Who's included in the official average?
Statistics Austria asks selected households about their housing costs, including through its Microcensus survey. It publishes figures such as average rent including running costs. Each figure follows a stated definition of the homes and costs it covers.
The average can include older contracts, legally limited or subsidised rents and freely agreed prices. That gives a picture of people already living there. If you're looking for a home now, you may not be able to get all those prices.
What people's contributions add
DimeTrace asks how someone got their price and what their situation was at the time. We also ask about the home, household, payment date and included costs. You see combined comparisons, never one person's full contribution.
People choose whether to contribute, so their costs don't automatically represent the whole city. But the extra details can help you find a comparison that fits your situation.
How to use both figures
Official figures show their source and licence. Comparisons from contributions show a middle figure, the range covering the central half, dates and the number of people. We never count an official average as another person's contribution.
A difference is a reason to look closer. Are these the same kinds of homes, in the same area and months, with the same bills included? Could you qualify for the prices in both comparisons? Check those details before drawing a conclusion.