Neubau, Mariahilf, Josefstadt, Alsergrund, Landstraße, Leopoldstadt: where to rent in Vienna, at what price and under what rules.
To rent an apartment in Vienna, Austria, six neighbourhoods come up in most searches: Neubau, Mariahilf and Josefstadt west of the historic centre, Alsergrund to the north, Landstraße to the south-east and Leopoldstadt, across the Danube Canal. They are central, well connected and sought after, which shows in the prices: several of them are among the districts where rents on new leases rose the most in 2025.
Vienna is a city of tenants. According to Statistik Austria, more than three-quarters of Viennese households rent, and a large share of them live in municipal or cooperative housing. This regulated stock remains hard for a newcomer to access: expats and students mostly search the private market, where well-located properties go fast. This guide presents the neighbourhoods to target, the rents to expect, the rules of the lease and the precautions to take before signing.
The city has 23 districts (Bezirke), numbered from the centre outward. The 1st, Innere Stadt, is the most expensive: according to the willhaben portal's barometer, a newly let home there cost on average €25.58 per m² in 2025. The following six neighbourhoods offer a better balance between location and budget.
A creative and lively neighbourhood, much appreciated by young professionals and expats. Its popularity comes at a price: asking rents there rose 17.9% in 2025 according to willhaben, for an average of €22.08 per m².
Neighbouring Neubau, central and lively, Mariahilf shows the same average level (€22.08 per m² in 2025) and one of the biggest one-year increases in the country, 19.9%.
A central, residential district, in high demand. With the 1st and the 7th, it is among the areas where rent per m² reaches the top of Vienna's range. Rents on new leases there rose 14.2% in 2025.
A university and student atmosphere, a stone's throw from the centre. A good choice if you study or work in the north of the city centre and want a quiet neighbourhood without going far.
The embassy district, close to the Belvedere and the central station. It suits those who travel often or work in international organisations.
Between the Prater and the Danube Canal, Leopoldstadt offers good value for money very close to the centre. It is often the best compromise for a first home.
Favoriten (10th) and Ottakring (16th) are working-class neighbourhoods, more affordable and undergoing change. Donaustadt (22nd), with the new Seestadt Aspern district, offers recent buildings and gentler rents, appreciated by families. Conversely, Döbling (19th), residential and surrounded by vineyards, targets a high budget. Be careful: the rise is not limited to the centre, Brigittenau (20th) recorded the biggest increase in Austria in 2025, at 20.6%.
On the private market, expect around €20 per m² per month for an advertised rent, from €14 in the outer districts to €28 in the 1st, 7th and 8th. By type of home, the usual ranges are as follows:
Don't rely on the official averages to set your budget. Statistik Austria measures an average rent of €10.6 per m², utilities included, for main residences rented in Vienna in 2025, but that figure covers all leases currently in force, including municipal and cooperative housing and older contracts. When you arrive, the price you will pay is the advertised one.
The base rent is not the final cost. Building charges (Betriebskosten) come on top, generally €2 to €3 per m² per month; the Vienna average recorded by Statistik Austria is €2.7. A 10% VAT also applies to residential rent. Always check whether the advertised amount is the gross rent, utilities and VAT included, or only the base rent.
At signing, the landlord most often asks for a security deposit (Kaution) of three months' gross rent, on top of the first month. So plan on having around four months' rent available when you move in. Since July 2023, the agency fee is owed by whoever hired the agent: when that is the owner, which is the most common case, you don't pay it.
In older buildings (Altbau) fully subject to the tenancy law (Mietrechtsgesetz), the base rent is calculated from a reference value, the Richtwert, set at €6.74 per m² in Vienna since April 2026, plus supplements depending on location and fittings. A clearly excessive rent can be challenged. If you are offered a very expensive older apartment, have the calculation checked.
A new law also limits increases during a lease. For older, municipal and cooperative housing, annual rent indexation is capped at 1% in 2026 and 2% in 2027, and it only takes effect on 1 April.
Open-ended leases exist, but many contracts are fixed-term. Since 1 January 2026, a fixed-term lease with a professional landlord must in principle last at least five years, compared with three before. Read the end-of-lease and notice clauses carefully before signing.
Registering your address (Meldezettel) is mandatory within three working days of moving in, at a municipal office. European Union citizens staying more than three months must also apply for a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung).
Most long-term rental listings go through the big property portals. The most used, willhaben, analysed more than 250,000 rental listings on its own for its 2025 barometer. Municipal housing (Gemeindebau) and cooperative housing are allocated based on length of residence in Vienna: they are not a realistic option for a new arrival.
The private market is tight: vacancy is around 1.5%, and a well-located apartment finds a tenant within days. To have a chance, you need to reply fast and have your application complete from the first viewing.
From abroad, it is hard to be present at viewings at the right time, to read a lease in German and to check that an older building's rent respects the cap. A Remoters home finder based in Vienna can search for you according to your criteria, view apartments on your behalf, prepare your application and review the lease before signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.
Short answers to the questions our readers ask, written to stand on their own.
Sources cited in this article
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