Living in Vienna: how to choose a district

Vienna has 23 districts, with the best for expats being Innere Stadt (1st - city center, expensive), Leopoldstadt (2nd - nature & culture), Mariahilf (6th - shopping & dining), Neubau (7th - trendy & artistic), and Währing/Döbling (18th/19th - family-friendly with international schools). Avoid Favoriten (10th district). Vienna was named the world's most livable city in 2019 for the tenth year straight, offering excellent public transport, cultural diversity, and a metropolitan population of nearly 2.6 million.

Living in Vienna is something we should all aspire to. After all, Austria's illustrious capital was named the world's most livable city in 2019 for the tenth year in a row by the Economic Intelligence Unit and Mercer Consulting Group. Vienna occupies a spot at the easternmost end of the Alps, split by the Danube river. The city now boasts 23 districts, each with its own local administrative office. For more guides on expat living worldwide, visit our blog.

Cultural Diversity

In 2019, over 30% of Viennese residents didn't have Austrian citizenship. Foreign residents are largely from Serbia, Türkiye, Germany, or Poland.

Best Districts for Expats

1. Innere Stadt (1st District) - City Center

Best for: Those who can afford luxury living and want to walk to work

Pros:

• Historical sites and major attractions (Hofburg, St. Stephan's Basilica, Staatsoper)
• Family-friendly with parks: Rathauspark, Heldenplatz, Burggarten, Wiener Stadtpark
• Excellent restaurants and shopping
• University of Vienna and Vienna Business School
• Very safe, quiet at night

Cons:

• Prohibitively expensive (apartments start from US$2 million to buy, €1,500+ for studio rental)
• Mainly for well-heeled residents

2. Leopoldstadt (2nd District) - Nature & Culture

Best for: City center living with abundant nature

Pros:

• Six-million-square-foot Prater Park and Augarten parks
• Multicultural and expat-friendly
• Vienna Planetarium, Vienna Boys' Choir, Vienna Crime Museum
• U2 metro line offers direct access to city center
• Diverse accommodation: studios (€1,000) to three-bedroom penthouses (€6,000)

Cons:

• Avoid lingering around Praterstern train station

3. Landstraße (3rd) & Wieden (4th Districts)

Landstraße - Best for: Families seeking quiet pace of life

Wieden - Best for: Young families wanting hip, cool neighborhood

Landstraße features:

• Baroque Belvedere Museum and gardens
• Military History Museum
• Hundertwasser's colorful apartment block
• Low-key and relaxed

Wieden features:

• Vienna's original hipster district
• Mini-Chinatown, independent fashion boutiques
• Near famous Naschmarkt
• Vienna Technical University (TU Wien)

Rental prices: €800 to €5,000/month depending on size

4. Mariahilf (6th District) - Shopping & Dining

Best for: First-time expats who want city life without going too local

Pros:

• Named one of top 15 coolest districts in Europe
• Pedestrianized Mariahilferstraße shopping street
• Traditional coffeehouses and international restaurants
• Independent galleries and vintage stores
• Can walk to city center in 30 minutes

Cons:

• Very hilly (difficult with strollers)

Rental prices: €1,000 for studio to €3,000 for two-bedroom

5. Neubau (7th District) - Trendy & Artistic

Best for: Singles or young families who love artsy vibes

Pros:

• Vienna's answer to Brooklyn - trendy, eclectic
• Wealth of international restaurants and cafés
• Street art, galleries, Volkstheater
• Spittelberg Christmas Market each winter
• Right next to Innere Stadt
• U3 U-Bahn line at Neubaugasse station

Rental prices: €1,200 to €6,000/month

6. Währing (18th) & Döbling (19th Districts) - Family Suburbs

Best for: Expat families wanting suburban living with city access

Pros:

• Grand elegant homes and beautiful mansions
• Gateway to Vienna's vineyards and Heuriger wine taverns
• International schools: American International School of Vienna, MERIDIAN Bilingual Primary School, Amadeus International School, Vienna European School
• Private hospitals: Rudolfinerhaus Privatklinik, Privatklinik Döbling
• Türkenschanzpark (vast tranquil park)
• 15-20 minutes to city center by bus/tram

Housing: €90,000 to €8 million to buy; €700 to €2,500/month to rent

7. Ottakring (16th District) - Bohemian & Cool

Best for: Those wanting grit, character, and community

Pros:

• Multicultural (large Turkish and Balkan population)
• Named Vienna's coolest district
• Oldest Heurigen (tavern) in Vienna
• Brunnenmarkt for shopping
• U3 and U6 U-Bahn lines, Wien Ottakring train station
• Affordable: €600 for studio, €2,000 for two-bedroom

Cons:

• Considered rough by some locals (though not dangerous)
• Not Vienna's prettiest district

District to Avoid

Favoriten (10th District): Historically working-class with affordable public housing and dense, multicultural population. Safe to visit but not recommended for expat living.

Vienna Economy & Work

Vienna is one of the wealthiest cities in the EU with gross regional product of €47,200 per capita (25.7% of Austria's GDP).

• Service sector: 85.5% of gross value
• Industry and commerce: 14.5%
• Most important trades: Scientific and technological services, real estate, manufacturing
• International companies: Hewlett Packard, Henkel, Baxalta, Siemens

Tips for Choosing a Neighborhood

• Research and visit neighborhoods in advance
• Speak to friends or long-term Vienna residents
• Check local expat groups on Facebook
• Identify priorities: safety, schools, groceries, nature, etc.
• Consider commute to work
• Check accommodation style in the district
• Verify transport links
• See if other expats live in the area

Where to Find Accommodation

• Online rental websites: HousingAnywhere, immobilien.net
• Local newspapers
• Real estate agents (Immobilienmakler) - best for buying

Transportation in Vienna

Vienna has excellent public transport including U-Bahn (metro), buses, and trams connecting all districts. Central districts have a mix of residential parking permits and short-term lots.