Cost of living in Bratislava: let’s analyze costs of food, real estate, entertainment and transport in Bratislava, Slovakia
Are you considering moving to Bratislava, Slovakia? Check below the data for the cost of living in Bratislava, the capital and the largest city in the Republic of Slovakia.
Cost of Living in Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, one of the youngest independent nations in Europe. After a turbulent past in the XX century, and being part of Czechoslovakia, Bratislava became the capital of Slovakia, a country which became independent in 1993.
The past two decades were of important economic and social reforms in Slovakia. Currently, Slovakia is a full European Union member and also a part of the Schengen Area. Slovakia is also part of the Eurozone, making the euro its currency, and the Schengen free movement area.
The fast paced economy and social stability, combined with a rise in living standards, made the appeal of Slovakia grow considerably in recent years. Currently, Slovakia, and most notably Bratislava, have a positive net migration rate.
The factors driving the influx of expats to Bratislava also contribute to a rise in the cost of living in the capital of Slovakia. That is especially the case when it comes to real estate, but for short and long term visitors.
Let’s check some data for the cost of living in Bratislava, Slovakia below:
The currency in Slovakia is the euro. The conversion rate to the EUR is 1 dollar to 0.92 EUR as of March 22, 2025.
If you want to suggest your own values based on your experiences in this city, click on edit and insert the values. Upon moderation they will be calculated to make part of the average prices displayed below.
Array| Food | Price [EDIT] |
|---|---|
| 1 liter of milk | 0.90 USD |
| 1 loaf of bread | 1.05 USD |
| 1 kg of tomatoes | 2.70 USD |
| 1 kg of chicken | 5.90 USD |
| 1 single meal cheap restaurant | 6.50 USD |
| 1 single meal high-end restaurant | 35.00 USD |
| 1 cappuccino or latte | 3.05 USD |
| 1 big pizza delivery | 15.00 USD |
| Real Estate | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) rent per month | 689.00 USD |
| 1 bedroom flat (40 m2) utilities per month | 139.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) rent per month | 950.00 USD |
| 2 bedroom flat (80 m2) utilities per month | 210.00 USD |
| Price per square meter (city center) | 2,900.00 USD |
| Transport | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 single ride public transport | 1.20 USD |
| Monthly public transport ticket | 37.00 USD |
| 1 km taxi or similar transport app | 0.90 USD |
| 1 liter of gasoline (1/4 gallon) | 1.90 USD |
| Toyota Corolla (new) basic version | 17,600.00 USD |
| Salaries | Price [EDIT] |
| Minimum Salary | 570.00 USD |
| Average Salary (net) | 1,200.00 USD |
| Extras | Price [EDIT] |
| 1 ticket to the movies (adult price) | 8.50 USD |
| High speed internet per month | 22.00 USD |
| 1 month gym subscription | 30.00 USD |
Cost of Living for Students in Bratislava, Slovakia
Bratislava can be an excellent option to study in an European higher education institution. Most higher education institutions are public, with diplomas taught mostly in Slovak. Education is free for Slovak and EU citizens. Non-EU citizens usually pay fro 3000 to 5000 euros per year on tuition fees.
The overall cost of living for students in Bratislava is moderate. The highest cost is certainly related to accommodation, which can be also be affordable when outside the city center. Groceries and entertainment are at comparable rates with other capitals in the region such as Budapest and Prague.
Here are some of the main higher education institutions in Bratislava:
Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Comenius University in Bratislava
Getting a Job in Bratislava
Bratislava has by far the most attractive job market in Slovakia, and it is easy to understand why. Apart from being the country capital and largest city, Bratislava is also pretty close to the Austrian capital Vienna, at just 65 km of distance.
The capital of Slovakia is also an outsourcing hub for European companies. Many German, Austrian and Swiss multinationals have offices in Bratislava. These companies often do not require a good command of Slovak as a requirement for its positions, and also sponsor visas in many cases. Speaking English and another European language such as German or French will probably be helpful to land a job in Bratislava’s corporate world.
Here are some websites for job hunting in Bratislava:
Quality of Life in Bratislava
Bratislava has an overall high quality of life, comparable in many aspects to Western European countries. Some of the cities highlights are its transport network, safety and economic stability.
While the expat community in Bratislava is significantly lower than in cities like Prague or Vienna, the number of foreigners living in the city in considerable. Among various nationalities living in Bratislava, Ukrainians rank among one of the largest communities. Slovakia is also home to considerable historic Hungarian population.
English is spoken in Bratislava. Especially among younger generation, you will hardly find a resident in Bratislava that does not have at least a basic command of English. Other languages with an important number of speakers are German, Russian and Hungarian.
If you are visiting Bratislava soon you may want to check some of our other guides to Slovakia. Check the where to stay in Bratislava and our article on trains from Bratislava. You can also check the our article on how to get from Prague to Bratislava. Finally compare the cost of living in Bratislava with the cost of living in Prague and Budapest.
Other Resources for Expats and Travelers
Salaries Worldwide: check our articles on wages worldwide and understand better the economics of the countries you may be considering to move or invest.
Retire Abroad: check our retirement guides and maximize your retirement income and quality of life.
Jetradar: compare and find the cheapest air fares worldwide.