Life and Living in Austria

Austria is a country situated in the southern part of Central Europe with a perfect view of the alpines and along with it various adventurous locations. The country offers a high quality of living for candidates who wish to live there and is often considered to be an ideal location especially for students due to the low educational expenses incurred in the country. The country even offers free higher education for international students in their public universities though the same cannot be said about private universities.

Languages in Austria

The national language in Austria is German but a significant number of people speak English in the country. People who travel to Austria will most often have to get a certificate proving their proficiency in German as well as in English. Most of the higher education courses in the country are taught in German which will also require candidates to have more than a minimum understanding of the language. It is also a requirement for most high-paying jobs within the country.

While most courses may be taught in German, candidates will still be able to find universities that have programs and courses that are taught in English. International students often opt for such programs over the ones that are dealt with in German. But despite this factor, students need to be proficient in German to live a comfortable life in the country. Though German is the official language that candidates will have to be proficient in, interacting with locals will require them to be receptive to Austrian German that is slightly different from German.

Cost of Things in Austria

The cost of living in a country can be calculated by the living expenses an individual will incur, the accommodation charges they will have, and even the cost for the purpose the individual is living in the country for. Education-wise, Austria is a relatively cheap country. But on the other hand, when it comes to accommodation, Austria falls on the expensive side. The cost of living will change according to the location the candidate is planning to live in which runs true for every country in the world. Living in the provinces will be cheaper for individuals when compared to living in the city but even so, candidates will often have to live in the city due to the location of universities they are studying in. The average rent per square meter according to statista.com is estimated to be € 8.02 as of the year 2019.

While accommodation expenses are high in the country, average salaries are not as high as required to live comfortably in the country. The average salary in Austria ranges between € 1,700 and € 2,200 per month but at the same time, the government here provides subsidized housing that most people make use of due to the amount of money they can save by choosing this option.

Living Expense in Austria

Though Austria offers education at a reasonable rate for candidates from all over the world, the living expenses in this country are relatively higher. It has been ranked to be the 18th most expensive country to live in by CEOWORLD magazine. The popular supermarket chains in the country are Spar, Merkur, MPreis, and Billa. The cheaper alternatives that individuals go to in the country are Hofer and Zielpunkt. The general prices for basic grocery items have been listed below.

Milk- € 0.94 �" € 1.17 for 1 litre
Bread- € 1.5 �" € 3 for 500gm loaf
Water Bottle- € 0.60 for 1.5 litre
Bananas- € 2.0 per kg
Apples- € 2.30 per kg
Potatoes- € 1.2 per kg

Austria is not one of those countries that let individuals shop for clothes at an inexpensive rate. The popular clothing stores within the country include only international brands. But the popular locations for shopping would include Ringstrassen Galerien, Kohlmarkt, Graben, and SCS Shopping Center Sued.

Currency Conversion

Austria has been using the euro banknotes and coins since the year 2002. The banknotes have face values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 with the currency code EUR and symbol €. The currency value of € 1 is approximately 1.17 USD.

Things to do in Austria

Austria is one of those European countries that is known for the number of castles, palaces, and other architectural masterpieces in the country. The best time to visit this country would be in the spring, in April and May. Though this is the best time to be in Austria, the highest tourist flow into the country is during June, July, and August.

Places to Visit in Austria

The best places to visit in Austria are often associated with the historical importance of the places in the country. The places that one must visit while in the country include Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, and Hallstatt.

Vienna- This is the capital city of the country and is called the City of Music and even the City of Dreams based on the historical, political, and economical importance the city holds. People who visit this city must go to the Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Rathaus, Belvedere Museum, and Vienna State Opera. They also have an amusement park and a natural history museum which ought to be visited by everyone.
Innsbruck- This city is surrounded by snowy mountains and is called the City of Olympic Glory with a lot of resorts and opportunities for winter sports. It has a lot of historical churches and beautiful landscape views of the Alps making it one of the most coveted locations within the country. People who come to Austria must go to the Altstadt con Innsbruck, Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen, Imperial Palace, and Bergisel Ski Jump.
Salzburg- This place is known for its architecture and scenic landscapes alongside the visual beauty of River Salzach. It is the birthplace of Mozart and hence is especially famous in association with music. The places to visit here would include Altstadt Salzburg, St. Peter’s Church, Salzburg Cathedral, Hellbrunn Palace and Fountains, etc.
Graz- This is the second-largest city in the country with a lot of historic buildings. The city is considered to be great for its trade, commerce, and rich history that brings in flocks of tourists year after year. The most popular places to visit in the city include Schlossberg and the Clock Tower, Styrian Armory, Mur Island, Graz Cathedral, and Schloss Eggenberg.
Hallstatt- This is a small Alpine village that is also a tourist attraction within the country. It is a settlement that is protected by UNESCO which resembles a painting rather than an actual village. The places to see here include Hallstatter See, Salt Mine, Skywalk, Dachstein Caves, and Admont Abbey.

Cuisines to Relish While in Austria

The cuisine in Austria has over the decades been influenced by the cuisine of Central Europe and in general, is often referred to as Viennese cuisine. The national dish of the country is Tafelspitz which is essentially a beef broth served with vegetables, apples, and spices. The other must-try dishes in the country include Wiener Schnitzel, Vienna Sausage, Potato Gulasch, Kasespatzle, Knodel, etc. Their most preferred drink is Almdudler which is a beverage made of herbal extracts which are a must-try for tourists.

Festivals to Attend While in Austria

The festivals that are most popular in the country are of high cultural importance and are mostly conducted on a large scale, attracting visitors from all over the world. All their festivals have a select variety of music associated with it. Apart from cultural festivals, they have a strong affinity for art and history. The most popular festivals are Viennale, Castle Grafenegg Music Festival, Vienna Festival Weeks, Summer Solstice, and Snowbombing Festival.

Commuting to Places in Austria

The most common way of commuting to places in the country is to use one’s car which is the method used by 63% of the population. But after this, the commonly used method is public transportation. Traveling by train is considered to be the most efficient way of traveling in Austria which also allows people to view the scenic beauty of the country rather than the traffic one can find on roads.

The railway is operated by the Austrian Federal Railways and their official site is dedicated to providing ticket prices, schedules, travel times, etc. The trains in the country offer free wi-fi and have ergonomic seats which are ideal for long journeys. The travel time between cities by using the trains are quite less with cities like Vienna and Salzburg being just 2 hours apart. The train ticket prices for popular routes are-

Vienna to Salzburg- € 56
Vienna to Innsbruck- € 74
Vienna to Graz- € 30

For an additional amount of € 15, individuals will be able to get Business Class tickets.

Entertainment Options for Students in Austria

International students who go to Austria will have several things to do in the country as they continue to study. Being an ideal tourist location, they will be able to visit the different cities in the country which are all connected by train and will not cost them a fortune. The place is also known for its coffee shops and tiny villages that can offer students the best relaxing spots. Austria is a place that provides a lot of importance to sports which implies that students will be able to engage in a lot of winter sports like skiing if they visit the Alpine regions.

They will also be able to canoe, cycle, hike, mountaineer, etc. if they are adventurous and want a break to connect with nature. The place brims with its excitement for arts and music which will let students attend enough and more festivals. They will even be able to see opera and enjoy the exquisite cuisine of the place.

Safety Concerns for International Students in Austria

Austria is one of the countries where the natural, socio-cultural environment is great for people of other nationalists to live in. According to the Mercer Quality of Living Ranking, the city of Vienna in the country was ranked 10th for being one of the best in housing, education, and other necessary factors that aid in comfortable living. The country also ranks 4th in safety and security which is not only for the locals but also for international students that live and study in the country.

One of the factors that will enliven the stay of international students in the country is their ability to speak German. Since the most common language that is spoken in the country is German, it is ideal for students to learn as much of the language as possible before living there to make them blend in better.