Austria is a nation of renters — under half of Viennese households own. For expats there's a twist the listing sites don't mention: in most provinces, non-EU citizens need official approval before they can buy at all. The numbers, then the rules.
Last verified: 8 July 2026The headline averages hide a two-tier market: sitting tenants on older contracts pay near the €10.4/m² average, while newcomers pay new-listing prices — half as much again, and roughly double in central Vienna, Innsbruck, or Salzburg. Leases are either unlimited (unbefristet) or fixed-term with a legal minimum of 3 years; landlords favour fixed terms. Expect a deposit of three months' rent, and note that older buildings fall under rent-control rules (Richtwertmieten) that can work strongly in your favour — worth understanding before you sign anything in Vienna's pre-1945 stock.
Every Austrian province regulates land purchases by foreigners (Ausländergrundverkehr). As a US or Canadian citizen — without EU citizenship or, in most provinces, permanent residence — you generally need approval from the provincial land transfer authority before a purchase can be registered. Practice varies sharply: some provinces approve routine home purchases by legal residents; tourist-pressured provinces like Tyrol and Salzburg are notoriously restrictive, especially for anything that smells like a holiday home. Budget time for it, and get a local property lawyer before you sign.
| Cost item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Property transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) | 3.5% of the price |
| Land register entry (Eintragungsgebühr) | 1.1% |
| Notary / lawyer (contract + escrow) | ~1–3% |
| Buyer's agent commission (if used) | up to 3% + 20% VAT |
| Total transaction costs | roughly 9–12% on top of the price |
There's no inheritance tax if you later leave the property to your children — but gifts and inheritances of real estate still trigger the transfer tax. See Tax & Finance.
Official land-register medians by province — Vienna €5,212/m², Styria €2,750/m² — and why asking prices run 20–45% higher.
Where expats can actually buy, the approval process, and the holiday-home traps.
Richtwert, Kategorie, and free-market rents — and why the building's age changes everything.
Befristet vs unbefristet, operating costs, deposits, and the clauses to negotiate.
Buying or renting from 6,000 km away is where expensive mistakes happen. We'll introduce you to a property specialist in Austria we've vetted ourselves — no paid listings.