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Austria’s rental market in 2026 is strong, but it is also unusual because official paid rents are much lower than new private-market asking rents.
We constantly update this blog post, so the Austria rent figures below are based on the freshest official and market data we could verify in June 2026.
This guide focuses only on residential rents in Austria, so it is useful if you are thinking about buying an apartment and renting it out.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Austria.
What are typical rents in Austria as of 2026?
In 2026, Austria has two rental realities: older regulated or cooperative homes often rent cheaply, while new private listings in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Linz are much more expensive.
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a studio in Austria is about €650 locally, about $700, or €650, for a small private-market apartment rented by a new tenant.
For most studios in Austria in 2026, a realistic monthly rent range is €500 to €850 locally, about $540 to $920, or €500 to €850.
This range changes a lot because a studio in Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck near public transport can cost much more than a similar studio in Graz, Linz or a smaller Austrian town.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Austria is about €850 locally, about $920, or €850, for a normal new private-market rental.
Most 1-bedroom apartments in Austria in 2026 fall between €650 and €1,150 locally, about $700 to $1,240, or €650 to €1,150.
The cheapest 1-bedroom rents are usually found in smaller towns and outer districts such as Vienna Favoriten or Floridsdorf, while the highest rents are in Vienna Innere Stadt, Salzburg Altstadt and Innsbruck Innenstadt.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Austria is about €1,150 locally, about $1,240, or €1,150, for a private-market home rented today.
Most 2-bedroom apartments in Austria in 2026 rent for €850 to €1,600 locally, about $920 to $1,730, or €850 to €1,600.
For 2-bedroom apartments, cheaper areas include outer Vienna districts such as Simmering, Favoriten and parts of Donaustadt, while the most expensive areas include Vienna Innere Stadt, Wieden, Döbling, Salzburg Aigen and Innsbruck Hötting.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Austria.
What's the average rent per square meter in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, the average paid rent in Austria is about €10.5 per square meter locally, about $11.3, or €10.5, while a new private-market listing is closer to €16 per square meter locally, about $17.3, or €16.
Across Austria in 2026, a realistic rent range is about €11 to €24 per square meter locally, about $12 to $26, or €11 to €24, depending on the city and building type.
Austria’s national rent per square meter is lower than the best parts of Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, but Austria’s premium city rents are close to the more expensive urban markets in Central Europe.
Properties in Austria usually move above the average rent per square meter when they are close to U-Bahn, S-Bahn or tram stops, have a balcony, an elevator, low running costs and a modern kitchen or bathroom.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Austria in 2026?
As of 2026, average official rents in Austria are up about 4.8% year over year, while new private-market rents in tight cities look closer to 5% to 7% higher.
The main reason rents are rising in Austria in 2026 is simple: many tenants stay in older, cheaper contracts, so the number of good homes available to new tenants stays low.
Compared with the previous year, Austria’s 2026 rent increase still looks firm, but it is partly softened by rules that limit rises in some regulated rents.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Austria in 2026?
As of 2026, we expect rents in Austria to grow by about 3% to 5% nationally, with the strongest new-letting markets reaching about 5% to 7%.
Austria’s rent growth should be supported by tight housing supply, steady demand in university cities, expensive ownership and the fact that many renters cannot easily move into buying.
The strongest rent growth in Austria is likely in Vienna Leopoldstadt, Favoriten, Donaustadt and Landstraße, plus Salzburg city, Innsbruck near the university and Graz around Lend and Jakomini.
The main risks are new rent caps, weaker household income, higher vacancy in overpriced luxury units, and a faster recovery in housing construction than the market currently expects.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Austria as of 2026?
The best rental areas in Austria in 2026 are not always the most expensive areas, because landlords also need steady demand, low vacancy and tenants who can pay on time.
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, the three highest-rent areas in Austria are Vienna Innere Stadt at about €25 to €30 per square meter locally, about $27 to $32, or €25 to €30, Salzburg Altstadt and Nonntal at about €22 to €27, and Innsbruck Innenstadt and Hötting at about €21 to €26.
