Austria is a destination that is neither budget-friendly nor the most expensive. In reality, the cost of living there is very similar to that of other European countries, such as France. But it offers excellent value for money, meaning you’ll enjoy a very high standard of service. Your budget can also be adjusted depending on your choice of accommodations, the length of your trip, restaurants, and so on. The only variable is transportation costs (flights, car rentals, which will remain a major expense).
👉 Our take: The country isn’t overrun by tourists, offers a wide variety of landscapes (from lakes and mountains to charming towns), and a truly diverse range of activities. Add to that the friendliness andwarm hospitality of the Austrians, and you’ve got a hidden gem of a destination.
After several family trips—sometimes by car from France, sometimes by plane—we’ve come to a firm conclusion: Austria offers some of the best value for money in Europe, provided you know how to plan it. With two children (a baby and a 3-year-old), we traveled for two weeks for less than €1,500 per adult. Here’s how.
Table of Contents
💶 What You're Really Spending: An Overview
For a family of four (two adults, a 3-year-old child, and an infant), here is a typical breakdown of our budget for a 15-day trip:
| Expense item | Estimated budget (family of four) | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | €300–€1,300 | There is a significant difference between traveling by car versus flying and renting a car |
| Accommodation | €1,200–€1,600 | A must-have apartment for families with babies |
| Food | €700–€1,000 | A mix of takeout and dining in for lunch |
| Activities & Miscellaneous | €200–€400 | Lots of free activities for young children |
| Total for the family | €2,400–€4,300 | Depending on the transportation scenario |
The significant difference is mainly due to transportation expenses—this is the most significant factor in your budget. Here are the two scenarios in detail.
💶 Scenario 1: A road trip by car starting from your home
This was the option we chose for our long summer road trip (with a baby and a 3-year-old). No luggage restrictions, a car seat already installed in your own car, total flexibility for stops and layovers—and best of all, no stress at the airport with two young children.
From Paris, it’s about 1,100 km to Salzburg (about a 9-hour drive) or 1,300 km to Vienna (11–12 hours). When traveling with young children, people usually split the trip over two days with a stopover in Germany or Switzerland.
| Expenditure | Estimate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip gas | €120–€160 | From Paris, depending on the fuel |
| Gas available on site | €80–150 | ~800–1,100 km in Austria (15 days) |
| Round-trip tolls | €80–120 | France + Austria |
| Austrian highway vignette | 30 € | Required, 2 months = €29.90 (recommended for 15 days) |
| Hotel stay (round trip) | €80–140 | 1 night on the way there, 1 on the way back with children |
| Total transportation Scenario 1 | €390–600 | For the whole family |
💡 Our tip: For a 15-day trip, buy the 2-month vignette (€29.90) instead of the 10-day one—it more than covers your round trip. You can purchase it at the border or online at asfinag.at.
💶 Option 2: Flight + car rental upon arrival
This is the fastest option and sometimes the only one available (depending on your country of departure). Here are some realistic figures for a trip departing from Paris CDG (in July 2026) with two children.
Airline tickets
In July (high season), a round-trip ticket from Paris CDG to Vienna typically costs between €200 and €350 per adult on Air France or Austrian Airlines when booked 2 to 3 months in advance. Low-cost carriers (easyJet, Transavia) can offer fares as low as €150–180, but with significant baggage restrictions—which can be a deal-breaker when traveling with two young children.
For children, rates vary by airline:
- Infant (under 2 years old, traveling on your lap): approximately 10% of the adult fare on Air France and Austrian Airlines. For an adult ticket priced at €250, expect to pay around €25 for the infant. The infant is not assigned a seat and travels on your lap, secured with a special safety belt provided on board.
- 3-year-old child: They are entitled to their own seat. On Air France, the discount ranges from 20% to 33%, depending on the destination. On Austrian Airlines, it’s about 25%. For an adult ticket costing €250, expect to pay €170–€200 for the child.
⚠️ Don't forget: include checked baggage (starting at €30–40 per bag on major airlines), a stroller (which is usually free when checked), and a car seat if you plan to bring one.
Car rental on site
Essential for a road trip, car rental in Austria costs an average of €400 to €650 for a 15-day period in July for an SUV, which is clearly competitive. Note: Be sure to choose a vehicle large enough to accommodate two car seats (some compact models have limited space). Also, remember to check whether car seats are included in the rental package or to rent them separately (approximately €10–15 per day).
