EUROCOSTSCOUNTRY COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-07-15
Austria vs Sweden: taxes, salary and cost of living
A move between Austria and Sweden is not simply a choice between a cheap and an expensive country; income, rent and taxation pull the result in different directions.
Austria vs Sweden at a glance
| Indicator | Austria | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VAT | 20% | 25% |
| Income tax | 0-55% | 29-55% |
| Social contributions | 18.12% | 38.42% |
| Tax burden | 47.2% | 42.6% |
| Average monthly salary | 4,950 € gross/month | €3,750 |
| Studio rent | €760 | €900 |
| Monthly food estimate | €330 | €360 |
| Gasoline | 1.63 €/L | 1.55 €/L |
| Electricity | 0.28 €/kWh | 0.22 €/kWh |
How far does the local salary go?
The salary records for Austria and Sweden are not directly numeric in both cases. A responsible comparison therefore avoids inventing a salary gap and treats the displayed labels as source notes to verify.
What recurring living costs reveal
Austria has the lower listed studio rent by €140, a 15.6% difference relative to the higher rent. Austria sits 20 of 37 and Sweden 27 of 37 in the available low-to-high rent ranking. Austria also has the lower food estimate, so the housing result is reinforced by groceries.
A simplified salary-minus-rent-and-food remainder cannot be calculated reliably for both Austria and Sweden because at least one component is non-numeric. The interactive calculator should be used only after verifying those inputs.
Tax profile for employees
Sweden has the lower listed tax burden by 4.6 percentage points. Standard VAT is 20% in Austria versus 25% in Sweden. Allowances, tax brackets and employment status can reverse a headline comparison.
Fuel-price impact
Sweden has the lower listed gasoline price by €0.08 per litre. For a driver buying 50 litres a month, that headline difference is about €4 monthly, before insurance, parking and road charges.
The answer depends on your profile
For a remote worker paid from abroad, housing and daily costs may matter more than the local salary ranking; on that narrow view, Austria deserves closer attention. A locally employed professional should instead begin with salary and payroll definitions.
Final view: Austria or Sweden?
The available headline indicators do not produce a clear overall winner between Austria and Sweden. Your choice should depend on salary, housing and tax priorities.
Sources and data references
- PwC standard VAT rates
- PwC personal income tax rates
- PwC corporate income tax rates
- EuroCosts data scope and generation process
Explore Austria comparisons · Explore Sweden comparisons