Expats discover value for money in Vienna real estate

A recent survey of best places for expat life has declared Vienna the second most desirable city in the world for its vibrancy and value for money homes.

The Austrian capital may seem more like a destination for a long weekend rather than expat heaven, but its combination of style, history, high culture and ultra-modern amenities has seen it take second place in the Mercers survey for expat quality of life. Added to this recommendation is its affordable real estate.

Vienna is also considered one of the safest of all European cities as well as a famed cultural hub for opera, classical music and art. Sporting types will enjoy its winter golf as well as the many summer activities, and the 35 per cent of the city’s total area given over to parks gives plenty of opportunity for walkers and joggers.

For prospective expats familiar with London property prices, Vienna’s real estate, except in the most upscale districts, will come as a pleasant surprise. Leopoldstadt 2 district is a good place to begin a search, with its narrow streets home to organic food shops and cosy coffee houses serving the famous Vienna brew.

Apartments here cost from around €3.200 per square metre, with those close to the Danube Canal with view of St Stephen’s Cathedral at a premium. District 2 itself has plenty of heritage buildings, some of which have been converted into apartments, and it’s a more multicultural area than exclusive district 1.

Another advantage of District 2 is the Prater, a huge park at three times the size of Hyde Park in London. A former royal hunting ground, the park provides welcome relief from the clamour of the busy city and an ambience that’s many miles from the modern world.