Moving to Austria from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Austria? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Austria, you would find that Austria is 6.5% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly €58,181 in Austria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vienna averages 58°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and Austria.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €58,181
To maintain the same standard of living in Austria
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 12.0% more
Groceries
pay 5.0% less
Transportation
pay 12.4% more
Housing
pay 20.7% less
Childcare
pay 56.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 21.7% 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?
What the data shows about people moving from California to Austria.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Austria compared to California.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Austria performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Austria performs significantly better than California across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Austria across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Austria performs significantly better than California across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 43°/31°F (6°/0°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 67°/50°F (20°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 48°/37°F (9°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C) |
National Weather Service
GeoSphere AustriaVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Austria. To live, work, or study long-term in Austria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Austria's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Austria
Visa Free
Austria passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Austria than California?
On average Austria is about 11% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Austria?
Budget about €14,545 for 3 months in Austria (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Austria?
From major Austria cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Austria are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Austria compared to California?
Austria performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Austria compared to California?
The average high temperature in Vienna is 58°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Vienna receives around 24.4 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Austria?
The official language in Austria is German. In California, the official language is English.
