Budget & Costs
What does Vienna cost?
Vienna ranks in the upper mid-range of European capitals — comparable to Munich or Amsterdam. The currency is the Euro (€), and credit card payment is possible almost everywhere. Some areas are surprisingly affordable: public transport (annual ticket: 365€ = 1€/day!), standing room at the opera (4€), and tap water (high spring water from the Alps — better than any bottled water).
Typical Prices (Guidelines 2025/2026)
| Item | Price (€) |
|---|---|
| Melange (coffee in a coffee house) | 4.50–6.00 |
| Beer (Krügerl, 0.5l) | 4.00–5.50 |
| Glass of wine (Viertel, 0.25l) | 3.50–5.50 |
| Wiener Schnitzel (restaurant) | 14–22 |
| Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher | 8.50 |
| Lunch menu (Beisl) | 9–14 |
| Sausage stand (Käsekrainer + beer) | 5–7 |
| Hostel (dormitory) | 18–35 |
| Hotel (mid-range, double room) | 90–180 |
| Subway single ride | 2.40 |
| 24-hour public transport ticket | 8.00 |
| Schönbrunn Palace (Grand Tour) | 29 |
| Kunsthistorisches Museum | 21 |
| State Opera (standing room) | 4–15 |
| Belvedere (Upper) | 18.50 |
Budget Levels
Budget / Backpacker (40–65€ per day)
Vienna is not a typical backpacker destination, but it's possible: Hostel from 18€, lunch menu in a Beisl for 9–12€, sausage stand in the evening (5€), standing room at the opera (4€), free museums on the first Sunday, Prater walk and Danube Island — free. The high spring water from the tap saves bottled water costs.
Mid-range (70–150€ per day)
Boutique hotel in the Inner City or the 7th district, coffee house breakfast, schnitzel at Figlmüller, 1–2 museums, evening at a Heurigen in Grinzing. Vienna's best value-for-money segment — imperial experiences without an imperial budget.
Comfort / Luxury (160–400€+ per day)
Grand Hotel Wien or Hotel Sacher, Sachertorte in the afternoon, box seat at the State Opera, Michelin-star dinner (Steirereck, Silvio Nickol), carriage ride through the Inner City, and champagne in the Albertina Passage. Vienna can be a Grande Dame — and the prices are more moderate than in Paris or London.
Tipp
Vienna's biggest saving hack: First Sunday of the month! Many federal museums (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Naturhistorisches Museum, Albertina, Belvedere) offer free or discounted entry then. Also: Lunch menus in Beisln are significantly cheaper than the dinner menu — same cuisine, half the price.
Saving Tips
Vienna is upscale — with these tips, it becomes affordable:
- Tap water: Vienna's tap water comes from the Alps (high spring water pipeline, 150 km!) and is of top drinking water quality. Don't buy bottled water — bring a bottle and refill. You can also order tap water in restaurants.
- Standing room at the opera: 4–15€ for the Vienna State Opera, Volksoper, or the Burgtheater. Queue up 80 minutes before the performance starts. World-class culture at student prices.
- First Sunday: Many museums offer free or discounted entry on the first Sunday of the month.
- Vienna City Card: From 17€ for 24h — discounted entry to 210 attractions + public transport. Worth it with 2+ museum visits per day.
- Beisln instead of restaurants: Vienna's Beisln (traditional taverns) offer lunch menus for 9–14€ — authentic Viennese cuisine without the tourist markup.
- Sausage stands: Käsekrainer with mustard and bread for 4–5€ — Vienna's most honest and cheapest food. Even at 2 AM.
- Naschmarkt on Saturday: The flea market at the western end of the Naschmarkt is free and an experience. Haggling is allowed.
- Free concerts: In summer: Film Festival at Rathausplatz (open-air film screenings of operas and concerts — free!), Donauinselfest (end of June, free).
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