When thinking about moving to another country, you, of course, estimate costs in advance, plan your budget, and prepare a “safety financial cushion”.
How much does life in Slovenia cost? How much money is spent on food, telephone, transportation, and other major categories of expenses? Let’s count in this article.
Photo: pixabay/stux
The Republic of Slovenia is a Central European country with a stable economy. Despite its small size, Slovenia provided the bulk of the entire state’s budget while in Yugoslavia. And after gaining independence, Slovenia remains the wealthiest and most economically developed country of all the former Yugoslavia countries.
Official data:
- National currency – euro (since 2007)
- Minimum wage: 940.58 euros before taxes
- Average salary: 1,811.28 euros before taxes, 1,176.25 euros after taxes (data for July 2020)
- Personal income tax rate: progressive, from 16 to 50%.
1) Food
Many supermarket chains are present in Slovenia: German chains Lidl and Hofer, French Leclerc, Austrian Spar, Croatian Mercator, Slovenian Tuš, and others. If you wish, you can buy farm, eco, bio, vegan products – there is everything. Products in Slovenia have reasonable prices and good quality.
Food costs: for an adult about 300 euros/month, for a child up to 150 euros per month.
For children attending school, you can apply for a food subsidy – subsequently, breakfast and lunch costs will be partially or fully covered by the state. The Social service Center decides on the matter.
2) Clothes, shoes, home improvement products
In Slovenia, you can find clothing and footwear brands for every taste and budget: Primark, Zara, Mango, Desigual, GAP, Max Mara, Levi’s, Lisca, Pepe Jeans, Crocs, Alpina, Adidas, Nike, and many others. Since Slovenia shares borders with Italy, Croatia, and Austria, you can go to the nearest outlets for the necessary things (Palmanova in Italy, Westgate in Croatia).
There are also no problems with home improvement products. The retail chains Bauhaus, Mömax, and Jysk are already represented; in spring of 2021 IKEA is expected to open in Ljubljana.
3) Transportation costs
Public transport
A single journey fare is: 1.00-1.30 euros.
School Children, Students, Seniors are entitled to discounted travel fares.
Personal car
- fuel
The cost of 1 liter of E95 gasoline and Diesel fuel for September 2020: 1 euro, E98: 1.126 euros.
Today’s cost of fuel in Slovenia and other European countries is available here.
- parking
In large cities, the parking lots closest to the Center have higher parking rates. On average, in Maribor, Celje, and in Ljubljana’s districts, short-term street parking costs are 60 cents per hour.
Renting a garage or a covered parking space in Ljubljana costs: 50-190 euros per month, depending on the location.
Costs for buying a garage in Ljubljana: from 5,000 to 30,000 euros.
In smaller cities, both rent and purchase are cheaper, and there are no parking space problems.
- auto insurance
Compulsory insurance policy costs range from 250 euros and up per year. The exact amount will depend on the model, class, condition of the car, the period of accident-free driving, the bonus percentage, and insurance coverage you have chosen. For example, compulsory insurance of a new BMW 320i Gran Turismo 135 kW will cost 1,800 euros per year.
- vehicle registration and inspection:
from 105 to 600 euros per year.
Alternative modes of transport (bike, scooter)
It is very convenient to travel by bicycle and scooters in Slovenia because in large cities, and sometimes between cities, there are bike paths. The cycling infrastructure is growing. You can buy your bike or rent it. There are offers for renting bicycles in Ljubljana, Celje, Laško, and other cities, particularly where tourism is developed. You can rent a regular bike and an electric one.
Green modes of transport that do not harm the environment are promoted and supported. Therefore, you can see students, businessmen in suits, ladies in dresses, and older people on bicycles. The cost of renting a bike in Ljubljana when 60 minutes lapses is only 3 euros per year. It will cost you 200-500 euros to buy a middle-class city bike.
4) School, kindergarten
Kindergarten: from 300 to 600 euros, depending on the region.
Subsidies cover partial or even complete payment for kindergarten. The deduction on payment (from 23% to 100%) is calculated depending on the family’s income. The parents have to apply to the social security authorities.
Education in primary school till 9th grade: free for everyone, including for children of foreigners.
Education in secondary schools and gymnasiums after 9th grade is paid for children of foreigners without a residence permit; free for citizens of the EU and countries of the former Yugoslavia and foreign children whose parents work and are tax residents in Slovenia.
Education in colleges and universities: free for citizens of the EU and the countries of the former Yugoslavia, and third-country nationals with a permanent residence.
5) Accommodation
Renting an apartment excluding utility costs
- 1 bed: Ljubljana, Koper: 300-670 euros, Maribor, Celje: 250-450 euros
- 2 beds: Ljubljana, Koper: 400-900 euros, Maribor, Celje: 350-800 euros
- 3 beds: Ljubljana, Koper: from 500 euros, Maribor, Celje: from 400 euros.
Utility bills vary depending on the number of residents, heating method, energy class, region, etc.
Citizens of the EU and the USA can buy real estate without restrictions in their name. The best option for third country citizens to buy real estate in Slovenia is to register a company. You can buy real estate with a mortgage on a company that has a stable income for several years.
6) Entertainment and leisure
The entertainment expenses are very individual. The estimated costs are 100 euros per month for an adult and 50 euros for a child.
- cinema, theater, music
The best festivals usually take place in the capital of Slovenia. World-famous stars come to Ljubljana, but if you seek more cultural events you can visit Austria and Italy. You have the opportunity to attend over 3000 events per year.
Cinema ticket price: 4.50-8.50 euros
Concert ticket price: range from 20 euros and more, depending on the star’s rank.
- fitness
Membership costs: from 20 euros/month. It costs less to buy a membership for several months or a year. Students and Seniors have special discounts.
You can save money on indoor fitness because there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities around: you can go to the mountains, ride a bike, run, etc. Leading a healthy lifestyle in Slovenia is beneficial: some sports activities are for free. Bad habits can burn a hole in your pocket (a pack of cigarettes costs from 3.50 euros, a glass of beer at a Cafe from 2 euros).
7) Communication services: telephone and Internet
Slovenia’s four largest providers have minimum packages communication services + mobile Internet costs from 6.99 to 12.99 euros per month.
More expensive packages cost from 14.99 to 25.99 euros per month and include unlimited calls, SMS, and MMS only within the country or throughout Europe and fast mobile Internet within the country – from 80 GB per month.
8) Maintaining a bank account
Maintaining a bank account for individuals costs 5-10 euros per month.
Company account maintaining: from 12 euros and more, depending on the activity of the company.
Read about other expenses for maintaining the company here.
9) Medical insurance
Compulsory health insurance.
The employer pays the compulsory health insurance contribution along with the salary. For adults, compulsory insurance partially covers the costs of visits to doctors and medications. For the whole healthcare is covered in full. The child is insured by one of the parents.
Supplementary health insurance.
Most Slovenes also have additional insurance, which covers everything that is not included in the compulsory insurance. It is worth considering that as a standard, three months pass from the moment of the contract’s conclusion with the insurance company to the start of the insurance (there are exceptions). The cost of additional insurance is about 35 euros per month.
Let’s summarize.
Slovenia is a developed, safe, and beautiful country where you can live comfortably for quite a reasonable amount of money.
Living costs for one person in Slovenia are 1100 euros, including rental housing and entertainment. A family of 2 adults with a child will need 1800-2500 euros, including rental housing.