We recommend compare offers from different rental companies — price differences between agencies can range from 30% to 40% for the same rental period.
| Expenditure | Estimate | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Family flights (4 people) | €625–€915 | See details above |
| Checked baggage (2 suitcases) | €60–100 | Depending on the company and format |
| 15-day car rental | €400–€650 | Family car |
| Car seats (if not included) | €150–€225 | ~€10/day × 2 seats × 15 days |
| Highway sticker | 30 € | Required in Austria (2 months) |
| Gas available on site | €80–150 | ~800–1,100 km in Austria (15 days) |
| Total transportation Scenario 2 | €1,345–€2,070 | For the whole family |
The cost difference compared to driving remains significant: an additional €900 to €1,500 for the whole family. That’s the price of saving time (a 2-hour flight vs. a 1–2-day drive).
💶 Accommodation: the apartment—our top choice
With a baby and a 3-year-old, we decided to rent apartments.
On average, expect:
- Vienna: €90–€160 per night for a well-located two-bedroom apartment
- Salzburg: €80–€130 per night
- Rural areas (Salzkammergut, Hallstatt): €70–€110 per night
For 14 nights at an average of €90 per night, accommodation comes to about €1,260 for the whole family. We book through Hotels.com with free cancellation to keep our options open, or on Airbnb.
💶 Eating well without breaking the bank
Austrian restaurants sometimes offer reasonable prices, but sometimes they’re not exactly cheap: expect to pay €15 to €25 per adult for lunch, and more for dinner. With two young children, eating out for every meal would be both expensive and exhausting. Our strategy:
- Morning: breakfast at the apartment, grocery shopping at Spar or Billa (the two main chains)
- Lunch: restaurant — it’s the cheapest meal with the daily specials, and the kids eat well
- Dinner: home-cooked meals (between €3 and €10)
- Snacks: Austrian bakeries (Bäckerei) — pretzels, pastries for less than €3
Actual budget: about €45–65 per day for two adults. Children under 3–4 years old usually eat for much less at restaurants (children’s portions or shared plates). And Austrian tap water is of excellent quality—no need to buy bottled water.
💶 Activities: Austria is family-friendly
A pleasant surprise: when traveling with young children, many of Austria’s best experiences are free. Hiking in the Alps, swimming in the lakes of the Salzkammergut, the Old Town of Salzburg, the gardens of Schönbrunn… As for paid activities, children under 6 often get in for free or at a significantly reduced rate.
- Schönbrunn (Vienna): €16 for adults, free for children 6 and under
- Schönbrunn Zoo: €22 for adults, free for children 3 and under
- SchafbergBahn: ~€42 for adults, ~€21 for children (ages 4–15), free for children under 4
- Vienna museums: €10–20, often free on the first Sunday of the month
To book in advance and avoid lines (a must in Hallstatt during the summer), be sure to book your activities online—tickets are refundable and cost the same as at the ticket office.
Overall budget summary:
| Job | Option 1: Drive your own car | Option 2: Flight + car rental |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | €390–600 | €1,345–€2,070 |
| Accommodation (14 nights) | €1,100–€1,400 | €1,100–€1,400 |
| Food | €700–€1,000 | €700–€1,000 |
| Activities & Admission | €200–€350 | €200–€350 |
| Miscellaneous | €80–150 | €80–150 |
| Total for the family (4 people) | €2,470–€3,500 | €3,425 – €4,970 |
| Per adult | ~€950–1,320 | ~€1,390–1,920 |
With the car option, it’s entirely realistic to spend 15 days in Austria with your family for less than €1,500 per adult if you carefully manage your food and lodging expenses. The flight option is more expensive, which makes sense. In any case, we found that Austria offers excellent value for money.
💶Our 5 tips for staying on budget
- Travel during the off-season (if you can): in May–June or September, prices drop by 20–30%, and it’s much more pleasant with young children (especially since there are fewer crowds in Hallstatt).
- Book early: you’ll have a wider selection of apartments to choose from, and airfare will be cheaper.
- Try shopping at Hofer: the Austrian equivalent of Lidl, unbeatable for everyday needs.
- Take advantage of free admission for kids: many activities are free for children up to age 3 or 6—your kids are just the right age.
- Vienna City Card: If you’re staying in Vienna for more than 3 days, this card (unlimited public transportation + museum discounts) quickly pays for itself.
Our verdict
Austria isn’t a cheap destination—but it’s far from out of reach. With some good planning, two young children who qualify for many free perks, and a road trip from France, you can enjoy an amazing two-week vacation on a very reasonable budget. And you’ll soon discover that the best moments—swimming in an alpine lake, hiking in the Alps, or enjoying a Würstelstand by a fountain in Vienna—cost practically nothing.
Are you planning a family trip to Austria? Be sure to check out our guides:
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