😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,015 in Ljubljana versus $1,632 in Vrhnika.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,035 in Ljubljana versus $2,446 in Vrhnika.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,056 in Ljubljana versus $3,260 in Vrhnika.
😐Living in Ljubljana is roughly 24% more expensive than Vrhnika, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ljubljana51% above, Vrhnika22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.22€14.74
$11.69€10.01
47.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2€58.4
$51.2€43.79
33.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.23€7.90
$9.24€7.91
-0.11%
Cappuccino
$2.55€2.18
$2.57€2.20
-0.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.62
$3.42€2.93
-10.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.79
$1.76€1.51
18.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.91€3.34
$3.49€2.99
12.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54€3.88
$4.54€3.89
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54€1.32
$1.42€1.21
8.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17€1.86
$1.59€1.36
36.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82€2.41
$2.94€2.52
-4.08%
Eggs
$3.99€3.42
$3.53€3.02
13.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.10€11.22
$13.42€11.49
-2.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.06€9.47
$8.65€7.40
27.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.76€10.92
$12.88€11.02
-0.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94€1.66
$2.04€1.75
-4.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.48
$1.78€1.52
-2.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15€1.84
$2.19€1.88
-1.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.51€3.01
$3.41€2.92
2.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37€1.17
$1.37€1.18
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.62€1.39
$1.57€1.34
3.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64€1.41
$1.71€1.47
-4.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96€0.82
$0.95€0.82
1.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.07€5.19
$5.97€5.11
1.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52€6.44
$6.90€5.91
8.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47€1.26
$1.45€1.24
1.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.74
$1.99€1.70
2.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.48€1.26
$1.48€1.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.27€37.04
$31.79€27.21
36.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24€1.92
$1.76€1.51
27.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15€0.99
$1.11€0.95
3.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.56€16.74
$19.29€16.51
1.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.75€1.50
$1.67€1.43
4.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€24.4K
$25.6K€21.9K
11.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K€24.7K
$28.2K€24.1K
2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$286€244
$277€237
3.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.70€16.01
$14.54€12.45
28.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.00€32.53
$33.40€28.59
13.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7€45.07
$51.8€44.31
1.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28€15.64
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.04€7.74
$8.09€6.93
11.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$540€463
$527€451
2.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2K€12.2K
$8,749€7,489
62.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101€86.1
$99.7€85.4
0.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.38€39.70
$35.14€30.08
31.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.4
$104€88.8
0.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€118
$137€117
1.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005€861
$668€572
50.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$823€704
$532€456
54.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,074€1,775
$1,123€961
84.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,473€1,261
$973€833
51.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,440€5,512
$3,427€2,933
87.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,943€4,231
$3,516€3,010
40.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ljubljana
Vrhnika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,910€1,635
$1,149€984
66.18%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Vrhnika: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Ljubljana and $668 in Vrhnika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ljubljana pays 66% 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 $51.0 in Vrhnika for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $275 per month, with Vrhnika 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 Vrhnika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vrhnika cheaper than Ljubljana?
Vrhnika is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ljubljana or Vrhnika?
Ljubljana pays 66% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ljubljana and Vrhnika?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Ljubljana versus $668 in Vrhnika. 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 Vrhnika runs roughly 36% 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 $540 in Ljubljana versus $527 in Vrhnika. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Ljubljana or Vrhnika?
At $1,632 in Vrhnika versus $2,015 in Ljubljana, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Vrhnika but tight or insufficient in Ljubljana. The gap between the two cities makes Vrhnika the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ljubljana or Vrhnika more family-friendly?
For families, Vrhnika 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 Vrhnika?
Safety-wise, Ljubljana and Vrhnika 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 Vrhnika gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Ljubljana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.