Moving to Saudi Arabia from Austria

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Austria to Saudi Arabia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Austria to Saudi Arabia, you would find that Saudi Arabia is 33.2% cheaper than Austria overall. A €65,577 salary in Austria would need to be roughly SAR182,650 in Saudi Arabia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riyadh averages 92°F vs 58°F in Vienna, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

How your spending power changes when you relocate from Austria to Saudi Arabia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 SAR182,650

To maintain the same standard of living in Saudi Arabia

Calculate with your salary →

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 67.9% less

Groceries

pay 42.0% less

Transportation

pay 36.5% less

Housing

pay 22.6% less

Childcare

pay 48.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 8.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 4.3 SAR (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Saudi Arabia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

How Austria and Saudi Arabia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

AT
0.9
SA
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

AT
4.6
SA
18.5

Austria generally does better on safety, though Saudi Arabia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

AT
$8,250
SA
$3,475
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

AT
55.1
SA
30.8

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

AT
17.0
SA
91.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

AT
6.3t
SA
18.5t

Austria performs better than Saudi Arabia across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

AT
29.6
SA
37.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

AT
8.7%
SA
974.2%

Saudi Arabia generally does better on infrastructure, though Austria leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

AT
5.2%
SA
4.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

AT
$64,600
SA
$49,600

Saudi Arabia generally does better on employment & economy, though Austria leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

AT
82.3 yrs
SA
76.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

AT
3.2
SA
12.3

Austria generally does better on family life, though Saudi Arabia leads in education spending.

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.

Vienna Rain: 24.4 in/yr (620 mm)
58° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Riyadh Rain: 4.4 in/yr (111 mm)
92° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Vienna Riyadh
Jan–Mar 43°/31°F (6°/0°C) 75°/50°F (24°/10°C)
Apr–Jun 67°/50°F (20°/10°C) 101°/72°F (38°/22°C)
Jul–Sep 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) 109°/77°F (43°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 48°/37°F (9°/3°C) 84°/56°F (29°/13°C)
View all months
Month Vienna Riyadh
Jan 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C) 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.9°C)
Feb 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C) 74°/49°F (23.3°/9.3°C)
Mar 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C) 82°/56°F (27.7°/13.2°C)
Apr 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C) 92°/65°F (33.3°/18.4°C)
May 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) 103°/74°F (39.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C) 109°/78°F (42.6°/25.3°C)
Jul 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C) 111°/80°F (43.7°/26.4°C)
Aug 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C) 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.3°C)
Sep 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C) 105°/73°F (40.6°/22.9°C)
Oct 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C) 96°/65°F (35.5°/18.2°C)
Nov 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C) 83°/56°F (28.1°/13.3°C)
Dec 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C) 72°/47°F (22.1°/8.4°C)

Data: GeoSphere Austria GeoSphere Austria, National Center for Meteorology National Center for Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Austria and Saudi Arabia. To live, work, or study long-term in Saudi Arabia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Saudi Arabia's immigration authority.

Austria passport

Austria passport holder visiting Saudi Arabia

Visa on Arrival
Austria passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia passport

Saudi Arabia passport holder visiting Austria

Visa Required
Saudi Arabia passport holders need a visa to enter Austria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Saudi Arabia than Austria?

Generally yes: Saudi Arabia runs about 35% cheaper than Austria on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Saudi Arabia?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a €65,577 comparable salary, that's around SAR45,662 in Saudi Arabia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Saudi Arabia?

With 37.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Saudi Arabia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Austria and Saudi Arabia.

Is Saudi Arabia safe for expats?

Austria generally does better on safety, though Saudi Arabia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Saudi Arabia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.9 in Austria.

How is healthcare in Saudi Arabia compared to Austria?

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Saudi Arabia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 30.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Saudi Arabia, compared to 55.1 in Austria. Saudi Arabia scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Austria: 85).

What's the weather like in Saudi Arabia compared to Austria?

The average high temperature in Riyadh is 92°F, compared to 58°F in Vienna. Riyadh receives around 4.4 in of rainfall per year, while Vienna gets 24.4 in.

What language do they speak in Saudi Arabia?

The official language in Saudi Arabia is Arabic. In Austria, the official language is German.

Share this

At a Glance

AT SA
Population 8,913,088 35,354,380
Currency Euro (€) Saudi Riyal (SAR)
Languages German Arabic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +43 +966
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 911