How Much Does It Cost to Live In Ljubljana?
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and as such, significantly more expensive than most other cities in the country.
It is a beautiful city that has no world-famous attractions, which is actually its plus: you don’t have to rush from one place to another in order to visit all the landmarks and you can actually take that time and inhale the spirit of the city.
Your expenses here, like anywhere else, depend directly on your own lifestyle and what you’re ready to give up or splurge on.
Slovenia : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
Downtown Ljubljana is full of trendy cafes and high-quality restaurants where you can taste Slovenian cuisine. You can find local Slovenian food but there are also many international food chains where you can eat for just a couple of dollars. When eating out, choose inexpensive restaurants that look decent where you can eat for around 9$, and if you want to save up, just avoid the top upscale restaurants.
MARKETS
Purchasing in a grocery store or a market is the best way to enjoy a variety of food and healthy groceries. Fresh veggies and fruit are always available at relatively low prices. You can buy relatively cheap groceries and other common supplies in several supermarkets, like the famous Slovene supermarket chain of stores by the name of Mercator.
TRANSPORTATION
Ljubljana boasts great public transport system with 26 bus lines, which are clean and run frequently. The cost per journey is 1.36$ and includes an unlimited number of free transfers between buses within 90 minutes from the first entry to the bus. Taxis ordered by phone are cheap and those hailed on the street can and will overcharge you! Bike rentals are free for 1 hour per use.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities are rather expensive in Ljubljana, though since the country has relatively high standards, those that live here can afford it without many problems. All the basic ones, including water, cooling, heating and garbage services amount up to over 200$ a month. Internet isn’t cheap either, costing around 36$ a month depending on your provider.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Sports and fitness are not as pricey in Ljubljana as you would expect looking at all the other prices. A membership at a fitness club for one adult costs around 47$ a month. As for leisure, there are many opportunities to have fun throughout Slovenia’s capital – it’s a very modern city with all forms of entertainment. Cinema tickets will cost you around 7$ per person.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Ljubljana’s main shopping areas are the BTC City Shopping District and the Rudnik Shopping District, but there are also several department stores such as Maximarket, H&M, Müller, Nama, located in the city center where you can have a great shopping experience. But Ljubljana is somewhat expensive: Levi’s jeans cost nearly 75$ while quality running sneakers of brands like Nike cost about a 90$.
RENT PER MONTH
Rent in Ljubljana is relatively expensive. For an apartment in the city center, you’ll have to cash out almost 600$. If you decide to live in a less expensive part of the city, or on the outskirts of Ljubljana/in the suburbs, you could lower your rent to around 380$. If you’re looking for a larger apartment for the whole family, count on paying over 1000$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Ljubljana
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $9.07 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $2.83 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.76 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.04 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.17 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.46 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $1.36 |
| Monthly Pass | $41.95 |
| Gasoline | $1.49 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $232.06 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.06 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $39.23 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $47.38 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $14.41 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $7.28 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $75.96 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $33.48 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $91.17 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $589.56 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $437.74 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $1059.36 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Ljubljana?
In Ljubljana, without a doubt, the biggest chunk of the paycheck gets spent on food and a large portion of people’s salaries gets spend in markets or grocery stores.
The next huge expense is the rent which is rather expensive in this city.
Restaurants take up the next spot on the list, since food can get pretty pricey, and, as in most cities, those who are well-off eat in restaurants practically every day.
Transportation is very expensive too, while also being an everyday necessity for everyone.
Average Costs Breakdown
Ljubljana: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Those that get a minimum wage of about 700$ might have some hard time covering all expenses, especially if they’re renting an apartment.
Still, the minimum wage in this city is far better and higher than in most other capitals in the Balkan.
Of course, those renting an apartment will always have a harder time paying off their bills.
Average monthly net salary is pretty high, and though their expenses are high too, an average citizen of Ljubljana can live comfortably and have no problem earning for a living.
Ljubljana Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Ljubljana Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Cost of Living by City in Ljubljana
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Maribor | 49.3 |
