😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Ljubljana versus $1,836 in Columbia, MO.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,021 in Ljubljana versus $2,808 in Columbia, MO.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Ljubljana versus $3,781 in Columbia, MO.
😐Living in Ljubljana is roughly 11% more expensive than Columbia, MO, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ljubljana52% above, Columbia, MO37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11€14.72
$16.74$16.74
2.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€58.9
$59.2$59.2
15.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34€8.03
$13.03$13.03
-28.32%
Cappuccino
$2.55€2.19
$5.10$5.10
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$2.53$2.53
24.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.71
$1.97$1.97
1.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74€3.22
$4.04$4.04
-7.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$4.86$4.86
-5.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.28
$1.10$1.10
35.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.79
$3.16$3.16
-34.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$2.00$2.00
39.50%
Eggs
$3.94€3.39
$2.93$2.93
34.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14€11.30
$9.01$9.01
45.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91€9.38
$9.33$9.33
16.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90€11.10
$14.25$14.25
-9.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$4.10$4.10
-51.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.25$1.25
36.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.83
$3.12$3.12
-31.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$3.97$3.97
-14.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.59$1.59
-15.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$2.49$2.49
-34.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.42
$1.73$1.73
-4.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.80
$1.88$1.88
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85€5.03
$7.16$7.16
-18.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25€7.09
$16.80$16.80
-50.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$1.67$1.67
-14.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$3.46$3.46
-41.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46€1.26
$2.03$2.03
-28.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.46€37.38
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.96
$3.07$3.07
-25.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.96
$1.04$1.04
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.97€17.18
$22.12$22.12
-9.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70€1.46
$0.81$0.81
109.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€24.5K
$29.5K$29.5K
-3.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K€24.2K
$25.9K$25.9K
8.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$283€244
$185$185
53.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81€16.18
$51.5$51.5
-63.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61€32.35
$60.6$60.6
-37.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9€43.79
$27.98$27.98
81.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.03€15.51
$16.40$16.40
9.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.91
$11.84$11.84
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$550€473
$1,197$1,197
-54.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K€12.3K
$13.1K$13.1K
9.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€87.9
$53.0$53.0
92.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.49€39.99
$32.83$32.83
41.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.6
$69.7$69.7
49.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€117
$89.2$89.2
52.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€865
$915$915
9.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€706
$780$780
5.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046€1,760
$1,862$1,862
9.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,473€1,267
$1,423$1,423
3.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,622€5,696
$2,012$2,012
229.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,097€4,385
$2,014$2,014
153.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljubljana
Columbia, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,980€1,703
$3,990$3,990
-50.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
6.35
-39.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ljubljana: June 1, 2026
Last update for Columbia, MO: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ljubljana and $915 in Columbia, MO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Columbia, MO pays 102% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Ljubljana vs $59.0 in Columbia, MO. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $327, with Ljubljana cheaper for home cooking.
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 Columbia, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Columbia, MO cheaper than Ljubljana?
Columbia, MO is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ljubljana or Columbia, MO?
On paper, Columbia, MO earns 102% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ljubljana and Columbia, MO?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ljubljana versus $915 in Columbia, MO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $550 in Ljubljana versus $1,197 in Columbia, MO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ljubljana or Columbia, MO?
Dining out is cheaper in Columbia, MO – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $68.0 in Ljubljana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Ljubljana or Columbia, MO?
At $1,836 in Columbia, MO versus $2,031 in Ljubljana, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Columbia, MO but tight or insufficient in Ljubljana. The gap between the two cities makes Columbia, MO the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ljubljana or Columbia, MO more family-friendly?
For families, Columbia, MO is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ljubljana, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ljubljana or Columbia, MO?
Safety-wise, Ljubljana and Columbia, MO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Columbia, MO gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Ljubljana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.