Malé vs Vienna: cost of living for digital nomads
Malé, Maldives and Vienna, Austria, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Vienna is about 1% cheaper than Malé for a month of nomad living ($2,285 vs $2,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $1,050 in Vienna against $1,200 in Malé.
- Vienna scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
- Internet is faster in Vienna: 200 Mbps typical against 35 Mbps.
- Malé is tropical; Vienna is temperate.
Malé wins 2 of the measured lines; Vienna wins 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Malé or Vienna?
Vienna is cheaper: about $2,285/month against $2,300/month in Malé, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Malé or Vienna?
Vienna scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 8/10 for Malé.
Which has faster internet, Malé or Vienna?
Vienna has faster typical internet: 200 Mbps against 35 Mbps in Malé.
| Line | Malé | Vienna |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $2,300 | $2,285 |
| Rent | $1,200 | $1,050 |
| Food | $500 | $540 |
| Transport | $80 | $60 |
| Coworking | $150 | $175 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 35 | 200 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | mid | metro |
| Setting | island | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 6/10 | 7/10 |
Malé
Expensive island capital; many nomads base on cheaper local islands.
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Malé November 4, 2026, Vienna September 11, 2026.