🙂A single person spends $1,961 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,015 in Ljubljana, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,877 per month in Dubrovnik vs $3,035 in Ljubljana, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,794 per month in Dubrovnik vs $4,056 in Ljubljana, rent included.
🙂Dubrovnik is about 3% cheaper than Ljubljana, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Dubrovnik and Ljubljana sit above the global median – Dubrovnik by 46%, Ljubljana by 51%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51€14.95
$17.22€14.70
1.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0€70.0
$68.2€58.2
20.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.29€10.50
$9.23€7.89
33.15%
Cappuccino
$3.46€2.95
$2.55€2.18
35.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81€4.11
$3.06€2.61
57.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76€3.21
$2.09€1.78
79.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87€5.87
$3.91€3.34
75.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.88
$4.54€3.88
0.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.00
$1.54€1.32
-24.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51€1.29
$2.17€1.86
-30.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33€1.99
$2.82€2.41
-17.38%
Eggs
$4.33€3.70
$3.99€3.41
8.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59€10.75
$13.10€11.19
-3.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.23€10.45
$11.06€9.44
10.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.57€9.02
$12.76€10.90
-17.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.94€1.65
-9.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.45
$1.73€1.47
-1.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$2.15€1.84
-8.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67€2.28
$3.51€3.00
-23.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23€1.05
$1.37€1.17
-10.22%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81€0.69
$1.62€1.38
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.35
$1.64€1.40
-3.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.12
$0.96€0.82
36.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34€4.56
$6.07€5.18
-12.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.65€3.97
$7.52€6.43
-38.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.13
$1.47€1.25
-9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.46
$2.03€1.73
41.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.63€2.25
$1.48€1.26
77.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.1€47.92
$43.27€36.95
29.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16€2.70
$2.24€1.92
41.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13€0.97
$1.15€0.99
-1.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.30€6.23
$19.56€16.70
-62.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.50
$1.75€1.49
0.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$28.5K€24.3K
35.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.2K
$28.8K€24.6K
-10.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€159
$286€244
-34.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.35€19.94
$18.70€15.97
24.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.73€22.83
$38.00€32.45
-29.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.1€59.9
$52.7€44.97
33.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69€21.08
$18.28€15.61
35.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.63€7.37
$9.04€7.72
-4.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7€80.0
$540€462
-82.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,019€6,848
$14.2K€12.2K
-43.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2€64.2
$101€85.9
-25.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.40€25.11
$46.38€39.61
-36.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.9€58.9
$104€89.2
-34.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8€68.1
$138€118
-42.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,055
$1,005€859
22.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882€753
$823€703
7.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,706€1,457
$2,074€1,771
-17.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,217€1,039
$1,473€1,258
-17.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,477€7,239
$6,440€5,500
31.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,430€3,784
$4,943€4,221
-10.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Ljubljana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,518€1,297
$1,910€1,631
-20.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.66
3.84
21.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubrovnik: April 25, 2026
Last update for Ljubljana: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,236 in Dubrovnik versus $1,005 in Ljubljana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 26% higher in Ljubljana, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $82.0 in Dubrovnik versus $68.0 in Ljubljana. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Dubrovnik vs $295 in Ljubljana – so Dubrovnik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Dubrovnik vs Ljubljana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dubrovnik and Ljubljana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,961 in Dubrovnik, $2,015 in Ljubljana – roughly 3% apart. Ljubljana costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dubrovnik compared to Ljubljana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,941 per month in Dubrovnik and $3,023 in Ljubljana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dubrovnik and Ljubljana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Dubrovnik, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Dubrovnik and Ljubljana?
Public transport costs about 30% less in Dubrovnik. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dubrovnik and Ljubljana?
Kindergarten costs $93.7 per month in Dubrovnik and $540 in Ljubljana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Dubrovnik, where all-in costs run around $1,961, than in Ljubljana at $2,015. In Dubrovnik it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ljubljana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Dubrovnik and Ljubljana?
It depends on your priorities. Dubrovnik has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,961 in Dubrovnik to $2,015 in Ljubljana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Dubrovnik or Ljubljana safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Dubrovnik and Ljubljana?
If budget matters most, go with Dubrovnik. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ljubljana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.