Salzburgers increasingly invest in precious metals

Nearly one-third of Salzburg residents now invest in precious metals, an 83 percent increase from the previous year, ORF reports. The savings account remains the region’s most popular way to save.

In 2025, 18 percent of residents used precious metals as an investment. No other savings option gained as much popularity over the past year, while investment in securities rose by less, Erste Bank Austria said.

Men in Salzburg are, on average, more willing to take risks than women. Four in five residents still have a savings account, which remains by far the most popular form of saving.

Maximilian Clary und Aldringen, Erste Bank Austria’s head of personal banking, recommends savings accounts for short-term or unexpected expenses and as an emergency fund.

Adjusted for inflation, residents are saving considerably less than five years ago. In 2021, they set aside an average of 341 euros a month; the latest survey puts the figure at less than 200 euros. More than a quarter of the population currently spends all its income on living costs and cannot save.