Price in Austria, Graz

Introduction

In recent years, due to global inflation, rising prices have become a topic of great interest for many people. Especially for those considering moving abroad or studying overseas, one of the biggest concerns is: “How much does it actually cost to live there?”

In this article, based on my own experience living in Austria, I will share a realistic sense of prices while comparing them with Japan.

　

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Price Comparison Table (Blue = cheaper, Red = more expensive)

Date	Product	English Name	Quantity	Price (€)	Price (JPY)	Price in Japan (JPY)	Difference (%)
8/20	VollMilch	Milk	1L	1.39	247	210	+18
10/4	Erdapfel feko	Potatoes	5kg	3.99	710	2500	-72
2/14	Zwiebel	Onions	3kg	1.79	319	1200	-73
3/18	Carotten	Carrots	1kg	1.49	265	400	-34
10/11	Weiβkraut	Cabbage	1kg	1.49	265	150	+77
9/6	Eissalet	Lettuce	1 head	1.79	319	150	+112
2/19	Bananen	Bananas	1kg	1.59	283	200	+42
11/24	Apfel	Apples	2kg	3.49	621	1700	-63
2/26	Orangen	Oranges	2kg	2.99	532	1400	-62
10/4	Reis	Rice	1kg	1.19	212	800	-74
11/11	Weiber Wecken	Bread	500g	1.29	230	200	+15
2/28	Eier	Eggs	10 pcs	2.79	497	250	+99
4/9	Teebutter	Butter	250g	1.59	283	400	-29
2/13	PizzaKase	Pizza Cheese	250g	2.39	425	386	+10
4/10	Erdbeeren	Strawberries	400g	3.49	621	796	-22
1/3	Faschiertes	Ground Pork	1kg	5.99	1066	1300	-18
9/13	HENDL BRATF	Whole Chicken	1	7.46	1328	1500	-11
9/13	Frankfurter	Frankfurters	480g	3.99	710	560	+27
8/25	Huhnerfilet	Chicken Breast	700g	7.69	1369	600	+128
12/23	BauchSchnitte	Pork Belly	1kg	9.99	1778	1500	+10
2/18	Rapsoel	Oil	1L	1.89	336	300	+12
12/31	Clever Mayo 80%	Mayonnaise	275g	1.99	254	300	+18
10/17	OLIV OELO	Olive Oil	750ml	6.99	1244	1500	-17
2/18	Loskaffee Mocca	Coffee	250g	4.99	888	1285	-31
1/17	TEEFIX	Tea	40 packs	2.69	710	700	+1
12/31	ORANGESaft	Orange Juice	1L	2.29	408	300	+36
12/23	Clever Joghurt	Yogurt	500g	0.99	176	225	-22
2/19	KAKAO	Cocoa Drink	500g	4.49	799	1000	-20
1/5	Weizenmehl Glatt	Flour	1kg	0.75	134	230	-42
12/13	Feinkristall zucker	Sugar	1kg	0.99	176	200	-12
1/17	Spaghetti	Spaghetti	1kg	1.35	240	250	-4
2/18	Champinion	Mushrooms	500g	1.79	319	800	-60
2/18	topa	Toilet Paper	10 rolls	3.89	692	500	+38
1/30	S-budget Schoko	Chocolate Bar	100g	0.89	158	300	-47
4/10	Lindt Lindor	Lindt Lindor	254g	10.99	1956	2667	-27
11/14	Schlagobers	Heavy Cream	250ml	1.49	265	375	-41
9/6	Taschentucher box	Tissues	1 box	1.25	223	60	+271
9/6	Tuchenrolle	Kitchen Roll	4 rolls	2.64	470	379	+24
9/6	NaturPapier	Colored Paper	10 sheets	4.49	799	300	+166
9/1	KugelSchreiber	Ballpoint Pen	1	3	534	100	+434
9/1	Buntstift	Colored Pencils (12)	1 set	20	3560	750	+375
12/24	Mellerud Schimmel	Mold Remover	500ml	9.69	1725	226	+663

Food Price Comparison

Foods I Felt Were Expensive

One of the first things I noticed in daily life is that leafy vegetables are particularly expensive. Cabbage and lettuce often feel significantly pricier than in Japan, making me hesitate to use them freely.

Additionally, eggs and meat are generally on the expensive side. If you choose higher-quality products, the prices increase even more, so without careful shopping, food expenses can add up quickly.

Foods I Felt Were Cheap

On the other hand, potatoes and onions are very affordable and easy to use in daily cooking. As you might expect in Europe, these ingredients are consistently available at reasonable prices.

Also, rice and flour are relatively inexpensive, which is helpful for those who cook at home. In addition, fruits such as apples and oranges are cheaper than in Japan, making them easy to incorporate into everyday meals.

Changes in Actual Living Costs

From my personal experience, compared to when I lived in Japan, my food expenses have increased by about 10%. Even without indulging in luxury, daily shopping gradually leads to higher spending.

Eating out, in particular, can quickly increase expenses, so I’ve tried to maintain a lifestyle centered around home cooking. While this helps control costs to some extent, it still feels slightly more expensive than Japan overall.

Stationery and Daily Goods Are More Expensive Than Expected

One surprising aspect of living here has been the cost of stationery and paper products. Notebooks, pens, and copy paper are noticeably more expensive than in Japan. Moreover, the quality is not necessarily better despite the higher price, making Japan far superior in terms of cost performance.

For this reason, I strongly recommend that anyone planning to move here bring sufficient stationery from Japan in advance.

A Small Pleasant Surprise

On a more positive note, one pleasant surprise has been chocolate. In Europe, chocolate is a common everyday treat, and it is often cheaper than in Japan. Being able to enjoy it casually as a small reward is definitely a nice perk.

Summary

After actually living in Austria, my impression is not that “everything is expensive,” but rather that “prices vary significantly depending on the item.” While leafy vegetables, meat, and eggs tend to be expensive, potatoes, onions, staple foods, and fruits are relatively affordable.

Also, beyond food, stationery and paper products are surprisingly expensive, making advance preparation important.

If you are planning to start living in Austria, I hope you can use this information as a reference and think about a lifestyle that suits you. There are many things you only realize after actually living here, but even knowing a bit in advance can make a big difference in peace of mind.