Dorm room€330–€550
WG room (private)€420–€620
Groceries / month€200–€280
O-Bus monthly€58
Mensa lunch€6–€8
ÖGK student insurance€78.84/month
Monthly student budget
- Tight — €850
- Comfortable — €1 050
- Generous — €1 350+
Vs. Vienna
Salzburg is 5–10 % cheaper on rent (smaller market, less demand) but slightly pricier on restaurants and tourist-zone groceries (Altstadt). Mountain trips, ski passes, and lake outings add up if you're active.
Hidden costs
- Kaution deposit: 2–3 months' rent
- Anmeldebescheinigung (EU) €44 · Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student (non-EU) €218
- Cold-weather kit (Salzburg gets Bavarian winters): €100–€200
- Bike: 60 % of students cycle — used bike from Willhaben, ≈ €80–€150
At 25 or younger the KlimaTicket Ö Jugend at €1,050/year is often the simplest option — it covers all of Austria, not just Salzburg. Current Salzburg season tickets and their prices are listed on salzburg-verkehr.at.