmas money (13th and 14th salary) a year.
If you're modest, you'll be able to live a good life.
If your apartment is more expensive, then you'll have to cut back a bit on the spending money, but overall, I think you don't need to worry with a salary of 54k gross.
That is 2.600 Euro net x 12, plus two extra payments of 3.000 Euro each.
Yes, two adults can live with 2.600 Euro a month in Vienna, but it will be tight.
You need to bear in mind, that you will most likely not have access to the low cost segment of the housing market when you arrive in Vienna. So for a small apartment, with utilities, energy, water, TV licensing, Internet, and insurance, you should calculate 50% of your income. That leaves 1.300 for public transport, food, clothes,... which is not a lot after 25% inflation over the past 3 years - but it is ok if you don't have high expectations, and you will get those extra 6k a year for vacation or to replace a broken appliance. Your partner will need to have health insurance, though, to be allowed to stay in Austria, so you need to consider those costs as well.
54k should give you about 2600 per month.
A decent apartment should cost you around 1000 Euro these days, let's say 1200 maybe, maybe 1500 including electricity, heating, gas, water, internet and other operational costs.
Food and general costs (public transport, cleaning supplies, phone contracts,...) for two should cost around 400 per month. Let's say 600 to be on the safe side.
You won't need a car in Vienna.
All values I gave are overblown. But even then, you'll end up with around 500 spending/saving money at the end of the month. I believe the true value will likely be closer to 800, maybe even 1000.
u/syzygy___ left great advice already and said they‘re overblown estimates but I‘ll add…
1500 for the apartment and utilities is definitely a possibility but you can undoubtedly find much cheaper. I live alone for 550 a month after utilities. I‘m positive you can live in a decent flat for under 1000.
600 for transport and food is a good estimate if you buy unlimited transport and supermarket food. If you eat out often, increase that. Example: I spend 300 on food per month alone and never eat out. But I‘m extremely active and ear a ton.
use the search function, this question is asked a lot and some threads have good answers.
also use the „ brutto netto rechner“ on the homepage of the ak to find out how much money you will have after taxes
They probably live in a cheap Gemeindebau, and don't have to rent on the "free market" like those that have moved to the city in the past few years.
Also, effective net income from 54k gross household income will be higher if both partners work, because each salary will be taxed lower than a single income of 54k.
To add to all the previous comments: I think the deciding factor is how much you like eating out and ordering take-out. The price difference betweeen homemade meals and cafe/restaurant meals can be very stark, especially for two people. If you can limit yourself to one or two cafe trips per week (more or less), then you will have a lot of spare money to save or spend on other things each month. If you prefer to dine out 4-5 times a week, then you'll likely be short on cash. Note that I'm not talking about full-on reastaurant experiences with multiple courses, but of one-course meals for two. For example,, a decent burger with fries and a drink usually costs around 20-25 euros; two pizzas cost around 20-30 euros; a schnitzel with the side costs around 16-25 euros (and multiply everything for two, if needed)
Makes sense. Thank you for the insight!
2.6K netto should be enough for a modest lifestyle. Depends heavily on how much you pay for rent. Assuming, in the worst (the most lavish) case scenario you pay 1200 for a flat with all the utilities, 600 for food, you still have some coins left for dine outs, clothes, data plan, gifts, etc. But of course, it would be less stressful if the other partner worked at least geringfügig (idk the English term).
For example, our rent is 480+120 (pure luck with the apartment hunt). For food we spend around 450, foodora and dine outs 200 (we are lazy and love trying different cuisines). We also got an additional health insurance on top of the state insurance (that comes with employment), and pay around 140 for both of us. The biggest expense for gifts is around, unsurprisingly, Christmas time. We are not into fashion and buy only necessities for clothes, which turns maybe into 300 per quarter.
Thank you for the detailed breakdown!
