Dorm room€330–€550
WG room (private)€420–€620
Groceries / month€200–€280
O-Bus monthly€58
Mensa lunch€6–€8
ÖGK student insurance€72/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
- Anmeldung + permit fees: ≈ €175
- Cold-weather kit (Salzburg gets Bavarian winters): €100–€200
- Bike: 60 % of students cycle — used bike from Willhaben, ≈ €80–€150
Salzburg has a S-Studierendenticket for under-26s — €185 covers all O-Bus + S-Bahn lines for a full semester. Cheaper than the monthly card if you stay 4+ months.