International Office

Living and Studying in Vienna

  • Gebhard Sengmueller
  • Violetta Koenig
  • Georg Herder
  • derknopfdruecker.com

    Cost of living

    The list below shows an estimate of the monthly living expenses for students in Austria. The numbers given are only a guideline and are by no means binding. Accommodation costs are calculated on the basis of a room in a hall of residence or a shared flat.

    Average cost of living per month:

    • Accommodation (incl. heating, electricity): € 450 - 700
    • Food: € 350
    • Study and personal requirements (book, spare time, etc.): € 400 - 500
    • Monthly expenses in total: approx. € 1400

     

    Public transport

    Vienna has an excellent public transport system consisting of underground lines, bus services, trams and a city train network. For longer stays and frequent use of the Viennese public transport system, it is advisable to purchase one of the Wiener Linien zone cards.

    Tickets
    Information on all available tickets can be found here: Wiener Linien

    What to do if you lose your ticket
    If you bought the ticket at a Wiener Linien service office, first of all you need to make an official "notice of loss" ("Verlustanzeige") or "notice of theft" ("Diebstahlanzeige"). Then take the "notice of loss/or theft" with you to the Wiener Linien service centre ("Kundenzentrum der Wiener Linien", Erdbergstraße 202) and get a new ticket there (administration fee: ~€ 10).
    If you bought your personalised ticket via the Wiener Linien’s online ticket shop, you can just print it out again yourself for free.

    Medical care and psychological counselling

    Safety in Vienna

    Vienna is a beautiful and relatively safe city where people enjoy a high standard of living. However, in a metropolis with over 2 million inhabitants, it can be useful to give a little thought to the topic of safety. Practice situational awareness in public and/or remote areas to avoid dangerous or difficult situations. Further information on safety is provided by the website of the city of Vienna (in German).

    Emergency numbers

    You can find all the important emergency numbers on the City of Vienna’s website.

    For further information, please visit studieren.univie.ac.at/en/studying-safely/

    • In case of accidents, emergencies and dangerous situations at the University of Vienna, you can call the following number:

      +43 1 4277 777

    ESN (Erasmus Student Network)

    The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) helps Erasmus+ students to integrate and connect with each other. The International Office cooperates with the ESN section of the University of Vienna.
    Services for Erasmus+ students offered by ESN:

    • "ESN Welcome Week" (which is not to be mixed up with our Orientation) at the beginning of the semester
    • Various activities throughout the semester
    • A "Buddy System", which pairs local students with incoming exchange students, supporting the international students in settling in
    • The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) also offers a language tandem service free of charge via Facebook: Language Tandem Service ESN
    • ESNcard

    Sustainable everyday life in Vienna

    The Erasmus+ program gives special importance to the topic of the environment and combating climate change which is one of the horizontal priorities of Erasmus+. As such, students who travel by environmentally friendly means of transport receive special financial funding from their home universities through the Erasmus+ program, to name just one example for this.

    • Drinkable tap water from the Alps

      Vienna's tap water is of excellent quality and drinkable. The fresh spring water comes directly from the Lower Austrian-Styrian Alps to Viennese households and university buildings via spring water pipelines.
       

    • Drinking fountains in public spaces

      The city of Vienna has public drinking fountains, which provide free drinking water in the city during the warmer months of the year.
       

    • Waste separation and waste avoidance

      Residential buildings usually have bins for residual waste and waste paper (including cardboard), and some also have organic waste bins.A deposit is charged on disposable plastic and metal beverage containers (e.g. PET bottles, cans), and on some reusable glass containers (e.g. milk bottles). This deposit is refunded when the containers are returned to the retail outlet (e.g. supermarkets).All other plastic and metal packaging in Vienna is collected in the yellow bin. Clear and colored glass are collected separately in their own containers.

      The Website of the City of Vienna provides information on waste avoidance and recycling.
       

    • Mobility in and around Vienna

      Cycling in Vienna
      WienMobil has bicycles available throughout the city that can be rented at low cost.

      The city of Vienna also has a well-developed cycle network. 

      Public transportation inside and outside Vienna
      Vienna has a good public transport network.

      Many surrounding countries can be easily reached from Vienna by train or bus. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) offer national and international train connections, including night trains. If you travel regularly by train, you may be able to save money with a Vorteilscard or a "Klima Ticket".

      If you have visitors in Vienna during your stay abroad, an environmentally friendly arrival and departure may also be an option for them.

      Interrail-Pass for Erasmus+
      This pass is valid for 6 months and can be used by Erasmus+ participants for arrival and departure as well as for travels during the Erasmus+ stay. 

      Please see here for detailed information: Interrail Pass for Erasmus+
       

    • Sustainability at the University of Vienna

      The University of Vienna makes a sustainable contribution in the areas of research, education, outreach and in its own university management. With its wide range of disciplines and over 180 degree programs, the University of Vienna is broadly positioned and has a strong basis for dealing with these challenges in a targeted manner and promoting interdisciplinary thinking.

      On the website Sustainability at the University of Vienna you will find information on a wide range of topics related to sustainability at the University of Vienna (in German).

      At the same time, everyone at the University can contribute to sustainability, e.g. in the areas of printing and online storage space or energy saving.