TL;DRLjubljana is 34% cheaper on rent ($1,118/mo vs $1,703/mo). Ljubljana 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.

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

How the livability score breaks down

Ljubljana

Manchester

18.1/25

💰 Affordability

12.5/25

14.4/15

🔒 Violent Crime

13.9/15

7.8/10

🛡️ Perceived Safety

4.4/10

9.7/15

⚡ Internet

7.7/15

11.7/15

🗳️ Democracy

12.5/15

8.7/10

🗣️ English

10/10

9/10

☀️ Climate

7.3/10

8/10

📊 Stability

6.7/10

4.3/10

🚗 Road Safety

10/10

8.4/10

🕊️ Geopolitical Safety

7.5/10

Verdict delivered. Your move.

The winner's file

🇸🇮 Ljubljana

Full profile. Verify before you pack.

Due diligence

🇬🇧 Manchester

Every verdict deserves an appeal.

Plot twist

London vs Manchester

Someone else's dilemma, equally unsolvable.

Household

Ljubljana

Metric

Manchester

✓$701/mo

🛒

Living costs (no rent)

lower is better

$786/mo

—

🧳

Cost to land

lower is better

$5,531

86 / 100

🛡️

Settler safety

higher is better

82 / 100

✓0.6 / 100k

🔒

Homicides

lower is better

1.1 / 100k

—

🚗

Road deaths

lower is better

2.4 / 100k

✓78 / 100

🚨

Safety Index

higher is better

44 / 100

81°F

☀️

Summer high

personal taste

68°F

30°F

❄️

Winter low

personal taste

37°F

✓130 Mbps

⚡

Internet speed

higher is better

102 Mbps

—

🌬️

Air quality (PM2.5)

lower is better

8.4 μg/m³

—

🏥

Healthcare

higher is better

83 / 100

7.8 / 10

🗳️

Democracy

higher is better

8.3 / 10✓

4.4 / 9

🤝

Migrant acceptance

higher is better

6.6 / 9✓

50 / 100

🏳️‍🌈

Rainbow Index

higher is better

52 / 100

72/100

🗣️

Street English

higher is better

100/100✓

$57k

💼

GDP per capita (PPP)

higher is better

$62k✓

✓2.0% · Boringly steady

📈

Inflation

lower is better

3.3% · Boringly steady

—

⚡

Grid reliability

higher is better

92/100 — Reliable

—

🗽

Freedom House

higher is better

92/100

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

Ljubljana

$585/mo cheaper on rent alone

🔒

Safety

Ljubljana

0.6 homicides per 100k

🗳️

Democracy

Manchester

8.3/10 EIU index

☀️

Weather

—

81°F vs 68°F summers

Sun

How much sky you actually get

47% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

Sky clear

avg daytime

39% clear

Win

Spr

Sum

Fall

8.8h

Shortest day

Dec

7.5h

15.7h

Longest day

Jun

17.0h

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

digital-mediafintechhealthcareadvanced-manufacturing

—

Startup ecosystem

active

—

🇺🇸 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 · 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

Legal

Marriage

Legal

Joint adoption

Adoption

Joint adoption

Yes

Job protection

Yes

Hate crime law

Yes

Ljubljana vs Manchester — Common Questions

Is Ljubljana cheaper than Manchester?▾

Ljubljana is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $1118/month there vs $1703/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Ljubljana or Manchester?▾

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

Should I move to Ljubljana or Manchester?▾

Ljubljana edges ahead 77 to 71. Manchester 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.

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

Ljubljana: no specific remote work visa. Manchester: 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 Manchester?▾

Ljubljana is warmer in summer (81°F vs 68°F). Manchester 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 Ljubljana or Manchester without speaking the local language?▾

Manchester is easier for street-level English (100/100) than Ljubljana (72/100). 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 Ljubljana vs Manchester?▾

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $1118/month in Ljubljana, $1703/month in Manchester (Numbeo). That's 34% cheaper rent in Ljubljana.

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

Manchester 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.