Townleap

Cost of Living: Ljubljana vs Montpellier (2026)

Slovenia vs France — relocation comparison

Your passport:
Ljubljana
Montpellier
$1118/mo
Rent
$930/mo
77/100
Livability
71/100
86/100
Safety
83/100
PR path
5 yr
130 Mbps
Internet
Freelance setup
Micro-entrepreneur
  • VAT-free under €38k
  • 22% social
  • €1000/yr accountant
WiseStripe

Sourced from Numbeo · Updated May 2026

TL;DRMontpellier is 17% cheaper on rent ($930/mo vs $1118/mo). Ljubljana is safer — homicide rate 0.6 vs 1.3 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
Ljubljana edges ahead 77 to 71. Montpellier isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
Household
Ljubljana
Metric
Montpellier
$1118/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$930/mo
$701/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$639/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$3,882
0.6 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.3 / 100k
22 / 100
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
27°C
☀️
Summer high
30°C
-1°C
❄️
Winter low
4°C
130 Mbps
Internet speed
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
7.3 μg/m³
7.8 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.0 / 10
100/100
🗣️
Street English
38/100
$57k
💼
GDP per capita
$63k
2.0% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.0% · Boringly steady
77 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
71 / 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
Montpellier
$188/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Ljubljana
0.6 homicides per 100k
☀️
Weather
27°C vs 30°C summers
🗣️
English
Ljubljana
higher proficiency score

Sun

How much sky you actually get

47% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
Sky clear
avg daytime
52% clear
Win
Spr
Sum
Fall
8.8h
Shortest day
Dec
9.0h
15.7h
Longest day
Jun
15.4h

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
stable
Time to PR
5 yrs
🇺🇸 Your visa
Moderate
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Easy
Spouse works
Partner can work immediately
Recognized
izvenzakonska skupnost (extramarital community)
Partner pathway
Conditional (1+ yr)
PACS (pacte civil de solidarité) / concubinage
Retiree visa
1,767/mo

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
10 wk
Gestational limit
14 wk

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

On request up to 14 weeks. Enshrined as a constitutional right in March 2024.

Source: Center for Reproductive Rights

LGBTQ+ Rights

Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first

50/100
Rainbow Index
62/100
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 17% cheaper in Montpellier ($930/mo vs $1118/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Montpellier (30°C vs 27°C).
  • Ljubljana is safer by homicide rate (0.6 vs 1.3 per 100k).
  • Street-level English is easier in Ljubljana (100/100 vs 38/100).

Ljubljana vs Montpellier — Common Questions

Is Ljubljana cheaper than Montpellier?

Montpellier is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $930/month in Montpellier vs $1118/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Ljubljana or Montpellier?

Ljubljana is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Ljubljana has a rate of 0.57 per 100,000 and Montpellier has 1.34 per 100,000.

Should I move to Ljubljana or Montpellier?

Ljubljana edges ahead 77 to 71. Montpellier 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 Montpellier?

Ljubljana: no specific remote work visa. Montpellier: France Talent Passport (complex process, Up to 4 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Which has better weather, Ljubljana or Montpellier?

Montpellier is warmer in summer (30°C vs 27°C). 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 Ljubljana or Montpellier without speaking the local language?

Ljubljana is easier for street-level English (100/100) than Montpellier (38/100). 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 Montpellier?

A 1-bedroom in the centre: $930/month in Montpellier, $1118/month in Ljubljana (Numbeo). That's 17% cheaper rent in Montpellier.

Plot twist: other matchups exist

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

Let the algorithm judge you

2 min quiz — surprisingly accurate

Quiz →