These Austrian neighborhoods command premium rents because they combine central locations, historic buildings, short supply, strong public transport, universities, offices and wealthy local or international tenants.
The typical tenant in these high-rent Austrian areas is an expat, a senior professional, a student with family support, a corporate tenant or a high-income couple who values location more than size.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we used ImmoFokus, First Vienna Residential Market Report and CBRE Living Market Report Austria. We ranked areas by asking rents, scarcity and tenant depth. We then checked the ranking against our own Austria city-market files.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Austria right now?
Young professionals in Austria often prefer Vienna Neubau, Mariahilf and Leopoldstadt, plus Graz Lend and Jakomini, because these places mix transport, nightlife, offices and smaller apartments.
In these Austria young-professional neighborhoods, monthly rents usually range from €800 to €1,300 locally, about $860 to $1,400, or €800 to €1,300 for a studio or 1-bedroom apartment.
Young professionals like these areas because they can commute without a car, meet friends easily, work near business districts and live close to cafés, gyms, supermarkets and tram or U-Bahn stops.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Austria.
Where do families prefer to rent in Austria right now?
Families in Austria often prefer Vienna Döbling, Hietzing and Donaustadt, plus Salzburg Aigen and Graz St. Peter, because these areas offer more space, schools and quieter streets.
Families renting 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartments in these Austrian areas usually pay €1,200 to €2,200 locally, about $1,300 to $2,380, or €1,200 to €2,200 per month.
These neighborhoods attract families because they offer larger flats, parks, safe residential streets, public transport, good grocery access and a better chance of finding a balcony or parking.
Important education options near these areas include Vienna International School near Donaustadt, Amadeus International School Vienna, St. Gilgen International School near Salzburg and several respected public and private schools in Graz and Vienna.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Austria in 2026?
As of 2026, the fastest-renting areas in Austria include Vienna near Hauptbahnhof, Praterstern and Spittelau, Graz around Karl-Franzens-Universität and TU Graz, and Innsbruck near Universität Innsbruck and Klinik.
In these high-demand Austrian areas, a well-priced rental often stays listed for only 7 to 20 days, while overpriced or poorly located homes can stay online much longer.
In Austria in 2026, a home within walking distance of a major station, tram hub or university can earn a rent premium of about €80 to €180 per month locally, about $85 to $195, or €80 to €180.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Austria right now?
Expats in Austria often prefer Vienna Innere Stadt, Landstraße and Döbling, plus Salzburg Altstadt and Innsbruck Innenstadt, because these areas feel easy to navigate for newcomers.
Expats renting in these Austrian neighborhoods usually pay €1,000 to €2,400 locally, about $1,080 to $2,590, or €1,000 to €2,400 per month, depending on size and furnishing.
These areas attract expats because they offer central locations, international services, English-friendly shops, good public transport, furnished apartments and access to international schools or employers.
In these Austria expat areas, the most visible communities often include Germans, people from other EU countries, British and American professionals, international students and employees of multinational firms.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we used First Vienna Residential Market Report, EHL Research and ImmoScout24 Austria. We looked at furnished supply, central districts and international services. We also compared this with our Austria expat-rental analysis.
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Austria right now?
Austria has a deep rental culture, and this matters for investors because many households see renting as normal, especially in cities such as Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck.
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Austria?
The top three tenant profiles in Austria are young professionals and students, urban families, and expats or corporate tenants.
As a simple working split for Austria in 2026, young professionals and students represent about 40% of active rental demand, families about 35%, and expats or corporate tenants about 15%, with the rest spread across retirees and other households.
Young professionals and students usually seek studios or 1-bedroom flats, families seek 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom homes, and expats often seek furnished studios, 1-bedroom apartments or central 2-bedroom homes.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we used Statistics Austria Housing Conditions, CBRE Living Market Report Austria and ImmoScout24 Austria. We treated the tenant-profile shares as practical estimates, not official census categories. We also used our own Austria tenant model.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Austria?
In Austria in 2026, about 70% of long-term tenants still prefer unfurnished or partly furnished rentals, while about 30% prefer furnished homes, especially in big cities.
