LIVEABLE, SAFE, AFFORDABLE? VILLACH IN THE NUMBEO CHECK

Moving abroad is a decision that requires careful consideration. Numbeo, a crowdsourced platform, is the world’s largest freely accessible database for comparable information on perceived quality of life and cost of living in cities. Based on 9,689,047 price entries from 12,606 cities and contributions from 871,377 users (as of 20th of January 2026), Numbeo provides expats with a solid, data-driven basis for objectively comparing locations worldwide and making an informed decision.

Villach is also represented on the platform with a wide range of indicators that make life in the city measurable in numerical terms and convey a realistic picture of everyday life on the ground.

LIFE IN VILLACH – BY THE NUMBERS

With a Quality of Life Index of 197.51, Villach is rated by Numbeo users as a great place to leave. This places the city on the Drau River among the top 40 of 303 cities assessed worldwide, ahead of other Austrian cities such as Graz (192.7), Salzburg (191.27) and Innsbruck (186.89).

In its quality-of-life assessment, Numbeo takes into account various factors that significantly influence living standards in cities:

• Cost of living and purchasing power: affordability of goods and services in relation to income levels
• Housing affordability: costs and accessibility of housing
• Pollution: perceptions of environmental factors such as air and water quality
• Safety: perceived crime rate and overall sense of security
• Quality of healthcare: efficiency, affordability and accessibility of medical services
• Traffic and commuting times: duration and conditions of the daily commute

Villach performs particularly well in the Purchasing Power Index, Safety Index, Health Care Index and Climate Index. Low – and therefore favourable – values are also recorded for the Property Price to Income Ratio, Commuting Times and the Pollution Index. These results point to affordable housing, short commuting distances and low environmental pollution. Only the overall Cost of Living is rated as moderate.

COST OF LIVING, PURCHASING POWER & PROPERTY PRICES

With a Purchasing Power Index of 133.04, Villach ranks among the cities with particularly high local purchasing power according to Numbeo. As the index is calculated relative to New York City (reference value = 100), it indicates that residents of Villach can, on average, afford more goods and services than an average earner in New York City.

The Cost of Living Index, which measures the relative costs of consumer goods and services (such as groceries, restaurants, transport and utilities, excluding rent), is rated as moderate. Estimated monthly expenses excluding rent amount to around €3,330 for a family of four and approximately €1,002 for a single person in Villach. Compared to the federal capital Vienna, Villach is overall 11.7% cheaper (excluding rent). The difference is particularly striking when it comes to rent: on average, rents in Villach are 32.1% lower than in Vienna.

According to Numbeo, based on the Property Price to Income Ratio, it would take around 7.4 annual salaries to purchase an apartment. The mortgage burden amounts to over 51.15% of income, based on a 90 m² apartment, 100% financing and a loan term of 20 years.

SAFETY AND CRIME

While the overall sense of safety in Villach is rated as high (72.20), the perceived Crime Rate, at 27.80, is comparatively low. Although the increase in crime over the past five years is assessed as moderate, fears of becoming a victim of burglary, robbery, verbal or physical assault, or even murder remain low. The lowest level of concern relates to the fear of being physically attacked due to skin colour, ethnic background, gender or religion.

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Numbeo’s ratings for Villach indicate an overall attractive climate and good environmental quality. With a Climate Index of 75.94, the climate is considered pleasant. Typical average temperatures range from around -4 °C in winter to 25 °C in summer, with the months from April to October being particularly suitable for visits. Extreme weather or high humidity are rare.

Environmental quality is also rated positively: the Pollution Index, at 34.13, is in the low range. Particularly highlighted are the very high quality and accessibility of drinking water, as well as the city’s general cleanliness. Air quality, waste management, the quality of green spaces and parks, and overall noise levels are also rated with high satisfaction. Overall, the ratings underline Villach’s continuous environmental efforts and support its status as an environmentally friendly and highly liveable city.

TRANSPORT

According to the Traffic Index, which takes into account factors such as commuting time, dissatisfaction with time spent in traffic, CO₂ emissions and general inefficiencies of the transport system, traffic conditions in Villach are rated positively overall. Estimated CO₂ emissions per person per year amount to 317.20 kg. Most people commute to work or school by car (37.5%), walk (25.0%), take the bus (16.67%) or cycle (16.67%). The average distance from home to workplace is 5.7 km, and the average one-way travel time is 16.46 minutes – an indication of short distances and quick commutes.

HEALTHCARE

With regard to healthcare, Numbeo users who have rated Villach are particularly satisfied with costs (81.58%). Satisfaction with the locations of healthcare facilities, waiting times, the friendliness and accuracy of staff, and the availability of modern diagnostic and treatment equipment is also predominantly high. Satisfaction with the professional skills and expertise of medical staff, however, is rated as moderate.

The data from the crowdsourcing platform Numbeo clearly underline what many residents of Villach already know: the city on the Drau offers an exceptionally high quality of life. The combination of strong purchasing power, low crime rates, excellent healthcare, a pleasant climate and affordable housing makes Villach a genuine hidden gem and an attractive location – not only within Austria, but also in an international comparison. Short commuting times and low environmental pollution round out the positive overall picture.

Anyone looking for a new place to live that combines quality of life, safety and affordability will find Villach to be a highly attractive option.