# Setting Up Home in Austria: Internet, Utilities, Bank & Insurance (2026)

> What to set up when you move to Austria in 2026: home internet, electricity and gas, an Austrian SIM and IBAN, dog liability and household insurance, with a top-3 and prices for each.

Updated: August 2026 · By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.how-to-austria.com/living/setting-up-home-in-austria

Updated August 2026. Living in Austria means setting up **six essentials**, in three groups:

## How Much Does It Cost to Set Up Your Home in Austria?

Setting up the core essentials costs roughly **€60/month**, or about **€70/month** with recommended household cover. The table shows the cheapest solid pick per category; each section below deep-dives with a top-3.

| Essential | Cheapest solid pick | From | Section |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Internet | Drei StartNet S | €19/mo | [Jump to top 3 →](#internet) |
| Electricity & gas | Cheapest E-Control tariff | ~€30/mo | [Jump to top 3 →](#utility) |
| SIM (Austrian number) | HoT | €5.90/mo | [Jump to top 3 →](#sim) |
| Bank account (AT IBAN) | N26 | €0/mo | [Jump to top 3 →](#bank) |
| Core essentials total | | ~€60/mo | |
| Household insurance (recommended) | HDI Top-Heimvorteil | +~€10/mo | [Jump to top 3 →](#household) |
| Dog liability (if you have a dog) | Bundled in household policy | +€0–€4/mo | [Jump to top 3 →](#dog) |
| All-in (with household) | | ~€70/mo | |
Telecom/SIM/internet prices from our verified list; utility and insurance figures are researched estimates. Verify via E-Control and provider quotes. Prices as of August 2026.

## Which home internet provider should you get in Austria?

| Top 3 | Price | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1Drei | €19/mo | - Cheapest entry tier
- Simple, no-frills plans
- 5G home options | - Lower speeds on StartNet S
- Coverage varies by address |
| 2A1 | €37.90/mo | - Widest FTTH / fibre reach
- Reliable, English support
- Range €27.90–79.90 | - Pricier than Drei
- 24-month contract |
| 3Magenta | €29.90/mo | - Fast cable speeds
- Bundle discounts
- Range €29.90–99.90 | - Annual price rises
- Cable-area only |
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.

For most new arrivals, **Drei** is the cheapest entry (**StartNet from €19/month**), **A1** has the widest **fibre coverage** (Internet 100 at **€37.90**, Glasfaser 1000 at **€79.90**), and **Magenta** is strongest on **cable**. Check your address on **breitbandatlas.gv.at** first; installation takes **1-2 weeks**.

[Compare all internet providers →](/communication/internet)

## Which electricity and gas provider should you choose?

| Top 3 | Price | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1Verbund | 9.48 ct/kWh + €7.19/mo | - 100% green hydropower
- Fixed-price tariff
- Nationwide | - Monthly base fee
- Electricity only (no gas) |
| 2Wien Energie (OPTIMA) | 12.83 ct/kWh + €6.33/mo | - Vienna default supplier
- Easy setup
- Fixed price | - Vienna region
- Higher per-kWh rate |
| 3aWATTar HOURLY | spot + 1.8 ct/kWh + €5.75/mo | - Pay hourly wholesale price
- Great with EV / smart home | - Price volatility
- Needs a smart meter |
Per-kWh rate plus monthly base fee. Grid fee is billed separately by your regional operator. Prices as of August 2026; re-check each supplier's Preisblatt.

You choose the **supplier (Lieferant)**, but the **grid operator (Netzbetreiber)** is fixed by your address and cannot be switched. To find your grid operator, enter your **postal code** in E-Control's **Netzbetreiber-Abfrage** at [e-control.at](https://www.e-control.at/konsumenten/strom-und-gasnetzbetreiber-finden). Your current supplier is printed on the **Zählpunkt** (meter-point ID) on your latest bill or the meter itself. Then compare and switch for free on the [E-Control Tarifkalkulator](https://www.e-control.at/unsere-services/tarifkalkulator).

Budget roughly **€26-31/month** for electricity as a **1-person household** and **€44-52/month** for two people; gas only adds up if your flat is **gas-heated** (then **€70-90/month** more). Of your bill, about **53% is energy**, **25% the grid fee**, and **22% taxes and levies**. Only the energy block is yours to choose.

[Compare all electricity & gas providers →](/energy/electricity-gas)

## Which SIM or eSIM with an Austrian number is best?

| Top 3 | Price | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1HoT | €5.90/mo | - Cheapest 10 GB
- Sold at Hofer stores
- Magenta network | - No English app
- Basic support |
| 2spusu | €9.90/mo | - 30 GB, no hidden fees
- Data rollover
- A1 network | - Online-only signup |
| 3yesss! | €9.99/mo | - 100 GB data
- A1 network, no contract | - EU roaming caps
- German-only support |
Prices as of August 2026, verify on the provider site.

An **Austrian number** is not legally mandatory, but it is useful in daily life: many Austrian services send **2-factor SMS codes**, and couriers and offices expect a local mobile for **deliveries and appointments**. For an AT number, **HoT** is the cheapest (**10 GB for €5.90**, sold at Hofer), **spusu** offers the best value with **no hidden fees** (**30 GB €9.90**), and **yesss!** gives big data (**100 GB €9.99**). All are **prepaid** and need only your **passport**.

