Townleap

Cost of Living: Bologna vs Kosice (2026)

Italy vs Slovakia — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Bologna
Kosice
$1130/mo
Rent
$965/mo
70/100
Livability
72/100
86/100
Safety
79/100
85/100
Healthcare
5 yr
PR path
Internet
85 Mbps
Impatriati Regime, Regime Forfettario, New Residents Flat Tax, 7% Retiree Flat Tax
Tax breaks

Open incentive regimes for newcomers

Freelance setup
Regime Forfettario
  • VAT-free under €85k
  • 26% social
  • €1000/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRKosice is 15% cheaper on rent ($965/mo vs $1130/mo). Bologna is safer — homicide rate 0.6 vs 1.1 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
Bologna and Kosice are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin.
Household
Bologna
Metric
Kosice
$1130/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$965/mo
$724/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$637/mo
$6,884
🧳
Cost to land
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.1 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
32 / 100
31°C
☀️
Summer high
26°C
2°C
❄️
Winter low
-4°C
Internet speed
85 Mbps
15 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
7.6 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
7.2 / 10
29/100
🗣️
Street English
58/100
$62k
💼
GDP per capita
$48k
1.0% · Practically frozen
📈
Inflation
2.8% · Boringly steady
70 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
72 / 100
5 years
📋
Time to PR
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated May 2026

💰
Cost of Living
Kosice
$165/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Bologna
0.6 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Bologna
7.6/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
31°C vs 26°C summers
🗣️
English
Kosice
higher proficiency score

Sun

How much sky you actually get

50% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
46% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.9h
Shortest day
Dec
8.2h
15.5h
Longest day
Jun
16.1h

Sun clocks out before 5pm in both cities come December. Plan accordingly.

Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)

Settler Essentials

stable
Inflation trend
5 yrs
Time to PR
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
Easy
EU visa
Complex
RU visa
Easy
UA visa
Not recognized
unione civile / convivenza di fatto (no immigration rights)
Partner pathway
Not recognized
druh/družka (informal — no legal recognition)
Impatriati Regime, Regime Forfettario, New Residents Flat Tax, 7% Retiree Flat Tax
Tax breaks

Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

On request
Abortion access
On request
12 wk
Gestational limit
12 wk

On request up to 90 days. 7-day waiting period. High rates of conscientious objection limit practical access.

On request up to 12 weeks. Mandatory 48-hour waiting period. For genetic reasons, permitted up to 24 weeks.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

25/100
Rainbow Index
31/100
Civil union
Marriage
Not recognized
Step-child only
Adoption
Not allowed
Yes
Job protection
Yes
No
Hate crime law
Yes

Source: Rainbow Europe (ILGA-Europe)

The Short Version

  • Rent is 15% cheaper in Kosice ($965/mo vs $1130/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Bologna (31°C vs 26°C).
  • Bologna is safer by homicide rate (0.6 vs 1.1 per 100k).
  • Street-level English is easier in Kosice (58/100 vs 29/100).

Bologna vs Kosice — Common Questions

Is Bologna cheaper than Kosice?

Kosice is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $965/month in Kosice vs $1130/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bologna or Kosice?

Bologna is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bologna has a rate of 0.57 per 100,000 and Kosice has 1.12 per 100,000.

Should I move to Bologna or Kosice?

Bologna and Kosice are almost suspiciously well-matched. Flip a coin. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Which has better weather, Bologna or Kosice?

Bologna is warmer in summer (31°C vs 26°C). Kosice has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Bologna or Kosice without speaking the local language?

Kosice is easier for street-level English (58/100) than Bologna (29/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

What's the cost of rent in Bologna vs Kosice?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $965/month in Kosice, $1130/month in Bologna (Numbeo). That's 15% cheaper rent in Kosice.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

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