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Cost of Living: Ljubljana vs London (2026)

Slovenia vs United Kingdom — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Ljubljana
London
$1118/mo
Rent
$3000/mo
77/100
Livability
61/100
86/100
Safety
82/100
Healthcare
82/100
PR path
5 yr
130 Mbps
Internet
87 Mbps
Freelance setup
Sole Trader
  • VAT-free under €105k
  • 9% social
  • €600/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRLjubljana is 63% cheaper on rent ($1118/mo vs $3000/mo). Ljubljana is safer — homicide rate 0.6 vs 1.1 per 100k. You can get by in English in both — your Duolingo streak can wait.
Ljubljana scores 77 to London's 61 on livability — the gap is real. London has its charms, but the numbers favor Ljubljana.
Household
Ljubljana
Metric
London
$1118/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$3000/mo
$701/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$1159/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$9,238
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.1 / 100k
22 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
56 / 100
27°C
☀️
Summer high
22°C
-1°C
❄️
Winter low
4°C
130 Mbps
Internet speed
87 Mbps
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
9.5 μg/m³
7.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.3 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
100/100
$57k
💼
GDP per capita
$62k
2.0% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
3.3% · Boringly steady
77 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
61 / 100
Grid reliability
92/100 — Reliable
🗽
Freedom House
92/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years
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
Ljubljana
$1882/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Ljubljana
0.6 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
London
8.3/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
27°C vs 22°C summers
🗣️
English
London
higher proficiency score

Sun

How much sky you actually get

47% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
42% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.8h
Shortest day
Dec
7.8h
15.7h
Longest day
Jun
16.6h

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
improving
Industries
fintechaibiotechcreative-tech
Startup ecosystem
hub
Grid reliability
92/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
EU visa
Moderate
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Moderate
Spouse works
Partner can work immediately
Recognized
izvenzakonska skupnost (extramarital community)
Partner pathway
Recognized (2+ yr)
unmarried partner / civil partnership

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
Broad social grounds
10 wk
Gestational limit
24 wk

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

Requires two doctors' approval under Abortion Act 1967, but broadly available up to 24 weeks.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

50/100
Rainbow Index
52/100
Legal
Marriage
Legal
Joint adoption
Adoption
Joint adoption
Yes
Job protection
Yes
Yes
Hate crime law
Yes

Source: Rainbow Europe (ILGA-Europe)

The Short Version

  • Rent is 63% cheaper in Ljubljana ($1118/mo vs $3000/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are noticeably warmer in Ljubljana (27°C vs 22°C).
  • Ljubljana is safer by homicide rate (0.6 vs 1.1 per 100k).
  • London scores higher on democracy (8.3 vs 7.8 / 10 EIU).

Ljubljana vs London — Common Questions

Is Ljubljana cheaper than London?

Ljubljana is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1118/month in Ljubljana vs $3000/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Ljubljana or London?

Ljubljana is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Ljubljana has a rate of 0.57 per 100,000 and London has 1.07 per 100,000.

Should I move to Ljubljana or London?

Ljubljana scores 77 to London's 61 on livability — the gap is real. London has its charms, but the numbers favor Ljubljana. 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 Ljubljana or London?

Ljubljana: no specific remote work visa. London: UK Skilled Worker Visa (complex process, Up to 5 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Ljubljana or London?

Ljubljana is warmer in summer (27°C vs 22°C). London 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 Ljubljana vs London?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1118/month in Ljubljana, $3000/month in London (Numbeo). That's 63% cheaper rent in Ljubljana.

Is Ljubljana or London better for democracy and rule of law?

London scores 8.3/10 on the EIU Democracy Index vs 7.8/10 for Ljubljana. That puts it in 'full democracy' territory — free press, independent courts, the works.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

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

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