Moving to Austria from Jamaica

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Jamaica to Austria — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Jamaica to Austria, you would find that Austria is 2.2 times more expensive than Jamaica overall. A JMD11,866,395 salary in Jamaica would need to be roughly €91,976 in Austria to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vienna averages 58°F vs 89°F in Kingston, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Jamaica to Austria.

What does your salary buy?

JMD11,866,395 €91,976

To maintain the same standard of living in Austria

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 2.8 times more

Groceries

pay 21.8% more

Transportation

pay 11.3% more

Housing

pay 88.3% more

Childcare

pay 4.3 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.2% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 JMD = 0.0055 EUR (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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Jamaica to Austria, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
8 ↓ 27% vs 2022

people moved from Jamaica to Austria · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Austria?

Top countries of origin for Austria's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Jamaica to Austria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JM
53.3
AT
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JM
17.8
AT
4.6

Austria performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

JM
$869
AT
$8,250
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

JM
5.5
AT
55.1

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica 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

JM
22.0
AT
17.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JM
2.8t
AT
6.3t

Jamaica generally does better on environment, though Austria leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JM
15.0
AT
29.6
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JM
12.4%
AT
8.7%

Austria performs significantly better than Jamaica across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JM
4.4%
AT
5.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JM
$10,300
AT
$64,600

Jamaica 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

JM
75.8 yrs
AT
82.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JM
11.2
AT
3.2

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

Data: Tax Admministration of Jamaica, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kingston Vienna
Jan–Mar 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) 43°/31°F (6°/0°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 67°/50°F (20°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 75°/58°F (24°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 48°/37°F (9°/3°C)
View all months
Month Kingston Vienna
Jan 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) 37°/28°F (2.9°/-2.0°C)
Feb 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) 41°/30°F (5.1°/-0.9°C)
Mar 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) 51°/36°F (10.3°/2.4°C)
Apr 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) 59°/42°F (15.2°/5.8°C)
May 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.5°C)
Jun 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.5°C)
Jul 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) 78°/60°F (25.6°/15.4°C)
Aug 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) 78°/60°F (25.4°/15.3°C)
Sep 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) 69°/53°F (20.3°/11.7°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) 58°/45°F (14.2°/7.0°C)
Nov 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) 46°/36°F (7.5°/2.4°C)
Dec 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) 39°/31°F (4.0°/-0.5°C)

Data: Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica, GeoSphere Austria GeoSphere Austria

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Jamaica 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.

Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Austria

Visa Required
Jamaica passport holders need a visa to enter Austria.
Austria passport

Austria passport holder visiting Jamaica

Visa Free
Austria passport holders can enter Jamaica without a visa.

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 Austria than Jamaica?

No — Austria is on average about 40% more expensive than Jamaica. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Austria?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €22,994 in Austria on a JMD11,866,395 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?

Austria performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Austria is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 53.3 in Jamaica.

How is healthcare in Austria compared to Jamaica?

Austria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 55.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Austria, compared to 5.5 in Jamaica. Austria scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jamaica: 74).

What's the weather like in Austria compared to Jamaica?

The average high temperature in Vienna is 58°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Vienna receives around 24.4 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.

What language do they speak in Austria?

The official language in Austria is German. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.

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At a Glance

JM AT
Population 2,818,596 8,913,088
Currency Jamaican Dollar (JMD) Euro (€)
Languages English, Jamaican Patois German
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1 +43
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119 112