Exceptional Place to Live with an Incredibly Competitive Rental Market
Moving to a new country involves a lot of decisions made under pressure – and one of the first you will face is whether to secure long-term housing before you arrive, or to move into temporary accommodation and start your search then.
There's no formula that works for everyone, but understanding the key considerations will put you in a much stronger position to make the call.
Why This Decision Matters More Than You Might Expect
Austria's rental market, and Vienna's in particular, is competitive. Desirable apartments at fair prices tend to go quickly, and landlords generally prefer applicants they can meet in person.
Securing a long-term rental on your own before you've arrived, without in-person viewings, is virtually impossible – though working with a relocation consultant changes this considerably. A consultant can attend viewings on your behalf or arrange virtual tours that allow you to make an informed decision before you land.
The key is to minimise disruption and stress to you and your family unit and choosing the right home suitable for your situation.
Temporary Accommodation Makes Sense – For Some, But Not All
For singles, couples, and young professionals, temporary accommodation in Austria is often a genuinely good strategy. One to two months is typically enough to attend viewings, compare neighbourhoods and secure a long-term lease. Being on the ground makes a real difference: you can respond quickly to listings, show up to viewings the same day and make a strong impression as a reliable tenant.
For families, it becomes more challenging. Moving twice with children and pets involved, putting a household's worth of belongings in storage, can be disruptive and expensive. If time and budget allow, the more family-friendly approach is usually to visit Austria in advance – ideally for a week or two – and use that time to attend viewings and sign a long-term lease before your main move.
That said, temporary accommodation remains a sensible backup for families if no suitable long-term property has been secured before departure. Just be aware: accommodation with three or more rooms are scarce in the temporary rental market and tend to come at a significant premium when available at all.
How Much Can I Expect to Pay for Temporary Accommodation?
Pricing varies considerably based on size, location, furniture quality and what's included.
To give a sense of scale, the following price points reflect what you can typically expect in Vienna, where the temporary accommodation market is most active:
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From around €750-800/month – studio or one-bedroom at the basic end. Properties in this bracket can be hard to find and may come with conditions attached, such as age restrictions.
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From around €1,400-1,500/month – studio to two-room apartment, fully furnished and all-inclusive (rent, utilities, Wi-Fi). This is a more realistic starting point for hassle-free, mid-market options.
Two main types of providers occupy the market:
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Purpose-built serviced buildings – studios and two-room apartments, generally the more affordable option, with consistent standards.
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Furnished apartment platforms – wider city coverage, typically higher price point, more variety in style and location.
Pricing for both is seasonal and demand-based, so if you're booking more than one month, be aware the price may vary from month to month. Operators often give discounts for stays over 30 days, so factor these variables into any comparison you make.
The Temporary Rental Trap: Why Airbnb Won't Work
Many newcomers booking temporary accommodation through Airbnb discover a costly legal hurdle too late.
In Austria, Airbnb-style short-term holiday rentals are legally classified as tourist accommodation. They operate under a completely different legal framework to standard residential properties. This distinction renders it practically impossible to register an Airbnb address as your main residence (Hauptwohnsitz).
Why Do I Need a Hauptwohnsitz?
You are legally required to register your primary residence (Hauptwohnsitz-Anmeldung) within three days of arriving in Austria. Without a valid primary residence registration certificate (Meldezettel), you cannot open a bank account, get a mobile contract, buy or register a car or enrol children in a public school.
Some Airbnb hosts might offer to register you as a secondary resident (Nebenwohnsitz), but this does not satisfy official immigration, banking or administrative requirements for setting up your life in Austria.
Before booking any temporary accommodation, confirm explicitly that primary residence registration is permitted. If a provider cannot confirm this, keep looking.
Watch Out For Hidden Costs
Temporary accommodation pricing is rarely as straightforward as it first appears. Before signing anything, check the following:
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Billing cycles – some contracts run on 28 or 30-day cycles rather than calendar months, which adds up over time.
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Monthly vs. upfront payment – paying month by month (rather than in a lump sum for a longer stay) can increase the effective rate.
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Additional fees – final cleaning, booking fees, deposits, bed linen, towels and cutlery are sometimes excluded from the headline price.
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Deposit – typically one month's rent, held separately.
Always build a like-for-like comparison across options. What looks cheaper on the surface often isn't once you factor in everything excluded.
What to Confirm Before You Book
Beyond pricing, a few practical checks are worth making before committing:
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What exactly is included – utilities, Wi-Fi, linen, kitchenware, white goods?
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Where is the washing machine – in the unit, or shared in a basement (possibly fee-based)?
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What are the cancellation terms – some contracts are non-refundable for the entire booked period.
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Can you extend if your search runs longer than expected?
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Is primary residence registration confirmed in writing?
Availability of continuous units (same apartment for two or three months) is limited, especially for longer stays – so book as early as possible once you have a rough timeline.
Use the Time Strategically
If you do go the temporary accommodation route, choose a neighbourhood you are genuinely considering for the long term. Use the weeks you have to test your commute, get a feel for the local amenities and assess whether the day-to-day reality matches what you expected – before you sign that long-term lease.
We Can Help
Finding the right temporary accommodation, and navigating everything that comes after, is exactly what we do. If you're planning a move to Austria and want to get it right from the start, book a free consultation with our team.
