Airolo vs Graz
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Graz is approximately 20% less expensive than Airolo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Graz a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Graz has a FIRE Score of 73/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Graz is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowSwitzerland
Airolo
Austria
Graz
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Graz
Graz is the quietly confident choice for anyone who wants Vienna's polish without Vienna's prices. At $821/mo for a city-centre one-bedroom and a $1,196/mo budget tier for a single adult, it undercuts most Western European university cities while still delivering excellent healthcare, an 85/100 safety index, and English spoken widely enough that you will never be stuck. The trade-off is real: winters bite, the local net salary of $3,132/mo is modest, and a family of four should budget $4,111/mo excluding rent. For digital nomads and early retirees chasing a 73/100 FIRE score with a large, active expat scene in Innere Stadt, Geidorf, and Lend, it is a hard city to beat.
About Austria
Austria has a digital nomad visa available or a fast path to citizenship, neither exists here. High earners also face a 55% top tax rate above EUR 1M. But retirees clearing EUR 2,548/mo qualify for a settlement permit, and with a 70.5 safety index and strong healthcare, it suits those prioritizing stability over low taxes or easy paperwork.
Airolo leads on digital nomad suitability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Graz is approximately 20% less expensive than Airolo based on cost of living including rent. This makes Graz a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Graz has a FIRE Score of 73/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 85, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Graz is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Airolo
Airolo is a tiny alpine village of 2 thousand people at 1171 m, so come here for mountains and quiet, not for a social scene. The numbers are genuinely split: a 1-bedroom outside the center runs $759/mo and a single adult can scrape by on $1,047/mo, but a comfortable life costs $2,144/mo and the expat community is very few with limited English. Safety is superb at a 90/100 index and healthcare is excellent, yet the digital nomad score of 55/100 and 52 Mbps internet tell you remote work is a compromise. Retirees with the Switzerland Lump Sum Taxation Residence and $2,100/mo minimum income will find it calm and cheap by Swiss standards, while anyone craving city energy should look elsewhere.
About Switzerland
Only wealthy, financially independent retirees 55+ should look here: the retirement visa exists, but at CHF 2100/mo income minimum against rent alone hitting $2,030/mo in city centers, this filters out anyone not already comfortable. Safety (73.5) and healthcare (71.5) are excellent trade-offs for top combined rates that can reach around 45% in higher-tax cantons and difficult citizenship path. Bad fit: digital nomads (no visa), budget seekers, or anyone wanting an easy path to permanent residency.
$1,085/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Graz
Graz is the quietly confident choice for anyone who wants Vienna's polish without Vienna's prices. At $821/mo for a city-centre one-bedroom and a $1,196/mo budget tier for a single adult, it undercuts most Western European university cities while still delivering excellent healthcare, an 85/100 safety index, and English spoken widely enough that you will never be stuck. The trade-off is real: winters bite, the local net salary of $3,132/mo is modest, and a family of four should budget $4,111/mo excluding rent. For digital nomads and early retirees chasing a 73/100 FIRE score with a large, active expat scene in Innere Stadt, Geidorf, and Lend, it is a hard city to beat.
About Austria
Austria has a digital nomad visa available or a fast path to citizenship, neither exists here. High earners also face a 55% top tax rate above EUR 1M. But retirees clearing EUR 2,548/mo qualify for a settlement permit, and with a 70.5 safety index and strong healthcare, it suits those prioritizing stability over low taxes or easy paperwork.
$1,223/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Airolo | Graz |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $981.99 | $820.66 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $758.81 | $693.42 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | N/A | $1473.98 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | N/A | $1161.98 |
| Safety Index | 90 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 52Mbps | 120Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Airolo | Graz |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $1,915/mo | $1,777/mo |
| Excluding rent | $1,156/mo | $1,084/mo |
| Rent | $759/mo | $693/mo |
| Groceries | $426/mo | $294/mo |
| Dining out | $204/mo | $168/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $162/mo | $116/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $284/mo | $431/mo |
| Transport | $80.00/mo | $75.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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