Moving to Vienna (Working Holiday)

[NZ Trueno]

Long time no see AEU86.org!

Well, life in New Zealand is not going swimmingly at the moment so I have been considering seizing the moment and taking off for more interesting pastures.

I have wanted to visit Wien since highschool (where I was friends with an Austrian exchange student). It is a bit of a New Zealand tradition to have an OE (overseas experience :wink: ) and I'd love to live and work in Vienna for a year or two. While I am getting back in touch with my friend from school (who now lives back in Vienna) I know vitually nothing about Vienna and how I might investigate moving there.

Can any AEU86.org locals help me out with things I might need to know? Like how much money I might need to settle in, how I might fare getting a job with only my very rusty highschool German etc? As far as my German goes, I used to be able to hold a very poorly punctuated but understandable conversation, I also understand more than I can speak.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Sam

[aussiefan]

Hi there

unfortunately living in Vienna isn't cheap
you might want to chek out this link http://www.ubs.com/1/ShowMedia/wealthman...2009_e.pdf
compared to NYC which has an index of 100% Vienna ranks two places behind with 93,5% and Auckland as the ony New Zealand city has 62,3%

as in every city it strongly depends on where you want to live. Some districts you really can't afford as an average wage earner.
e.g. a 40m² 1bedroom flat in the 1st district ~€700... 70m² 2bedroom ~€900-2000, that's insane
typically you get a 40-50m² flat for arround €400-500 in areas with good connection to public transport. Don't know if you want to buy a car or not. In Vienna you don't really need one. An annual ticket for public transport is actually €450.-

some websites that might help you
i'm sure your german is good enough to understand these websites

Homesearch
http://www.immodirekt.at
http://www.immobilien.net
http://www.wiener-immo.at

Official Vienna homepage
http://www.wien.gv.at/english/

Jobsearch
http://www.jobrapido.at/
http://www.karriere.at/

wage calculator
http://akbruttonetto.akwien.at/

e.g. a waiter gets arround 8€/h+tip
full-time (~ 167h/month) + ~€200tip = after tax ~€1150.-
no extra health insurance needed, you pay it automatically with your taxes

little overview, prices per month in €
average rent for a flat ~ 450.-
electricity ~ 30.- ( http://www.wienenergie.at )
heating and domestic hot water ~ 30 ( http://www.wienenergie.at )
TV (mandatory) 23.- ( http://www.orf-gis.at )
pay tv 22.- ( www. upc.at )
internet 15 - 80.- ( http://www.upc.at )
mobile phone prepaid card (damn cheap in Austria ) €0,04/min ( http://www.yesss.at , http://www.bob.at )

so, that's it for now
if you have any further questions let me know

[NZ Trueno]

Thank you very, very much.

That is excellent information! I will come back to you with any other questions!

[tolisspi]

When did you go Wien?
and how long time did you stay?
winter or summer?