TL;DRLjubljana is safer — homicide rate 0.6 vs 1.1 per 100k. Gothenburg scores 9.4 vs 7.8 on democracy. Both cities will charge you about the same to exist.

Too close to call — 80 vs 77. Gothenburg has a slight edge, but Ljubljana might suit you better depending on your priorities.

How the livability score breaks down

Gothenburg

Ljubljana

18.5/25

💰 Affordability

18.1/25

13.9/15

🔒 Violent Crime

14.4/15

5.4/10

🛡️ Perceived Safety

7.8/10

12.3/15

⚡ Internet

9.7/15

14.1/15

🗳️ Democracy

11.7/15

8.6/10

🗣️ English

8.7/10

7/10

☀️ Climate

9/10

7.2/10

📊 Stability

8/10

10/10

🚗 Road Safety

4.3/10

7.2/10

🕊️ Geopolitical Safety

8.4/10

Verdict delivered. Your move.

The winner's file

🇸🇪 Gothenburg

Full profile. Verify before you pack.

Due diligence

🇸🇮 Ljubljana

Every verdict deserves an appeal.

Plot twist

Stockholm vs Gothenburg

Someone else's dilemma, equally unsolvable.

Household

Gothenburg

Metric

Ljubljana

✓$631/mo

🛒

Living costs (no rent)

lower is better

$701/mo

$3,302

🧳

Cost to land

lower is better

—

85 / 100

🛡️

Settler safety

higher is better

86 / 100

1.1 / 100k

🔒

Homicides

lower is better

0.6 / 100k✓

2.1 / 100k

🚗

Road deaths

lower is better

—

54 / 100

🚨

Safety Index

higher is better

78 / 100✓

66°F

☀️

Summer high

personal taste

81°F

27°F

❄️

Winter low

personal taste

30°F

✓163 Mbps

⚡

Internet speed

higher is better

130 Mbps

5.6 μg/m³

🌬️

Air quality (PM2.5)

lower is better

—

84 / 100

🏥

Healthcare

higher is better

—

✓9.4 / 10

🗳️

Democracy

higher is better

7.8 / 10

✓7.9 / 9

🤝

Migrant acceptance

higher is better

4.4 / 9

✓64 / 100

🏳️‍🌈

Rainbow Index

higher is better

50 / 100

71/100

🗣️

Street English

higher is better

72/100

✓$72k

💼

GDP per capita (PPP)

higher is better

$57k

2.8% · Boringly steady

📈

Inflation

lower is better

2.0% · Boringly steady✓

93/100 — Reliable

⚡

Grid reliability

higher is better

—

99/100

🗽

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

💰

Cost of Living

Gothenburg

$38/mo cheaper on rent alone

🔒

Safety

Ljubljana

0.6 homicides per 100k

🗳️

Democracy

Gothenburg

9.4/10 EIU index

☀️

Weather

—

66°F vs 81°F summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

41% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

Sky clear

avg daytime

47% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

6.5h

Shortest day

Dec

8.8h

18.1h

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

stable →

Democracy trend

—

improving ↑

Inflation trend

—

automotivemaritimecleantechfintech

Industries

—

active

Startup ecosystem

—

Moderate

🇺🇸 Your visa

—

Easy

EU visa

—

Complex

RU visa

—

Moderate

UA visa

—

✅ Partner can work immediately

Spouse works

—

Recognized

sambo

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

18 wk

Gestational limit

10 wk

On request up to 18 weeks. Between 18-22 weeks requires board approval.

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

Legal

Marriage

Legal

Joint adoption

Adoption

Joint adoption

Yes

Job protection

Yes

Hate crime law

Yes

Gothenburg vs Ljubljana — Common Questions

Is Gothenburg cheaper than Ljubljana?▾

Gothenburg is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1080/month there vs $1118/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Gothenburg or Ljubljana?▾

Ljubljana is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Gothenburg has a rate of 1.10 per 100,000 and Ljubljana has 0.57 per 100,000.

Should I move to Gothenburg or Ljubljana?▾

Too close to call — 80 vs 77. Gothenburg has a slight edge, but Ljubljana might suit you better depending on your priorities. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Gothenburg or Ljubljana?▾

Gothenburg: Sweden Self-Employment Permit (complex process, 2 years (renewable)). Ljubljana: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Gothenburg or Ljubljana?▾

Ljubljana is warmer in summer (81°F vs 66°F). Gothenburg has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

What's the cost of rent in Gothenburg vs Ljubljana?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1080/month in Gothenburg, $1118/month in Ljubljana (Numbeo). That's 3% cheaper rent in Gothenburg.

Is Gothenburg or Ljubljana better for democracy and rule of law?▾

Gothenburg scores 9.4/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 7.8/10 for Ljubljana. That puts it in 'full democracy' territory — free press, independent courts, the works.