A furnished apartment in Austria can usually earn a premium of about €100 to €250 per month locally, about $110 to $270, or €100 to €250, compared with a similar unfurnished apartment.
Furnished rentals in Austria are most popular with expats, international students, short-term professionals, newly arrived couples and tenants who do not want to buy furniture for a limited stay.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Austria?
The top five amenities that increase rent in Austria are strong public transport access, a balcony or loggia, an elevator, a modern fitted kitchen and low monthly running costs.
In Austria in 2026, these amenities can add about €50 to €180 per month locally, about $55 to $195, or €50 to €180 each, with the biggest effect in Vienna Altbau buildings and central city apartments.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Austria, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Austria?
The top five ROI renovations for rentals in Austria are a modern bathroom, a fitted kitchen, fresh flooring, better windows or heating, and practical storage improvements.
In Austria in 2026, a kitchen may cost €5,000 to €12,000 and add €80 to €180 monthly rent, a bathroom may cost €8,000 to €20,000 and add €100 to €250, flooring may cost €3,000 to €8,000 and add €40 to €100, windows or heating upgrades may cost €6,000 to €18,000 and add €60 to €180, and storage upgrades may cost €1,000 to €4,000 and add €20 to €60.
Luxury finishes, oversized kitchens, expensive smart-home systems and heavy upgrades in regulated Austria Altbau stock can have poor ROI because rent rules or tenant budgets may stop the landlord from recovering the full cost.
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How strong is rental demand in Austria as of 2026?
Rental demand in Austria in 2026 is strong, but the strongest demand is concentrated in cities with jobs, universities, transport and limited new housing supply.
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for rentable private homes in Austria is about 2% to 3%, with the tightest major cities often closer to 1% to 2%.
Across Austria, vacancy is usually lowest in central Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, while it can be higher in weaker small towns, remote areas and overpriced premium apartments.
Compared with Austria’s longer-term norm, the 2026 rental vacancy situation looks tight because many households stay in cheaper old contracts and fewer good homes reach the market.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Austria.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, a well-priced rental home in Austria usually stays listed for about 10 to 25 days in the main urban markets.
Small apartments near transport or universities in Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck can rent in 7 to 14 days, while large, expensive or poorly priced apartments can stay listed for 45 to 90 days.
Compared with one year ago, days on market in Austria look slightly shorter for affordable city apartments, because demand has stayed firm while new supply has remained limited.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Austria?
Peak tenant demand in Austria is usually from August to October, with another smaller demand period from January to March.
The late-summer peak happens because students, families and job movers want to settle before the university year, school year or new work contracts begin.
The quietest rental months in Austria are usually November, December and sometimes early January, when fewer people want to move and many households delay decisions until after the holidays.
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What will my monthly costs be in Austria as of 2026?
For a landlord in Austria in 2026, the biggest monthly issue is not property tax, but maintenance, reserves, repairs, management, vacancy and the split between tenant-paid Betriebskosten and owner-paid costs.
What property taxes should landlords expect in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, a typical apartment landlord in Austria should expect annual property tax of about €150 to €500 locally, about $160 to $540, or €150 to €500, before considering pass-through treatment.
The realistic range for annual property tax in Austria is roughly €100 to €1,000 locally, about $110 to $1,080, or €100 to €1,000, depending on the property type, municipality and assessed value.
Austria’s Grundsteuer is calculated from assessed property values and municipal multipliers, which means it is often modest compared with countries where tax is based on current market value.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Austria, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Austria right now?
In Austria, landlords often administer building costs such as water, waste, building insurance, cleaning, lift costs, management fees and public charges, even when many of these costs are passed to tenants.
For a typical Austrian apartment, monthly building operating costs can often run about €150 to €350 locally, about $160 to $380, or €150 to €350, while electricity, internet and sometimes heating are usually paid separately by tenants.
The common practice in Austria is that recoverable Betriebskosten are charged to tenants, while structural repairs, major maintenance, reserves and ownership costs remain the landlord’s responsibility.
How is rental income taxed in Austria as of 2026?
As of 2026, rental income in Austria is generally taxed as income from rentals and leasing, after deductible costs, with the net income taxed at progressive personal income-tax rates.
