😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,031 in Ljubljana versus $1,691 in Velenje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,021 in Ljubljana versus $2,468 in Velenje.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Ljubljana versus $3,246 in Velenje.
😐Living in Ljubljana is roughly 20% more expensive than Velenje, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ljubljana52% above, Velenje26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.11€14.84
$14.10€12.23
21.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€59.4
$37.50€32.53
82.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.34€8.10
$8.22€7.13
13.63%
Cappuccino
$2.55€2.21
$2.13€1.85
19.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.74
$3.07€2.66
2.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99€1.73
$2.05€1.77
-2.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74€3.24
$2.85€2.47
31.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.98
$2.94€2.55
55.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49€1.29
$1.56€1.35
-4.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08€1.81
$2.17€1.89
-4.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.79€2.42
$2.89€2.51
-3.46%
Eggs
$3.94€3.42
$3.93€3.41
0.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.14€11.40
$13.24€11.49
-0.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91€9.46
$10.93€9.48
-0.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.90€11.20
$12.76€11.07
1.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98€1.72
$1.97€1.71
0.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$1.70€1.47
0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13€1.85
$2.13€1.85
-
Tomato(1kg)
$3.40€2.95
$3.41€2.96
-0.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35€1.17
$1.38€1.19
-2.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.58€1.37
3.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.43
$1.64€1.42
0.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.94€0.82
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85€5.07
$6.08€5.27
-3.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25€7.15
$8.41€7.29
-1.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.23
$1.47€1.27
-3.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.74
$2.13€1.85
-5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46€1.27
$1.48€1.28
-1.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.46€37.71
$31.66€27.47
37.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.98
$2.32€2.01
-1.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.97
$1.16€1.01
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.97€17.33
$19.83€17.20
0.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70€1.48
$1.74€1.51
-2.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€24.7K
$29.0K€25.2K
-1.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K€24.4K
$24.1K€20.9K
16.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$283€246
$279€242
1.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81€16.32
$18.99€16.48
-0.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61€32.63
$38.41€33.32
-2.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.9€44.16
$52.2€45.24
-2.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.03€15.65
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.20€7.98
$9.15€7.94
0.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$550€477
$547€475
0.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3K€12.4K
$13.9K€12.1K
2.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102€88.6
$101€87.9
0.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.49€40.33
$45.34€39.34
2.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€90.4
$104€90.2
0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136€118
$139€121
-2.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€873
$671€582
50.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$820€712
$532€462
54.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,046€1,775
$1,133€983
80.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,473€1,278
$982€852
49.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,622€5,745
$3,420€2,967
93.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,097€4,422
$3,342€2,900
52.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljubljana
Velenje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,980€1,718
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
3.84
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ljubljana: June 1, 2026
Last update for Velenje: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ljubljana and $671 in Velenje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Ljubljana vs $37.00 in Velenje. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $296, 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 Velenje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Velenje cheaper than Ljubljana?
Velenje is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,046 in Ljubljana and $2,536 in Velenje to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ljubljana and Velenje?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ljubljana versus $671 in Velenje. 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 Velenje runs roughly 37% 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 $547 in Velenje. 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 Velenje?
At $1,691 in Velenje versus $2,031 in Ljubljana, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Velenje but tight or insufficient in Ljubljana. The gap between the two cities makes Velenje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ljubljana or Velenje more family-friendly?
For families, Velenje 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 Velenje?
Safety-wise, Ljubljana and Velenje 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 Velenje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ljubljana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.