Vienna
Austria · Europe · 2.0M people
Consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities.
Ranked #3 of 303 overall · 48.21, 16.37
Overview
Vienna, Austria, is home to about 2.0 million residents and has built a reputation that goes beyond its size. Its reputation is built on history, architecture and a dense cultural calendar. Vienna stands out for how safe it feels compared to cities of a similar size. People who choose to settle in Vienna tend to point to a strong sense of safety, solid infrastructure for remote work, and reliable healthcare as the deciding factors. Against its 103 tracked peers in Europe, Vienna's 7.9/10 overall score sits 1.0 points above the regional average of 6.9. On CityMatch, Vienna scores 7.9/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #3 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is safety at 9/10, while climate is its softest spot at 5/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Comfortable on a moderate budget.
Consistently rated among the safer picks.
One of the cleaner cities in our data.
Dense, reliable public transport.
Not everyone's ideal climate.
A strong pick if healthcare matters most to you.
Fast, reliable connectivity.
Is Vienna right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
A 9/10 safety score puts Vienna among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Public transport scores 9/10, dense enough that skipping a car is realistic for most residents.
Healthcare scores 9/10, a meaningful factor for families, retirees, or anyone planning to stay long-term.
Trade-offs
Climate is the hardest trade-off here at 5/10 — expect genuinely difficult weather for part of the year.
Cost of living is Vienna's comparatively softest spot at 6/10 — still a workable budget, just not its standout strength.
Is Vienna safe?
Vienna scores 9/10 on safety — one of the more reassuring cities in our database. Most residents and visitors report feeling comfortable with ordinary city awareness rather than specific precautions.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Combined with a healthcare score of 9/10 and environment score of 8/10, Vienna looks like a genuinely solid pick for raising a family.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (9/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Public transport feels safe here too — safety (9/10) and transport quality (9/10) are both strong, a combination that generally makes getting around without a car low-stress.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in Vienna?
Climate (5/10) is a moderate trade-off here, not severe, but not something to move for either.
Seasonal character
Seasons here are more pronounced — at least one part of the year leans notably hot, cold, or wet compared with the rest.
Comfort level
Comfort varies meaningfully by season — some months are genuinely pleasant, others require real adjustment.
Best time to live here
Timing matters more here — researching the specific hottest, coldest or wettest months before committing is worth the effort.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Vienna
Put together, quality of life in Vienna is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: vienna tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's genuinely workable.
Pace & lifestyle
Vienna tends to run at a calmer, more settled pace, the kind of rhythm that suits routine and family life more than nightlife.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor time is reasonably pleasant, with environment (8/10) and climate (5/10) scores that don't get in the way, without being a specific draw either.
Getting around
Getting around is one of Vienna's clearer strengths (9/10) — day-to-day life doesn't really require a car.
Culture & leisure
Vienna is specifically known for its cultural and historical scene — museums, architecture and a dense calendar of things to do are part of its identity, not an afterthought.
Based on its actual score profile, Vienna tends to suit people who prioritize safety and public transport over climate — see "Who Vienna suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Vienna?
Cleanliness-adjacent signals are strong here: an environment score of 8/10 suggests air quality and general upkeep most visitors would notice positively.
Public spaces
We don't track a separate public-space or waste-management metric, but cities that score this well on air quality tend to also invest visibly in upkeep — a reasonable, if indirect, signal.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Vienna suits
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 8.3/10 here).
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 8.2/10 here).
Young family
Young familys — households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (fit score 8.0/10 here).
Young professional
Young professionals — early-career movers who want nightlife and transit within budget, without yet prioritizing healthcare or climate (fit score 7.9/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
At 6/10 for cost of living, Vienna lands in a middle ground where costs are manageable without being a bargain.
Safety
At 9/10 on our safety score, Vienna ranks among the more secure cities we track, which tends to matter most for families and first-time movers.
Climate
Vienna scores 5/10 on climate, so pack for genuine seasons rather than assuming mild weather year-round.
Quality of life
Quality of life in Vienna is uneven rather than uniformly good or bad — a 7.9/10 average built on a clear high point in safety and a clear weak point in climate. The average across all seven criteria is 7.9/10.
Transport
Vienna's public transport scores 9/10, dense and reliable enough that most residents don't think twice about skipping a car.
Internet & remote work
At 9/10 for internet, Vienna is squarely in "video-call without worrying about it" territory.
Why choose Vienna?
Vienna makes the most sense if safety matters more to you than climate — at 7.9/10 overall, it's a solid rather than perfect pick, and the trade-offs above are worth weighing against your own priorities rather than the headline score alone.
You may also like
Munich
Germany · Europe
Prosperous Bavarian capital with excellent transit and near the Alps.
Copenhagen
Denmark · Europe
Bike-first capital regularly topping global happiness rankings.
Stockholm
Sweden · Europe
Archipelago capital blending design heritage with a strong tech sector.
Tokyo
Japan · Asia
Enormous, immaculately organised capital with the world's busiest rail network.
The Hague
Netherlands · Europe
Seat of the Dutch government and the UN's top courts, calmer than Amsterdam.
Continue exploring
Best cities in Austria
Cities with a similar climate
Cheaper alternatives
Comparable quality of life
If you're interested in Vienna, you may also compare:
Frequently asked questions
Is Vienna safe?
Yes — Vienna scores 9/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in Vienna?
Vienna scores 6/10 on cost of living — a moderate budget is enough for a comfortable lifestyle, without it being a bargain destination.
Is Vienna good for families?
Vienna works well for families: safety (9/10), healthcare (9/10) and environment (8/10) average out to a strong combination for raising kids.
Is Vienna a good city for students?
Vienna isn't specifically known as a student hub, but its affordability (6/10) and transport (9/10) scores make it a workable option.
Is Vienna suitable for digital nomads?
Vienna isn't specifically marketed to remote workers, but the fundamentals are there: internet scores 9/10 and cost of living 6/10.
What's the climate like in Vienna?
Vienna scores 5/10 on climate, meaning a proper seasonal swing including a stretch of weather most people wouldn't call ideal.
Is Vienna pleasant to live in year-round?
Reasonably — Vienna scores 5/10 on climate and 8/10 on environment, a fair rather than exceptional combination across the year.
Is Vienna a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 8.8/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Vienna?
Yes — Vienna scores 9/10 on internet and connectivity, comfortably enough for video calls and day-to-day remote work.
Is Vienna a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 7.7/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Vienna?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Munich and Copenhagen are the closest matches to Vienna in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Vienna worth living in?
On balance, yes — Vienna's overall score of 7.9/10 is among the stronger all-round profiles in our 303-city database, without one glaring weakness dragging it down.
Who should move to Vienna?
Based on its score profile, Vienna suits people who value safety and public transport more than the average mover — see the "Who Vienna suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Vienna walkable, and is public transport good?
Yes — Vienna scores 9/10 on transport, dense and reliable enough that a car is genuinely optional for most residents.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Vienna?
Safety is Vienna's standout strength, scoring 9/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Vienna?
Climate is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 5/10 — the lowest of Vienna's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.