Landlords in Austria can usually deduct relevant costs such as depreciation, loan interest, repairs, management fees, insurance, tax advice, maintenance and other costs linked to the rental property.
Common Austria-specific tax mistakes include confusing recoverable Betriebskosten with profit, ignoring depreciation rules, assuming all renovation costs are immediately deductible and forgetting that non-residents may still owe Austrian tax on Austrian rental income.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we used BMF income taxation on rentals and leasing, PwC Austria individual taxes and USP Real Estate Tax. We used official tax rules as the anchor and professional summaries for readability. We also checked the result against our Austria landlord-tax notes.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Austria versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Austria, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why this source matters | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics Austria, Housing Costs | It is Austria’s official statistical source for rents actually paid by households. | We used it as the anchor for national paid rents. We treated its average rent per apartment and rent per square meter as the baseline before adjusting for new-market rents. |
| Statistics Austria Q1 2026 rent release | It gives the freshest official Austria rent figure available in June 2026. | We used it for the €695 average rent and €10.5 per square meter figure. We also used its 4.8% year-on-year change. |
| Statistics Austria, Housing Conditions | It explains Austria’s tenure structure and shows how important renting is in the country. | We used it to understand who rents in Austria. We used the high rented-dwelling share to show why rental demand is deep. |
| Statistics Austria, Stock of Dwellings | It is the official register-based source for housing stock and occupancy status. | We used it to estimate vacancy pressure carefully. We combined it with market reports because Austria does not publish a simple rental vacancy rate like the United States. |
| Statistics Austria, Richtwerte und Kategoriebeträge | It is the official source for regulated rent reference values in Austria. | We used it to separate regulated rents from new-market asking rents. We also used it to explain why not every renovation can be converted into higher rent. |
| CBRE Austria Real Estate Market Outlook 2026 | CBRE is a major real estate consultancy with local Austrian market coverage. | We used it for the 2026 macro and property-market direction. We cross-checked whether rent growth in Austria should stay positive. |
| CBRE Living Market Report Austria 2025 | It focuses specifically on Austria’s living market in Vienna, Graz, Linz and Salzburg. | We used it for city-level rental demand and supply pressure. We relied on it especially for the idea that relief is unlikely to come quickly in 2026. |
| BUWOG/EHL First Vienna Residential Market Report | It is a specialist Vienna residential report by two established Austrian operators. | We used it for Vienna district detail. We used it to name central, family and growth districts instead of speaking only about Austria nationally. |
| EHL Research | EHL is an established Austrian real estate firm with residential market research. | We used it to validate Vienna and city-market patterns. We treated it as a professional-market cross-check, not as the only source. |
| ImmoScout24 Austria listings | It is one of Austria’s major rental listing portals and shows current asking supply. | We used it to estimate new-tenant asking rents. We adjusted it downward when official paid-rent data clearly captured older regulated leases. |
| ImmoFokus citing ImmoScout24 rent analysis | It reports ImmoScout24’s rental asking-price analysis by federal state. | We used it to triangulate the national new-listing level around €16 per square meter. We also used its Vienna, Salzburg and Tyrol figures to identify premium areas. |
| BMF Grundsteuer | It is Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance page on property tax. | We used it for landlord property-tax mechanics. We noted that Grundsteuer can generally be passed on as an operating cost. |
| USP Real Estate Tax | It is an official Austrian business-service portal explaining real estate tax. | We used it to confirm municipal collection and tax-base logic. We used it to avoid overestimating Austria’s property tax burden. |
| BMF Income taxation on rentals and leasing | It is the official Austrian tax authority page for rental income. | We used it for depreciation and deductible-cost treatment. We combined it with professional tax summaries for practical landlord wording. |
| WKO operating costs | WKO is Austria’s official chamber for business guidance. | We used it to explain which operating costs are normally passed to tenants. We used it to distinguish landlord-paid repairs from tenant-paid Betriebskosten. |
| RIS Mietrechtsgesetz | RIS is Austria’s official legal information system. | We used it to check the legal rent framework. We used it mainly for regulated rents, operating costs and lease structure. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Austria
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