[Compare all SIM providers →](/communication/sim-cards)

## Which bank account with an Austrian IBAN should you open?

| Top 3 | Price | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1N26 | €0/mo | - No Meldezettel to open
- English app, 10-min signup
- Free EU transfers | - No branches
- German IBAN, not AT |
| 2Erste (George) | €5–8/mo | - True Austrian IBAN
- Branches + cash access
- Top-rated app | - Monthly fee
- Meldezettel required |
| 3Revolut | €0/mo | - Multi-currency
- Cheap FX, virtual cards | - Lithuanian IBAN
- App-only support |
Standard tiers shown; premium tiers cost more.

An **Austrian IBAN** is legally not required (IBAN discrimination is banned in the EU), but in practice **landlords and SEPA direct debits** for rent and utilities still run smoother with a local **AT IBAN**. **N26** is the fastest start (**€0/month**, English app, **no Meldezettel needed**, though its IBAN is German), Erste Bank's **George** gives a true **AT IBAN** with branches (**€5-8/month**), and **Revolut** is best for **multi-currency**.

[Compare all bank accounts →](/banking/open-bank-account)

## Do you need dog liability insurance in Austria?

Mandatory in 6 of 9 states (incl. Vienna, min €725,000 cover). Not required in Burgenland, Carinthia, or Vorarlberg.

| Top 3 | Price | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1Household add-on (UNIQA / Generali) | €0 first dog | - Cheapest route
- Meets legal minimum
- One policy | - Usually one dog only
- Needs a household policy |
| 2Tierfreunde Österreich | €48/yr | - Standalone, cheap
- €1M cover
- Membership included | - €1M cover only
- Club membership fee |
| 3Wiener Städtische | €63.30/yr per dog | - High cover limits
- Add to household policy | - Pricier per dog |
Estimates as of August 2026. Verify current premium and your state's rule.

If you own a dog, **dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflicht)** is **mandatory in 6 of Austria's 9 states** (Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, Styria). Vienna requires at least **€725,000 coverage** under the **Wiener Tierhaltegesetz** (§ 5 Abs. 11). The cheapest route is usually **bundling it into a household policy**, where the **first dog is often free** (UNIQA, Generali). Standalone cover runs **€48-63/year**. Listed or dangerous breeds (Listenhunde) usually need dedicated cover.

[Compare all dog insurance providers →](/insurance/dog-liability-insurance)

## Should you get household insurance (damages to others)?

| Top 3 | Price | Pros | Cons |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1HDI Top-Heimvorteil | ~€10/mo (€122/yr) | - Cheapest tested
- Solid standard cover | - Fewer branches |
| 2Uniqa Optimal | ~€16/mo (€198/yr) | - Liability up to €10M
- First dog often included
- Nationwide | - Mid-range price |
| 3Wiener Städtische Extra | ~€20/mo (€236/yr) | - €15M liability cover
- Strong service network | - Most expensive tested |
AK Oberösterreich price test, 90 m² flat, Nov 2025; a 40-70 m² flat costs less (from ~€6/mo). Verify with a quote.

Strongly recommended: for around **€10/month** (from **~€6/month** for a small flat), **household insurance (Haushaltsversicherung)** covers your **contents** (fire, water, burglary) and bundles **personal liability** for **damage you cause to others**, commonly **€5 million** and up to **€15 million** (Wiener Städtische), covering the **family members in your household**. It is **optional by law** but **often required by your lease**. Premiums scale with flat size, contents sum, and deductible.

[Compare all household insurance providers →](/insurance/household-insurance)Illustration of a house with a key, a map pin, and a cathedral spire, for housing, costs, and settling into life in Austria.Housing, costs, and daily life: settling into Austria.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does it cost to set up the essentials when moving to Austria?

Budget roughly EUR 60 per month for the core essentials: home internet from EUR 19, electricity around EUR 30 to 50 for a small flat, an Austrian SIM from EUR 5.90, and a bank account from EUR 0. Add household insurance (around EUR 10 per month) and the total is about EUR 70 per month. Gas raises the bill only if your flat is gas-heated.

### Do you need an Austrian bank account (IBAN) to live in Austria?

Not legally. IBAN discrimination is banned across the EU, so any euro IBAN must be accepted. In practice, though, some Austrian employers, landlords, and SEPA direct debits for rent and utilities still run more smoothly with a local AT IBAN. N26 opens in 10 minutes with no Meldezettel (its IBAN is German), while Erste Bank's George gives a true Austrian IBAN for EUR 5 to 8 per month.

### Is dog insurance mandatory in Austria?

Dog liability insurance (Hundehaftpflicht) is mandatory in 6 of Austria's 9 states: Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, and Styria. Vienna requires a minimum coverage of EUR 725,000 under the Wiener Tierhaltegesetz. It is not legally required in Burgenland, Carinthia, or Vorarlberg. The cheapest route is usually bundling it into a household policy, where the first dog is often included free.

### Do you need household insurance in Austria?

Household insurance (Haushaltsversicherung) is not required by law, but landlords frequently require it in the lease, and it is strongly recommended for renters. For around EUR 10 per month it covers your contents (fire, water, burglary) and bundles personal liability of EUR 5 million or more for damage you cause to others, covering the family members in your household.

### How do you find out your electricity grid operator and current supplier?

Enter your postal code in E-Control's Netzbetreiber-Abfrage at e-control.at to find your regional grid operator (Netzbetreiber), which is fixed by your address. Your current supplier (Lieferant) is printed on the Zaehlpunkt (meter-point ID) on your latest bill or the meter itself. You are free to switch suppliers, and the E-Control Tarifkalkulator compares tariffs for your postal code and consumption.

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Source: https://www.how-to-austria.com/living/setting-up-home-in-austria
Last updated: Updated: August 2026
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