Expat in Vienna

Having been ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities for the last several years, Vienna’s thriving nightlife, cultural attractions, and low crime rates depict a city that has it all. Vienna has thus attracted expats seeking a more relaxed way of life for decades, as the small, central European country has a lot to offer.

Where can I find accommodation in Vienna – it’s the question most arriving expats ask themselves. While the country as a whole isn’t renowned for an unusually low cost of living, it can still be affordable to rent an apartment in Vienna, for many expats.

This article focuses on the tips you’ll ever need to not only survive but find accommodation as an expat in Vienna

1. Learning the language.

You live a new life for every language you speak. Learning Viennese’s wild and beautiful version of German – Wienerisch is the first step in creating lasting connections. As much as you’ll learn Viennese on the streets, signing up for a German course would prove helpful, even though most people know at least a smattering English. Speaking the local language is what makes the difference between being truly in and just getting by.

2. Deciding where to live.

Vienna is a city of neighborhoods. Selecting a suitable location for your stay is what will define your lifestyle in the city. The city comprises of 23 districts, named and numbered, with all the other districts wrapping around the first district like a snail’s shell. Living in the central areas of the city lets you make the most of the Viennese culture as well as the nightlife. Generally, the kind of lifestyle you intend to have should influence your choice of location.

3. Residence registration form.

Better known as Meldezettel in Vienna, the residence registration form is a document which shows your proof of existence in the city, and without it, you don’t exist in the eyes of the state. You need to apply it for everything, from getting your social security number to a library card! Also, the postal services, as well as several rights such as voting rights and parking stickers, are connected with residence registration. Registration matters in Vienna are within the competence of the district offices and need undertaking before or after moving to a new address, within three days.

4. Get connected.

Moving to a new city can be overwhelming, just like the first day of school all over again. The best way to deal with the “blending in” stage in Vienna is to get yourself into the mass of other people also experiencing the initial adjustment stage, in a bid to understand the Austrian people as well as their culture. Just like most European countries, Vienna is full of internationals and locals alike, wanting to connect and you’ll find a majority of them at the bars of the many Irish pubs around the city.