In short
Berlin and Vienna cost about the same — about €2,370 and €2,340 a month for a single person with a central 1-bedroom. Germany has no digital nomad, retirement or golden visa. Austria offers Americans a retirement visa. Citizenship takes about 5 years of residence in Germany and 10 in Austria. Every figure below is checked against official sources.
The verdict
Which Country Fits You?
Where one side is clearly better for most Americans, it gets the point — the rest depends on your plans.
Choose Germany if…
- You have a job offer — the EU Blue Card salary bar is lower: €50,700 a year (€45,934 for shortage jobs, graduates and IT).
- You want citizenship sooner: 5 years, B1 German and a test; dual citizenship allowed.
- You are a founder: self-employment permit — no minimum investment; freelance permit for liberal professions.
Choose Austria if…
- You live on a pension or savings: Settlement permit without work — €2,616.78 net a month (single, 2026); yearly quota; A1 German. Germany has none.
- You will run a company — corporate tax is 23%.
- You want a simple company set-up: GmbH — €10,000 capital (€5,000 in cash); notary needed.
Cost of Living
Berlin and Vienna Cost About the Same
| Germany | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment, city centre | Germanyabout €1,320 (Berlin) | Austriaabout €1,170 (Vienna)✓ |
| 1-bed apartment, outside centre | Germanyabout €995 (Berlin) | Austriaabout €845 (Vienna)✓ |
| Everyday costs, single person (no rent) | Germanyabout €1,050 (Berlin)✓ | Austriaabout €1,170 (Vienna) |
| Total a month — single, central 1-bed | Germanyabout €2,370 (Berlin) | Austriaabout €2,340 (Vienna) |
Living costs: Numbeo estimates for the capital (2026), as shown with sources on each city guide and in the key facts below.
Visas & Residence
Visas & Work Permits Compared
| Germany | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Main work permit | GermanyAmericans may take any job with Federal Employment Agency approval; skilled-worker permit up to 4 years | AustriaRed-White-Red Card — points test; €3,465 a month for "other key workers" (2026) |
| EU Blue Card salary | Germany€50,700 a year (€45,934 for shortage jobs, graduates and IT)✓ | Austria€55,678 a year (2026) |
| Apply from inside the country | GermanyYes — any permit at the local foreigners office after visa-free entry | AustriaYes — US citizens may apply in Austria during their visa-free stay |
| Digital nomad visa | GermanyNone | AustriaNone |
| Retirement / passive-income visa | GermanyNone | AustriaSettlement permit without work — €2,616.78 net a month (single, 2026); yearly quota; A1 German✓ |
| Golden (investor) visa | GermanyNone | AustriaNone |
Settling In
Germany Leads to Citizenship Sooner
| Germany | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence | GermanyAfter 5 years — 21–27 months with a Blue Card, 3 years for skilled workers | AustriaAfter 5 years, with B1 German |
| Citizenship | Germany5 years, B1 German and a test; dual citizenship allowed✓ | AustriaAfter 10 years (6 with B2 German); prior citizenship usually given up |
| Public healthcare | GermanyPublic insurance about 8.75% of salary for employees, plus care insurance | AustriaThrough work (7.65% of salary) or ÖGK self-insurance at €565 a month after 6 months |
Tax & Business
Taxes & Company Rules
| Germany | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual company | GermanyGmbH — €25,000 capital (€12,500 at formation), or UG from €1; notary needed | AustriaGmbH — €10,000 capital (€5,000 in cash); notary needed |
| Corporate tax | GermanyAbout 30% in Berlin incl. trade tax | Austria23%✓ |
| US tax treaty | Germany1989 treaty with a 2006 protocol | Austria1996 US–Austria convention |
US citizens & Green Card holdersThe US still taxes you
Wherever you live, the US taxes its citizens on worldwide income. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any time in the year.
Daily Life
Daily Life in Berlin and Vienna
| Germany | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (capital) | GermanyAbout 3.7 million (2025) | AustriaAbout 2.04 million (2026) |
| Public transport (capital) | GermanyDeutschlandticket €63 a month — all local transport in Germany | AustriaAnnual pass €467 (2026) |
| Currency | GermanyEuro | AustriaEuro |
FAQ
Germany or Austria? Your questions
Is Berlin or Vienna cheaper?
They cost about the same: a single person with a central 1-bedroom spends about €2,370 a month in Berlin and €2,340 in Vienna (Numbeo, 2026). Rent for a central 1-bedroom is about €1,320 in Berlin and €1,170 in Vienna.
Does Germany or Austria have a digital nomad visa?
Germany has no digital nomad visa. Austria has no digital nomad visa.
How long until I can get citizenship?
Germany: 5 years, B1 German and a test; dual citizenship allowed. Austria: After 10 years (6 with B2 German); prior citizenship usually given up.
Do I still pay US taxes if I move?
Yes. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. You keep filing a US return, and an FBAR once your foreign accounts total more than $10,000. Foreign tax credits and the treaties usually prevent paying twice on the same income.
