Townleap

Cost of Living: Bologna vs Ljubljana (2026)

Italy vs Slovenia — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Bologna
Ljubljana
$1,130/mo
Rent

1BR centre

$1,118/mo
5 yr
PR path
—
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;DREnglish is much more widely spoken in Ljubljana. Both cities will charge you about the same to exist.
Ljubljana edges ahead 77 to 71. Bologna isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
How the livability score breaks down
Bologna
Ljubljana
18/25
💰 Affordability
18.1/25
14.4/15
🔒 Violent Crime
14.4/15
5.1/10
🛡️ Perceived Safety
7.8/10
5.3/15
⚡ Internet
9.7/15
11.4/15
🗳️ Democracy
11.7/15
5.4/10
🗣️ English
8.7/10
7.2/10
☀️ Climate
9/10
9/10
📊 Stability
8/10
8.8/10
🚗 Road Safety
4.3/10
7.4/10
🕊️ Geopolitical Safety
8.4/10
Household
Bologna
Metric
Ljubljana
$724/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
lower is better
$701/mo
$6,884
🧳
Cost to land
lower is better
—
80 / 100
🛡️
Settler safety
higher is better
86 / 100✓
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
lower is better
0.6 / 100k
5.0 / 100k
🚗
Road deaths
lower is better
—
51 / 100
🚨
Safety Index
higher is better
78 / 100✓
88°F
☀️
Summer high
personal taste
81°F
36°F
❄️
Winter low
personal taste
30°F
—
⚡
Internet speed
higher is better
130 Mbps
15 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
lower is better
—
85 / 100
🏥
Healthcare
higher is better
—
7.6 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
higher is better
7.8 / 10
✓6.5 / 9
🤝
Migrant acceptance
higher is better
4.4 / 9
25 / 100
🏳️‍🌈
Rainbow Index
higher is better
50 / 100✓
29/100
🗣️
Street English
higher is better
72/100✓
✓$62k
💼
GDP per capita (PPP)
higher is better
$57k
✓1.0% · Practically frozen
📈
Inflation
lower is better
2.0% · Boringly steady
87/100
🗽
Freedom House
higher is better
—
See exactly what you keep after taxes in each city

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

☀️
Weather
—
88°F vs 81°F summers
🗣️
English
Ljubljana
higher proficiency score

Sun

How much sky you actually get

50% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
47% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.9h
Shortest day
Dec
8.8h
15.5h
Longest day
Jun
15.7h

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

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

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
—
stable →
Inflation trend
—
Moderate
🇺🇸 Your visa
—
Easy
EU visa
—
Complex
RU visa
—
Easy
UA visa
—
Not recognized
unione civile / convivenza di fatto (no immigration rights)
Partner pathway
Recognized
izvenzakonska skupnost (extramarital community)

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

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

Reproductive Rights

Because your body shouldn't need a visa too

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

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

On request up to 10 weeks. From 10-20 weeks, approval by a medical committee required.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

Civil union
Marriage
Legal
Step-child only
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
No
Hate crime law
Yes

Bologna vs Ljubljana — Common Questions

Is Bologna cheaper than Ljubljana?▾

Ljubljana is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1118/month there vs $1130/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Bologna or Ljubljana?▾

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

Should I move to Bologna or Ljubljana?▾

Ljubljana edges ahead 77 to 71. Bologna isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. 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 Ljubljana?▾

Bologna is warmer in summer (88°F vs 81°F). Ljubljana 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 Ljubljana without speaking the local language?▾

Ljubljana is easier for street-level English (72/100) 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 Ljubljana?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1118/month in Ljubljana, $1130/month in Bologna (Numbeo). That's 1% cheaper rent in Ljubljana.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.

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