How much do you need to earn to live here, after Austria takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Austria's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Graz is roughly €1,799/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,159/month gross (€1,633 net after ~24% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €700 Cheapest neighborhood (Gries) | €850 Median neighborhood | €1,100 Premium neighborhood (Innere Stadt) |
| Groceries | €300 | €360 | €450 |
| Transport | €52 | €52 | €52 |
| Utilities | €191 | €191 | €191 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €150 | €180 | €225 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,393 | €1,633 | €2,018 |
€1,799/month gross
€2,159/month gross
€2,800/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 8 neighborhoods in Graz.
Gries
12 min by tram
€700 - €850
Mariatrost
25 min by tram
€700 - €850
Jakomini
10 min by tram
€750 - €900
Innere Stadt
5 min by walk
€1,000 - €1,200
Geidorf
10 min by tram
€900 - €1,100
St. Leonhard
12 min by tram
€800 - €1,000
All 8 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Austria's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,799/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Graz. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,159/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Austria.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 8 neighborhoods in Graz is approximately €884/month. Rents range from €700 in Gries to €1,200 in Innere Stadt.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Graz cost approximately €300. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Austria are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,799/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 23%. At the comfortable level of €2,159/month, it rises to approximately 24%. This includes income tax and social contributions.