😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Ljubljana versus $1,542 in Biella.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,021 in Ljubljana versus $2,336 in Biella.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Ljubljana versus $3,130 in Biella.
😐Living in Ljubljana is roughly 32% more expensive than Biella, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ljubljana52% above, Biella15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11€14.73
$15.43€13.29
10.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€58.9
$70.9€61.0
-3.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34€8.04
$11.25€9.69
-16.98%
Cappuccino
$2.55€2.19
$1.66€1.43
53.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$3.42€2.95
-7.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.30€1.12
53.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74€3.22
$5.13€4.41
-27.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$4.71€4.05
-2.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.28
$1.41€1.22
5.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.79
$2.11€1.82
-1.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$2.35€2.02
18.72%
Eggs
$3.94€3.39
$4.08€3.52
-3.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14€11.31
$14.71€12.66
-10.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91€9.39
$9.87€8.50
10.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90€11.11
$23.05€19.84
-44.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$2.54€2.19
-22.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.74€1.50
-1.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.83
$1.71€1.47
24.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$3.29€2.83
3.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.66€1.43
-18.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.70€1.47
-3.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.42
$1.37€1.18
20.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.43€0.37
118.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85€5.04
$7.01€6.04
-16.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25€7.10
$6.88€5.93
19.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$2.08€1.79
-31.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.73€2.35
-26.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46€1.26
$1.93€1.66
-24.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.46€37.41
$39.54€34.04
9.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.96
$11.74€10.10
-80.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.96
$2.04€1.75
-45.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.97€17.19
$57.4€49.40
-65.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70€1.47
$2.09€1.80
-18.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€24.5K
$28.3K€24.4K
0.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K€24.2K
$32.4K€27.9K
-13.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$283€244
$242€208
17.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81€16.19
$6.74€5.80
179.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61€32.38
$29.76€25.62
26.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9€43.82
$69.6€60.0
-26.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.03€15.53
$25.34€21.81
-28.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.92
$9.46€8.14
-2.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$550€474
$558€480
-1.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K€12.3K
$7,896€6,797
81.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$91.7€78.9
11.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.49€40.02
$37.42€32.22
24.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.7
$79.9€68.8
30.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€117
$117€101
16.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€866
$460€396
118.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€706
$406€349
102.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046€1,762
$773€665
164.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,473€1,268
$641€552
129.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,622€5,700
$1,704€1,467
288.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,097€4,388
$877€755
481.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljubljana
Biella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,980€1,705
$1,899€1,635
4.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
4.47
-14.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ljubljana: June 1, 2026
Last update for Biella: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ljubljana and $460 in Biella. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ljubljana pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Ljubljana vs $71.0 in Biella for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $319 per month, with Ljubljana cheaper across the board.
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
Ljubljana vs Biella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ljubljana and Biella?
Ljubljana and Biella differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($2,031 vs $1,542 including rent). Biella is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ljubljana or Biella?
Ljubljana pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ljubljana and Biella?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ljubljana versus $460 in Biella. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ljubljana and Biella?
Childcare runs $550 in Ljubljana versus $558 in Biella. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Ljubljana pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,542 in Biella versus $2,031 in Ljubljana, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Biella but tight or insufficient in Ljubljana. The gap between the two cities makes Biella the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ljubljana and Biella?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ljubljana or Biella safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ljubljana and Biella are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ljubljana or Biella?
Expats usually find Biella gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Ljubljana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.