Want to move to Europe where German , but not sure whether to choose Germany or Austria? The following may be helpful to you.
A survey shows that Austria ranks very high in quality of life, but foreigners do not find it too popular. (Photo by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash).
Austria and Germany are both German-speaking countries, with similar cultures and high standards of living.
But in many ways, the similarities stop there, life in Austria may be very different from Germany (and vice versa) – depending on which region of the country you live in.
So, which of these two Central European countries is more suitable for immigration? Let's learn about it.
Tax
House Tax system in Austria and GermanyHouse is very complicated, so of course it depends on your personal situation and where you pay less tax.
In Austria, the general income tax rate for 2022 is: 0% if the income does not exceed 11,000 euros.
11,000 to 18,000 euros are 20%.
18,000 to 31,000 euros are 32.5%.
31,000 to 60,000 euros are 42%.
60,000 to 90,000 euros are 48%.
90,000 to 1,000,000 euros are 50%.
Revenue exceeds 1,000,000 euros is 55%.
In Germany, the tax rate for 2022 is:
The tax rate for income does not exceed 9,984 euros is 0%.
9,985 to 58,596 euros are 14% to 42%.
58,597 to 277,825 euros are 42%.
277,826 Euros and above are 45%.
As you can see, in Austria you will most likely have to pay more income taxes than in Germany – especially in higher income classes.
Then there is also a mandatory social insurance , which includes health care, pensions and unemployment insurance.
In Austria, both employers and employees need to pay social insurance . The amount depends on income, with a maximum of €62,640 per year or €5,220 per month.
In Germany, there is a similar system (both employers and employees have to pay), with the average total social insurance for employees ranging from about 20% to 22% of their annual salary.
In the case of freelance work, individuals in Austria and Germany pay directly to social insurance providers.
How much taxes and social insurance you end up paying will depend on your income. In Austria, you are expected to pay about 30% of your total income, while in Germany, that amount is usually slightly higher, i.e. 36-38%.
You may end up paying more income tax in Austria. Photo: Firmbee/Pixabay
Visa
For people from non- EU countries, if they want to move to Austria or Germany, they must have a visa.
In Austria, there are three types of work permits to apply for: restrictive (one year), standard (two years), and non-restrictive (five years). Which visa you can apply for depends on your personal situation.
also has student and graduate visas, as well as startup founder pathways, which require an investment of €50,000 in the company.
Another type of investment visa in Austria is called the key worker visa for self-employed jobs, involving investment of 100,000 euros into the Austrian economy, as well as creating new jobs or technologies.
In Germany, there are a variety of visa channels, including job search visas, study visas, work visas, Au Pair visas, internship visas or self-employed/freelance visas for fresh graduates from nationally recognized universities.
Like Austria, there is also an investment visa in Germany for those who want to start a business in Germany. The official does not stipulate a minimum investment amount, but it should be recommended at least €360,000.
In Germany, you can also apply for dual nationality .Current laws allow EU citizens to obtain German citizenship without giving up their country of origin, but the government has promised to make full changes to the rules to allow all eligible foreigners to apply for dual nationality in Germany.
In Austria, dual nationality is only allowed in rare cases, so Germany won in this round. Is
friendly to digital homeless people?
Italy recently announced the launch of a new digital homeless visa, and in contrast, neither Austria nor Germany have a visa specifically for digital homeless visas.
However, Germany does have a freelance visa called Aufenthaltserlaubnis für selbständige Tätigkeit. It allows freelancers and self-employed people to live in Germany for up to three years, with an application fee of €100.
There are several different categories for self-employed careers, such as journalists or artists, but it should be noted that these categories vary from state to state.
Applicants also need to provide funding proof (income) and address in Germany.
On the other hand, Austria has a self-employed key worker visa (see above for details), but it requires financial investment and is not really suitable for digital novices, so Germany also won in this comparison.
cost of living
Austria and Germany are both famous for their high cost of living.
However, some daily necessities in Germany, such as bread and domestic beer, are obviously cheaper. Germany is also cheaper than Austria when eating in restaurants, but rent and gasoline are much more expensive.
According to Numbeo data, here are some breakdowns of average cost of living in the two countries.
Austrian
Rent (one bedroom apartment, city center): 723 Euros
One loaf of bread: 1.94 Euros
Domestic beer: 1.07 Euros
Utilities and electricity bills (monthly): 217 Euros
Gas (1 liter): 1.71 Euros
Mid-range restaurant two meals: 55 Euro
German
Rent (one bedroom apartment, city center): 886 Euro
One loaf of bread: 1.63 Euro
Domestic beer: 0.57 Euro
Water and electricity bill (monthly): 234 Euro
Gas (1 liter): 2.20 Euro
Mid-range restaurant Two meals: 50 Euro
It should be noted that these average fees may increase in large cities or popular tourist cities, while in more rural areas and small towns.
For some items, living costs are cheaper in Germany. Ina Fassbender/AFP
Lifestyle and culture
Life in Austria is deeply influenced by the concept of Gemutlichkeit. German means "comfortability" or "comfortiness", but in the context of Austrian culture it means "enjoy life."
The benefit of this aspect of Austrian culture is that the country has a good work/life balance and people work hard to spend time with friends and family. The downside is that there is sometimes a lack of urgency, especially in bureaucracy or official matters.
Austria is also a Catholic country, which is evident in some laws and customs, such as Sunday trade law (most businesses close on Sundays) and church taxes.
but there are other elements, such as Vienna famous cafe scene, and outdoor lifestyles that can be enjoyed on the mountain. The result is a culture rooted in tradition, while also focusing on the bright side of life.
By contrast, Germany is a larger country with a more diverse culture, especially between traditional Bavaria (which has a similar culture to Austria) and Berlin, which is an ideal home for modern international cities and party-loving people.
The difference in Germany can be said to be very obvious.While it may be difficult to communicate with people in English in small towns in the eastern part of the country, ordering in German in certain parts of Berlin can be met with blank stares and English-speaking demands.
However, there are several aspects of German culture that are applicable nationwide. For example, people are generally punctual and diligent, and like to take care of each other and have fun.
There are also some wrong stereotypes about German culture —the most common one is "people are cold". The reality is that most Germans are friendly and enthusiastic, and even if they speak directly and honestly, it may be difficult to get used to at first.
When it comes to Austrian culture or German culture is better, it depends on what you are looking for. If you want big cities and more job opportunities, go to Germany. If you want a small country with interesting traditions, Austria is the perfect place for you.
Nature and Landscape
Germany may have the Bavarian Alps, where Zug peak is 2,962 feet above sea level, but this is nothing compared to the Austrian Grosglockner Mountain at an altitude of 3,798 meters.
But Germany has a coastline on the northern border - a point that cannot be compared to the inland country of Austria.
The coast of Germany is divided into Baltic Sea and North Sea , stretching for more than 3,700 kilometers - including islands and bays. Just don't expect to have the Mediterranean style in northern Germany.
Although temperatures may be warm in spring and summer, the Baltic and North Seas are both cold waters. But that doesn't prevent German holidaymakers from flocking to the white sandy beaches and beautiful islands along the country's northern coastline every summer.
So if you want to live in a country that is more likely to live by the sea, then Germany is the perfect place for you.
On the other hand, if you prefer the mountains, head to Austria where you can spend your time exploring the Alps.
