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Ljubljana vs Vienna

Slovenia flagLjubljanaAustria flagVienna

Ljubljana and Vienna are compared across affordability, safety, healthcare, career, culture and food, and public life. Vienna has the broader all-round edge, while Ljubljana leads on affordability. The better fit depends on which of those relocation priorities matters most.

How they compare

AffordabilitySafetyHealthcareCareerCulturePublic life
  • Ljubljana
  • Vienna
Affordability
68
67
Safety
87
82
Healthcare
65
77
Career
54
63
Culture & food
64
76
Public life & spaces
81
85
Overall
65
71

Objective 0–100 scores from source-backed CrossBorders data. Green marks the category leader; gold is the overall leader.

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Category by category

Is Ljubljana or Vienna cheaper to live in?

Ljubljana 68Vienna 67

Ljubljana has the lower open-market one-bedroom rent on a new lease, at about €743 per month, compared with €861 in Vienna. Against one typical employee's mean net pay, Ljubljana is tight alone at roughly 42%, while Vienna is manageable solo at roughly 27%.

Is Ljubljana or Vienna safer?

Ljubljana 87Vienna 82

Ljubljana edges it, though both rank among Europe's safest cities with rare violent crime and streets that feel secure well after dark.

Does Ljubljana or Vienna have better healthcare?

Ljubljana 65Vienna 77

Vienna's clearest edge. Its excellent hospitals and strong doctor access outpace Ljubljana's solid but shallower system, where waits can stretch in some specialties.

Is Ljubljana or Vienna better for your career?

Ljubljana 54Vienna 63

Vienna leads. Its finance, international-organisation and established-industry base beats Ljubljana's small, specialized market, though English-only roles are limited in both — German or Slovenian opens more doors either way.

Does Ljubljana or Vienna have a better food and culture scene?

Ljubljana 64Vienna 76

Vienna's widest lead. Its coffeehouse culture, museums and classical music are unmatched, while Ljubljana's café-and-riverside scene is pleasant but modest by comparison.

Does Ljubljana or Vienna have better public spaces and street life?

Ljubljana 81Vienna 85

Tied. Ljubljana's car-free centre and Plecnik bridges match Vienna's imperial squares and Ringstrasse — both beautifully maintained, with free parks and festivals keeping daily life accessible in each.

The verdict

Choose Vienna for the broader all-round balance, especially if healthcare matters most. Choose Ljubljana if affordability matters more. Compare their rent burden and day-to-day strengths before deciding.

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Slovenia flagLiving in LjubljanaAustria flagLiving in Vienna

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