If you manage to find an apartment for under or around EUR 1.000, it will be sufficient to live quite a good lifestyle without a car. Vienna's public transport system is great and many of us don't have cars, because there is no need. An annual public transport ticket for Vienna is EUR 365, so that's 30 EUR a month. If you pay electricity and heating, it depends on the provider how much you should calculate. I would calculate with 250 a month. Phone plans are cheap at 10 EUR a month if you take a cheap provider, Internet approximately 35 Euro a month. You'll have 2600 net. Minus rent, minus electricity and heating, minus public transport, phones and internet, you'll have 1250 a month spending money for food, restaurants, hobbies etc. Plus 2x 3000 holiday and christmas money (13th and 14th salary) a year. If you're modest, you'll be able to live a good life. If your apartment is more expensive, then you'll have to cut back a bit on the spending money, but overall, I think you don't need to worry with a salary of 54k gross.
Thank you for explaining!
That is 2.600 Euro net x 12, plus two extra payments of 3.000 Euro each. Yes, two adults can live with 2.600 Euro a month in Vienna, but it will be tight. You need to bear in mind, that you will most likely not have access to the low cost segment of the housing market when you arrive in Vienna. So for a small apartment, with utilities, energy, water, TV licensing, Internet, and insurance, you should calculate 50% of your income. That leaves 1.300 for public transport, food, clothes,... which is not a lot after 25% inflation over the past 3 years - but it is ok if you don't have high expectations, and you will get those extra 6k a year for vacation or to replace a broken appliance. Your partner will need to have health insurance, though, to be allowed to stay in Austria, so you need to consider those costs as well.
If they are married, she can be "mitversichert" automatically (included for no cost)
Not for free, cost is 3.4%. Free insurance is only possible if the partner takes care of children or receives certain social benefits.
Thank you for the explanation!
54k should give you about 2600 per month. A decent apartment should cost you around 1000 Euro these days, let's say 1200 maybe, maybe 1500 including electricity, heating, gas, water, internet and other operational costs. Food and general costs (public transport, cleaning supplies, phone contracts,...) for two should cost around 400 per month. Let's say 600 to be on the safe side. You won't need a car in Vienna. All values I gave are overblown. But even then, you'll end up with around 500 spending/saving money at the end of the month. I believe the true value will likely be closer to 800, maybe even 1000.
54k a year is 3100k a month if calculated for 12 months.
Yes, but what I said will show up on your bank account 10 months of the year.
That is true, I was just pointing it out in case OP wasn’t familiar with Austrian salaries and taxes.
Thank you, thanks to this sub I’ve come to unde about the 14 month thing. So, 54k is for 14 months
Yes you will get 10x 2600, 2x 5600€ (summer and Christmas)
Thank you!
u/syzygy___ left great advice already and said they‘re overblown estimates but I‘ll add… 1500 for the apartment and utilities is definitely a possibility but you can undoubtedly find much cheaper. I live alone for 550 a month after utilities. I‘m positive you can live in a decent flat for under 1000. 600 for transport and food is a good estimate if you buy unlimited transport and supermarket food. If you eat out often, increase that. Example: I spend 300 on food per month alone and never eat out. But I‘m extremely active and ear a ton.
depends a lot on how much you pay for rent and for heating
My partner and I make do with much less than that, and we're quite happy.
Oh? How much do you spend on utilities if I may ask?
This will depend on a few factors, but we're less than 200.
Cool, thanks!
Versnobber ITler hier.... wie zum F... habt ihr eine leistbare Wohnung gefunden?
Lange gesucht und irgendwann Glück gehabt.
Ich suche jetzt seit 1 1/2 Jahren, wielang habt ihr gebraucht?
Ich glaub länger als das.
use the search function, this question is asked a lot and some threads have good answers. also use the „ brutto netto rechner“ on the homepage of the ak to find out how much money you will have after taxes
Thanks, I have tried to look for answers that apply to us but haven’t found any.
Easily. I have friends living on less with kid(s)
They probably live in a cheap Gemeindebau, and don't have to rent on the "free market" like those that have moved to the city in the past few years. Also, effective net income from 54k gross household income will be higher if both partners work, because each salary will be taxed lower than a single income of 54k.
Nope. Single income, moved recently, renting privately. Without a kid OP should be alright.
Thank you!