Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The nation is defined by its mountainous geography, rising to its highest point at the Grossglockner, while its water systems include the Rhine, Lake Constance, and Neusiedl Lake. Population and economic activity are concentrated in major urban centres, with the capital city of Vienna serving as the primary hub, supported by key regional cities such as Graz, Linz, and Salzburg.
The housing market varies significantly between the capital and the federal states. Vienna holds the largest share of the country's housing stock, with property prices sitting well above the national average. Outside the capital, Styria offers a substantial volume of housing, particularly in Graz, at more affordable rates. Moving between regions reveals stark cost differences, the state of Salzburg and its capital city, Salzburg, are the most expensive areas to buy property, while Lower Austria, including St. Pölten and Wiener Neustadt, provides some of the cheapest housing options in the country.