Germany vs Austria: key factsLast verified 28 September 2026
| Germany: 1-bed apartment, Berlin | about €1,320/month in the centre, €995 outside estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Berlin (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Germany: Living costs, single person (Berlin) | about €1,050/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Berlin (Sep 2026) |
| Austria: 1-bed apartment | about €845/month (range €700–1,200) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Vienna (Sep 2026) |
| Austria: 1-bed apartment | about €1,170/month (range €850–1,800) estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Vienna (Sep 2026) |
| Austria: Living costs, single person | about €1,170/month without rent estimate Source: Numbeo: cost of living in Vienna (Sep 2026) |
| Germany: § 26 BeschV nationals | US, Canadian, Australian, UK, Israeli, Japanese, Korean and NZ citizens may take any job, regardless of where the employer is based, with Federal Employment Agency approval (priority check) Source: Employment Ordinance § 26 (BeschV) |
| Austria: RWR Card (other key workers) | €3,465 gross per month (2026), at least 55 points Source: WKO: Red-White-Red Card (2026 salaries) |
| Germany: EU Blue Card | Salary at least €50,700 a year, or €45,934.20 for shortage occupations, new graduates and IT specialists (2026) Source: Make it in Germany: EU Blue Card |
| Austria: EU Blue Card salary | €55,678 gross a year (2026) Source: Work in Austria: EU Blue Card |
| Germany: Where to apply | US citizens can get any residence permit (Blue Card, skilled worker, freelance, study) at the local foreigners office after visa-free entry Source: Residence Ordinance § 41 (AufenthV) |
| Austria: Where to apply | Normally abroad, but US and other visa-exempt citizens may apply in Austria during their visa-free stay Source: Settlement and Residence Act (NAG), RIS |
| Germany: Digital nomad visa | None — and no official plan for a remote-work permit has been announced Source: Make it in Germany: self-employment |
| Austria: Income required (single) | €2,616.78 net per month (€31,401 a year) in 2026, after rent above €386.43 Source: oesterreich.gv.at: settlement permit, gainful employment excluded · City of Vienna: secured means of subsistence |
| Germany: Permanent residence (general) | After 5 years with 60 months of pension contributions and B1 German; faster routes for Blue Card, skilled workers and the self-employed Source: Residence Act § 9 (settlement permit) |
| Austria: Permanent residence | 'Daueraufenthalt – EU' after 5 years, with German B1 (Module 2) Source: Settlement and Residence Act (NAG), RIS |
| Germany: Citizenship | 5 years of residence (since June 2024), B1 German and a test; the 3-year fast track was abolished in October 2025; dual citizenship allowed; fee €255 Source: bpb: reform of citizenship law (2024) · Bundestag: abolition of the 3-year fast track (Oct 2025) · BAMF: naturalisation |
| Austria: Citizenship | After 10 years (6 with B2 German, or B1 plus 3 years of integration activity); prior citizenship usually given up Source: Citizenship Act (StbG), RIS |
| Germany: Public health insurance | 14.6% + average add-on 2.9% (2026), split with the employer — employees pay about 8.75% plus care insurance Source: Federal Ministry of Health: contributions 2026 |
| Austria: ÖGK self-insurance | €565.25 per month (2026); needs residence in Austria, 6-month waiting period Source: ÖGK: voluntary self-insurance 2026 |
| Germany: Company types | GmbH with €25,000 capital (€12,500 paid in at formation) or UG from €1 Source: Limited Liability Companies Act § 5 (GmbHG) |
| Austria: Minimum share capital | €10,000, at least €5,000 paid in cash (since 2024) Source: Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbHG), RIS |
| Germany: Corporate tax | 15% + 5.5% solidarity surcharge (15.825%), plus trade tax — about 30% in Berlin, 33% in Munich; falling by 1 point a year from 2028 to 10% in 2032 Source: Corporate Tax Act § 23 (15%) · Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 161: investment programme (corporate tax cut) · Berlin Senate: trade tax FAQ · City of Munich: trade tax multipliers |
| Austria: Corporate income tax | 23% (since 2024) Source: USP: corporate income tax overview |
| Germany: US tax treaty | 1989 treaty with 2006 protocol; saving clause lets the US tax its citizens Source: US Congress report on the 2006 US–Germany protocol |
| Austria: US–Austria tax treaty | In force (1996 convention) Source: IRS: Austria tax treaty documents |
| Germany: Berlin population | About 3.7 million (official, end of 2025) Source: Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg: population December 2025 |
| Austria: Vienna population | 2,042,036 (1 Jan 2026) Source: Statistik Austria: population 1 Jan 2026 |
| Germany: Berlin transport | AB single €4.00; Deutschlandticket €63 a month; BER airport to Hauptbahnhof 23 minutes by FEX train Source: VBB: fares from 1 January 2026 · Deutschlandticket · BER: rail connection from December 2025 |
| Austria: Vienna annual transport pass | €467 (€461 digital) in 2026 Source: Wiener Linien: annual pass |
| Germany: Self-employment permit (§ 21(1)) | Economic interest or regional need, positive effect on the economy and secured financing; no minimum investment Source: Make it in Germany: self-employment |
Go deeper
The full guides
Across Europe
Every guide and comparison
- OverviewMove to Europe
- CountriesAll 29 Countries
- LivingExpat Guides
- RetirementRetire by Country
- CitiesBest Cities to Live In
- BusinessCompany Formation
- FoundersStartup Visas
- InvestorsGolden Visas
- Remote workDigital Nomad Visas
- RetirementRetirement Visas
- CitizenshipCitizenship by Descent
- CostsCost of Living
- HealthHealthcare
- TaxTax Residency
- PetsMoving with Pets
- DrivingUS Driver's License
- PropertyBuying Property
- EducationStudy in Europe
- SafetySafety & Stability
- WorkWork-Life Balance
- TravelTravel & Schengen
- LifestyleLifestyle
Germany or Austria — Let's Decide Together
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