Budget · Vienna · Austria
Vienna on a budget
What a trip to Vienna really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kasa Fue, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Vienna is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $75–$120 per person per day on a tight budget, $170–$300 mid-range and $450–$1,100 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $75–$120 a day
- Mid-range
- $170–$300 a day
- Luxury
- $450–$1,100 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 4
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $75–$120 | $225–$360 | $375–$600 | $525–$840 |
| Mid-range | $170–$300 | $510–$900 | $850–$1,500 | $1,190–$2,100 |
| Luxury | $450–$1,100 | $1,350–$3,300 | $2,250–$5,500 | $3,150–$7,700 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Vienna, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Single public transport ticket | about €2.40–€3.20 |
| 24-hour transport ticket | about €8–€9 |
| Melange in a coffee house | about €4.50–€6 |
| Slice of Sachertorte | about €7–€10 |
| Sausage from a Würstelstand | about €5–€6 |
| Wiener Schnitzel in a restaurant | about €18–€30 |
| Opera standing-room ticket | about €13–€20 |
| Schönbrunn Palace tour | about €30–€45 |
Money-saving tips
- Opera and Musikverein standing-room places cost a fraction of seated tickets and give excellent views.
- The Schönbrunn and Belvedere gardens, St Stephen's nave, the Naschmarkt and the Central Cemetery are all free.
- A 72-hour or weekly ticket costs less than a few single journeys a day.
- Weekday lunch menus (Mittagsmenü) in Beisln cost much less than dinner.
- Stand at a Würstelstand for a cheap, filling meal.
- January, February and early November, outside the ball and Christmas peaks, have the lowest hotel rates.
Free things to do
- St Stephen's Cathedral — Vienna's Gothic cathedral is known for its roof of glazed tiles forming a double-headed eagle and its 136-metre south tower, climbed by 343 steps.
- Naschmarkt — Vienna's best-known market stretches for about 1.5 km along the Wienzeile with stalls of spices, cheeses, olives, pickles and fresh produce, plus restaurants serving everything from schnitzel to falafel and sushi.
- Hundertwasserhaus — Completed in 1985, this public housing block designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser has uneven floors, onion domes, trees growing from the balconies and a patchwork of bright colours.
- Central Cemetery — The Zentralfriedhof, opened in 1874, is one of Europe's largest cemeteries, with hundreds of thousands of graves among tree-lined avenues.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for budget, families, food lovers and solo travellers
Leopoldstadt
The Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal
$$ · Best for shopping, budget and families
Mariahilf
Vienna's main shopping street and the western side of the Naschmarkt
Eating well for less
- Käsekrainer — Würstelstände across the city, including stands near the Albertina and at major U-Bahn stations.
- Liptauer — Heurigen and traditional wine taverns, where you choose from a cold buffet.
Getting around for less
24/48/72-hour tickets
Unlimited travel on U-Bahn, trams, buses and S-Bahn within the city for 24, 48 or 72 hours from validation.
Weekly ticket
Valid from Monday to the following Monday morning; good value if your stay matches the week.
Vienna City Card
Combines unlimited public transport with discounts at many museums, sights and restaurants.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Vienna cost?
About $850–$1,500 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $375–$600 on a tight budget.
+Is Vienna expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Opera and Musikverein standing-room places cost a fraction of seated tickets and give excellent views.
+How much money do I need per day in Vienna?
Roughly $75–$120 on a budget and $170–$300 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Vienna?
Usually in January–February.