Side-by-side city decision # Vienna vs San Sebastián. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link ViennaAustria1/6 VS San SebastiánSpain3/6 $2,015Vienna monthly budget $2,295San Sebastián monthly budget 190 MbpsVienna internet 310 MbpsSan Sebastián internet Decision summary San Sebastián San Sebastián leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Vienna Speed Fastest internet San Sebastián Vibe Best nomad vibe Tie Safety Highest safety San Sebastián Air Cleanest air San Sebastián Walk Most walkable Tie Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Vienna](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/austria/vienna.md) Austria 1/6 Budget$2,015 Internet190 Mbps Vibe8/10 [San Sebastián](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/san-sebastian.md) Spain 3/6 Budget$2,295 Internet310 Mbps Vibe8/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricViennaSan Sebastián Total estimated budget $2,015 $2,295 1-bed center rent $1,250 $1,500 Coworking desk $290 $250 Local meal $16.5 $17.5 Cappuccino $4.3 $2.4 Gym membership $55 $55 Transport budget $45 $35 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricViennaSan Sebastián Internet speed 190 Mbps 310 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 8/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricViennaSan Sebastián Safety index 76/100 82/100 Air quality 78/100 88/100 Walkability 9/10 9/10 Female safety 8/10 9/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 8/10 9/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricViennaSan Sebastián Healthcare quality Excellent Excellent English proficiency Excellent Good Climate type Humid continental Oceanic Best time to visit May - Sep Jun - Sep Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Vienna](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/austria/vienna.md) Austria → ### Strengths * Exceptional public transport and walkability * Very safe, clean, and well-organized urban environment * Fast, reliable home internet and widespread 5G * Excellent healthcare, tap water, and public services * Rich arts, music, café, and museum culture * Central European location with easy rail connections ### Trade-offs * Rent and deposits are expensive by regional standards * Long-term apartment searches can be competitive and bureaucratic * Winters are cold, gray, and comparatively dark * German is important for administration and deeper local integration * Restaurants, nightlife, and coworking add up quickly * Austria has no straightforward dedicated digital-nomad visa ### Common visa routes * Schengen short-stay visa or visa-free stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) * Austria Red-White-Red Card for qualifying skilled employment * Student residence permit or self-employed residence route where eligible [San Sebastián](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/san-sebastian.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Exceptional pintxos culture and high-quality local food * Very safe, compact, and highly walkable central districts * Fast fiber internet and reliable mobile coverage * Excellent public healthcare and private medical options * Beautiful beaches, coastal paths, and nearby mountain hikes * Progressive, welcoming atmosphere with strong quality of life ### Trade-offs * Rent is among the highest in Spain, especially near the beach * Wet weather is common throughout the year * Summer brings crowds, festival noise, and scarce short-term rentals * Coworking choice is smaller than in Barcelona or Madrid * Local social circles can take time to enter * Basque and Spanish are more useful than English outside tourist areas ### Common visa routes * Spain Digital Nomad Visa * Schengen short-stay visa exemption or Schengen Visa * Spanish Non-Lucrative Residence Visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.