Moving to Russia from Austria
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Austria to Russia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Austria to Russia, you would find that Russia is 51.3% cheaper than Austria overall. A €65,700 salary in Austria would need to be roughly RUB3,299,205 in Russia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Russian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Moscow averages 48°F vs 58°F in Vienna, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Austria to Russia.
What does your salary buy?
€65,700 → RUB3,299,205
To maintain the same standard of living in Russia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 63.9% less
Groceries
pay 52.5% less
Transportation
pay 49.5% less
Housing
pay 68.1% less
Childcare
pay 49.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.5% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Austria to Russia, based on official data.
Who's moving to Russia?
Top countries of origin for Russia's foreign-born residents.
- 3,268,263
- 2,558,907
- 1,146,175
- 766,918
- 763,879
- 591,025
- · · ·
-
32.2,950
Austria
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Austria to Russia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Austria performs better than Russia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Austria performs better than Russia across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Austria generally does better on infrastructure, though Russia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Austria leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Austria performs better than Russia across all family life metrics.
Data: Federal Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Vienna | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/31°F (6°/0°C) | 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 67°/50°F (20°/10°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/37°F (9°/3°C) | 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Vienna | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C) | 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) |
| Feb | 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C) | 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) |
| Mar | 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C) | 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) |
| Apr | 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C) | 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) |
| May | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) | 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) |
| Jun | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C) | 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jul | 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C) | 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) |
| Aug | 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C) | 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) |
| Sep | 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C) | 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) |
| Oct | 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C) | 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) |
| Nov | 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C) | 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) |
| Dec | 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C) | 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) |
Data:
GeoSphere Austria,
Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Austria and Russia. To live, work, or study long-term in Russia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Russia's immigration authority.
Austria passport holder visiting Russia
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Russia passport holder visiting Austria
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Russia than Austria?
Yes — Russia is on average about 43% cheaper than Austria. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Russia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly RUB824,801 in Russia on a €65,700 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Russia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Russia has 24.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Russia safe for expats?
Austria performs better than Russia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Russia is 6.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Austria.
How is healthcare in Russia compared to Austria?
Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Russia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 38.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Russia, compared to 55.1 in Austria. Russia scores 79 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Austria: 85).
What's the weather like in Russia compared to Austria?
The average high temperature in Moscow is 48°F, compared to 58°F in Vienna. Moscow receives around 27.2 in of rainfall per year, while Vienna gets 24.4 in.
What language do they speak in Russia?
The official language in Russia is Russian. In Austria, the official language is German.
