😐A single person spends $1,602 per month in Žalec vs $1,591 in Murska Sobota, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,372 per month in Žalec vs $2,431 in Murska Sobota, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,142 per month in Žalec vs $3,271 in Murska Sobota, rent included.
😐Žalec costs about 1% more than Murska Sobota, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Žalec and Murska Sobota sit above the global median – Žalec by 20%, Murska Sobota by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.97€11.17
$11.64€10.02
11.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.80€35.99
$52.4€45.15
-20.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22€7.08
$9.03€7.78
-8.97%
Cappuccino
$1.95€1.68
$2.27€1.96
-14.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.69
$3.01€2.59
3.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70€1.47
$1.84€1.58
-7.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50€3.01
$3.55€3.06
-1.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.45
$4.65€4.00
-38.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48€1.27
$1.31€1.13
12.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.18€1.88
$1.64€1.42
32.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61€1.38
$2.78€2.40
-42.09%
Eggs
$3.81€3.28
$3.60€3.10
5.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.71€10.08
$13.57€11.69
-13.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.23€7.94
$8.64€7.44
6.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.71€10.94
$12.81€11.03
-0.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14€0.98
$2.03€1.75
-43.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52€1.31
$1.74€1.50
-12.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$2.12€1.83
-8.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94€2.53
$3.34€2.88
-11.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24€1.07
$0.96€0.82
29.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91€0.78
$1.61€1.39
-43.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.43
$1.64€1.41
1.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.67
$0.91€0.79
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99€5.16
$5.98€5.15
0.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.82€5.87
$7.13€6.14
-4.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45€1.24
$1.44€1.24
0.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.79
$2.00€1.72
4.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.22
$1.42€1.22
-0.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.32€27.83
$31.43€27.07
2.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.08€1.79
$1.71€1.47
21.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11€0.95
$1.12€0.97
-0.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.69€16.95
$19.60€16.88
0.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70€1.46
$1.79€1.54
-5.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K€24.6K
$27.1K€23.4K
5.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K€23.0K
$29.1K€25.0K
-8.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$285€245
$287€247
-0.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.22€15.69
$15.67€13.50
16.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.14€25.09
$33.91€29.20
-14.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.2€57.0
$50.9€43.83
30.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.03€14.66
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.46€8.14
$8.19€7.06
15.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555€478
$526€453
5.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.0K€12.0K
$8,681€7,475
61.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.2€82.0
$100€86.4
-5.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.19€32.02
$35.28€30.38
5.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.7
$105€90.3
0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128€110
$136€117
-6.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$654€563
$656€565
-0.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$533€459
$527€454
1.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,111€957
$1,123€967
-1.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$963€829
$976€840
-1.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,542€3,050
$2,029€1,747
74.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,593€3,094
$1,624€1,398
121.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Žalec
Murska Sobota
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,547€1,332
$1,501€1,292
3.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
4
-4.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Žalec: June 13, 2026
Last update for Murska Sobota: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $654 in Žalec versus $656 in Murska Sobota. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 3% higher in Žalec, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Žalec versus $52.0 in Murska Sobota. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $272 – making Žalec the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Žalec vs Murska Sobota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Murska Sobota cheaper than Žalec?
Yes – Žalec is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,402 per month in Žalec and $2,386 in Murska Sobota. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Murska Sobota, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Murska Sobota. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $555 per month in Žalec and $526 in Murska Sobota. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Žalec or Murska Sobota?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Murska Sobota, where all-in costs run around $1,591, than in Žalec at $1,602. In Murska Sobota it covers expenses comfortably, while in Žalec it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Žalec or Murska Sobota more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Murska Sobota – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Žalec or Murska Sobota?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Murska Sobota. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Žalec makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.