😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Ljubljana versus $1,516 in Maribor.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,021 in Ljubljana versus $2,195 in Maribor.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Ljubljana versus $2,873 in Maribor.
😐Living in Ljubljana is roughly 34% more expensive than Maribor, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ljubljana52% above, Maribor13% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11€14.73
$11.77€10.13
45.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€59.0
$52.5€45.20
30.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34€8.04
$9.23€7.95
1.19%
Cappuccino
$2.55€2.19
$2.53€2.18
0.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$3.13€2.69
0.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.72
$1.86€1.60
6.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74€3.22
$3.43€2.95
9.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.95
$4.54€3.91
0.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.28
$1.37€1.18
8.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.79
$1.58€1.36
31.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.40
$2.87€2.47
-2.79%
Eggs
$3.94€3.39
$3.51€3.02
12.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14€11.32
$13.12€11.30
0.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91€9.39
$8.56€7.37
27.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90€11.11
$12.81€11.03
0.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$2.04€1.75
-2.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.47
$1.73€1.49
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.83
$2.14€1.84
-0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.93
$3.40€2.93
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.37€1.18
-1.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.41
$1.58€1.36
3.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.42
$1.73€1.49
-4.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.94€0.81
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85€5.04
$6.05€5.21
-3.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25€7.10
$7.07€6.09
16.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$1.45€1.25
-2.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$2.00€1.72
0.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46€1.26
$2.36€2.03
-38.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.46€37.42
$41.94€36.12
3.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.96
$1.78€1.54
28.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.96
$1.17€1.00
-4.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.97€17.20
$19.56€16.84
2.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70€1.47
$1.64€1.41
3.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€24.5K
$26.3K€22.7K
8.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K€24.2K
$28.1K€24.2K
-0.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$283€244
$282€243
0.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81€16.19
$15.07€12.98
24.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61€32.39
$34.03€29.31
10.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9€43.83
$45.86€39.49
10.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.03€15.53
$11.63€10.02
55.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.92
$8.04€6.92
14.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$550€474
$507€436
8.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K€12.3K
$8,622€7,424
65.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.0
$100€86.1
2.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.49€40.03
$35.40€30.49
31.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.7
$103€89.0
0.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€118
$139€120
-1.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€866
$547€471
83.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€706
$418€360
96.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046€1,762
$925€796
121.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,473€1,268
$650€560
126.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,622€5,702
$3,331€2,868
98.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,097€4,389
$2,485€2,140
105.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljubljana
Maribor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,980€1,705
$1,982€1,706
-0.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
3.65
5.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ljubljana: June 1, 2026
Last update for Maribor: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ljubljana and $547 in Maribor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maribor pays 0% 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 $52.0 in Maribor for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $273 per month, with Maribor 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 Maribor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maribor cheaper than Ljubljana?
Maribor is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ljubljana or Maribor?
On paper, Maribor earns 0% 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 Maribor?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ljubljana versus $547 in Maribor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Maribor runs roughly 4% less than in Ljubljana. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $550 in Ljubljana versus $507 in Maribor. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Ljubljana or Maribor?
At $1,516 in Maribor versus $2,031 in Ljubljana, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maribor but tight or insufficient in Ljubljana. The gap between the two cities makes Maribor the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ljubljana or Maribor more family-friendly?
For families, Maribor 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 Maribor?
Safety-wise, Ljubljana and Maribor 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 Maribor gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Ljubljana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.