Residential/care (AT) sub
Housing and healthcare benefits for hospitality workers in Austria
If you work in the hospitality industry in Austria – for example, as a cook, chef, kitchen help, waitress,
cleaner, bar staff or hotel employee – then you not only want to know what your gross salary is,
but also what living and care benefits Austria hospitality industry offers.
On this page you will read in brief how rent, housing and health insurance are regulated in Austria
for workers, and where to find official information.
1. Housing and rent support in Austria
Austria is known for its relatively strong social rental and housing structure. Unlike
some other countries, there is often no direct “rent subsidy” as in the Netherlands, but there are
important forms of support.
1.1 Social renting and municipal/sub-state support
Depending on the state (Bundesland) and municipality, there may be:
- social housing available with lower rents;
- housing subsidies or Wohnbeihilfe exist for lower-income households;
- are specific arrangements for young workers or families.
Rules and amounts vary by state. Therefore, it is important to:
- check which Bundesland you work and live in;
- look on local government websites for Wohnbeihilfe or Wohnförderung;
- when in doubt, seek advice from the municipality or a local advice point.
➜ Starting point for official information (German):
Austria.gv.at – information on housing and rental subsidies (Wohnbauförderung/Wohnbeihilfe)
2. Health insurance and health care in Austria
In Austria, health insurance is largely regulated through the social security system.
If you work in the hospitality industry and are regularly employed, in most cases you are:
- automatically affiliated with a health insurance fund (ÖGK or another zuständiges Krankenversicherungsträger);
- insured for basic care, hospital care and a large portion of medical expenses;
- Required to make contributions through your wages (employer + employee).
So there is usually no separate “care supplement” as in the Netherlands, but the protection is built
into the social security system.
➜ Official information on health insurance (German):
Gesundheit.gv.at – statutory health insurance in Austria
3. What do these housing and healthcare benefits mean for hospitality workers?
For hospitality workers in Austria, this means in practice:
- You are usually automatically provided with health insurance through your employer at a regular job.
- You can access social rent or lower rent in many regions through housing associations, cooperatives or municipal projects.
- Depending on income and family situation, you may qualify for housing assistance (Wohnbeihilfe).
These benefits are not always immediately visible on your paycheck, but they have a big impact on:
- your net disposable income (lower rent burden);
- your security in case of illness (coverage through social insurance);
- the total quality of living and life during your stay in Austria.
4. Where can you find official information and help?
Because the rules vary by state, it is smart to do the following when you arrive in Austria:
- Ask your employer which health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) you are affiliated with.
- Visit your state’ s website and search for terms such as
Wohnbeihilfe, Wohnservice or Sozialwohnungen. - For questions, contact:
- the local town hall(Gemeindeamt);
- the Arbeiterkammer (AK) for employee counseling;
- the zuständiges Krankenversicherungsträger for health insurance questions.
5. Austria in the European context
When thinking about working in different countries, it is helpful to compare Austria with other popular hospitality countries.
On our theme page
Benefits hospitality Europe
see how Austria compares to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom
in terms of housing and healthcare benefits.
6. Join our international community
Want to learn more about working, living, housing and social security rights in Austria and other European countries?
Join our international community for hospitality professionals:
Housing and healthcare benefits for hospitality workers in Austria
If you work in the hospitality industry in Austria – for example, as a cook, chef, kitchen help, waitress,
cleaner, bar staff or hotel employee – then you not only want to know what your gross salary is,
but also what living and care benefits Austria hospitality industry offers.
On this page you will read in brief how rent, housing and health insurance are regulated in Austria
for workers, and where to find official information.
1. Housing and rent support in Austria
Austria is known for its relatively strong social rental and housing structure. Unlike
some other countries, there is often no direct “rent subsidy” as in the Netherlands, but there are
important forms of support.
1.1 Social renting and municipal/sub-state support
Depending on the state (Bundesland) and municipality, there may be:
- social housing available with lower rents;
- housing subsidies or Wohnbeihilfe exist for lower-income households;
- are specific arrangements for young workers or families.
Rules and amounts vary by state. Therefore, it is important to:
- check which Bundesland you work and live in;
- look on local government websites for Wohnbeihilfe or Wohnförderung;
- when in doubt, seek advice from the municipality or a local advice point.
➜ Starting point for official information (German):
Austria.gv.at – information on housing and rental subsidies (Wohnbauförderung/Wohnbeihilfe)
2. Health insurance and health care in Austria
In Austria, health insurance is largely regulated through the social security system.
If you work in the hospitality industry and are regularly employed, in most cases you are:
- automatically affiliated with a health insurance fund (ÖGK or another zuständiges Krankenversicherungsträger);
- insured for basic care, hospital care and a large portion of medical expenses;
- Required to make contributions through your wages (employer + employee).
So there is usually no separate “care supplement” as in the Netherlands, but the protection is built
into the social security system.
➜ Official information on health insurance (German):
Gesundheit.gv.at – statutory health insurance in Austria
3. What do these housing and healthcare benefits mean for hospitality workers?
For hospitality workers in Austria, this means in practice:
- You are usually automatically provided with health insurance through your employer at a regular job.
- You can access social rent or lower rent in many regions through housing associations, cooperatives or municipal projects.
- Depending on income and family situation, you may qualify for housing assistance (Wohnbeihilfe).
These benefits are not always immediately visible on your paycheck, but they have a big impact on:
- your net disposable income (lower rent burden);
- your security in case of illness (coverage through social insurance);
- the total quality of living and life during your stay in Austria.
4. Where can you find official information and help?
Because the rules vary by state, it is smart to do the following when you arrive in Austria:
- Ask your employer which health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) you are affiliated with.
- Visit your state’ s website and search for terms such as
Wohnbeihilfe, Wohnservice or Sozialwohnungen. - For questions, contact:
- the local town hall(Gemeindeamt);
- the Arbeiterkammer (AK) for employee counseling;
- the zuständiges Krankenversicherungsträger for health insurance questions.
5. Austria in the European context
When thinking about working in different countries, it is helpful to compare Austria with other popular hospitality countries.
On our theme page
Benefits hospitality Europe
see how Austria compares to the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom
in terms of housing and healthcare benefits.
6. Join our international community
Want to learn more about working, living, housing and social security rights in Austria and other European countries?
Join our international community for hospitality professionals: