"Lake addiction"

Analysis: This is how expensive it is to live by the water

Living close to the water is a dream for many - and an expensive one.

(Bild: P. Huber)

The "lake addiction" can be quite expensive, as a recent analysis shows. Lake Neusiedl in particular is anything but cheap.

Living near a lake is the dream of many people. Properties on Lake Millstätter See, Lake Attersee, Lake Wörthersee or Lake Neusiedl are therefore in high demand. But what if you want to buy a new-build property within walking distance of one of these natural jewels? According to an analysis by the willhaben platform and the real estate data experts at Exploreal, this can be quite expensive - and Lake Neusiedl in particular is one of the most expensive "cobbles" in Austria.

Lake Neusiedl in second place
The average owner-occupier price per square meter for a new-build property up to 500 meters from the shore is an impressive EUR 12,294. Only Mondsee in Upper Austria is even more expensive in the ranking at 13,651 euros per square meter. Lake Wörthersee is comparatively cheap, with a price per square meter of "only" 6562 euros.

Live further away and save
The analysis also shows that you can save a lot of money if you are prepared not to live in the immediate vicinity of the water. In the case of Lake Neusiedl, if you want to build within a radius of 500 meters from the shore, you have to pay 140 percent more than outside the 500-meter radius.