Moving to Austria from China
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from China to Austria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from China to Austria, you would find that Austria is 3.2 times more expensive than China overall. A CN¥508,312 salary in China would need to be roughly €148,259 in Austria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German.
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 China to Austria.
What does your salary buy?
CN¥508,312 → €148,259
To maintain the same standard of living in Austria
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 6.8 times more
Groceries
pay 2.6 times more
Transportation
pay 3.1 times more
Housing
pay 4.6 times more
Childcare
pay 24.4% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 times more
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 China to Austria, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from China to Austria.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
China generally does better on safety, though Austria leads in road traffic deaths.
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
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Austria leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Austria performs significantly better than China 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 China leads in broadband per 100 people.
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
China 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 significantly better than China across all family life metrics.
Data: State Administration of Taxation, 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 | Beijing | Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) | 43°/31°F (6°/0°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 67°/50°F (20°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 75°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 48°/37°F (9°/3°C) |
View all months
| Month | Beijing | Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) | 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C) |
| Feb | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) | 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C) |
| Mar | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) | 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C) |
| Apr | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) | 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C) |
| May | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C) |
| Jul | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) | 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C) |
| Aug | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) | 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C) |
| Sep | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) | 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C) |
| Oct | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) | 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C) |
| Nov | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) | 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C) |
| Dec | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) | 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
GeoSphere Austria
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.
China passport holder visiting Austria
Visa Required
Austria passport holder visiting China
Visa FreeData: 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 China?
No — Austria is on average about 126% more expensive than China. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Austria?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €37,065 in Austria on a CN¥508,312 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Austria?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Austria has 29.6 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 Austria safe for expats?
China generally does better on safety, though Austria leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Austria is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in China.
How is healthcare in Austria compared to China?
China generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Austria leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 55.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Austria, compared to 25.2 in China. Austria scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in Austria compared to China?
The average high temperature in Vienna is 58°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Vienna receives around 24.4 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.
What language do they speak in Austria?
The official language in Austria is German. In China, the official language is Chinese.
