Life in Bratislava attracts Ukrainians with its convenient location, clean streets and a large Ukrainian community. However, renting housing, restaurants and salon services can be expensive. Kyivan Valeriia shared her impressions after four months in the Slovak capital on the Instagram social network.
Life in Bratislava: what the Ukrainian woman liked
Valeriia named its location as one of the city's main advantages.
“I can get to Prague in two hours, and to Budapest in three. I can get to Vienna in one hour,” she said.
This makes it possible to plan trips to neighboring countries even for weekends.
The Ukrainian woman was also pleasantly surprised by the legalization process: according to her, even those who previously received temporary protection in another European country can process some documents for residence. The experience of another Ukrainian woman who talked about moving to Slovakia shows that impressions of life in the country largely depend on personal circumstances.
Valeriia described Bratislava as a clean and well-kept city. She found it not difficult to understand Slovak, and the noticeable Ukrainian community helps her not to feel lonely. Taxi rides, in her estimation, are also affordable: one costs about €4,60–4,90.
How much housing costs and what turned out to be a downside
For an apartment of 78 square meters with a parking space and utilities, Valeriia pays €1300–1400 per month. This amount applies to the blogger's specific housing and is not the average rent in the city. For a broader comparison, one can look at data on salaries in Slovakia and assess how rental expenses correlate with income.
Among the drawbacks, the Ukrainian woman noted high prices in restaurants and beauty salons. According to her, she spends about €200 a month on taxes and various types of insurance. But most of all, Valeriia misses her loved ones who stayed at home.
Before moving to Bratislava, it is worth considering in advance:
cost of housing, utility payments and possible additional expenses;
prices for eating out and household services;
expenses for taxes and insurance;
distance to relatives and the usual social circle.
Rental costs in European cities vary greatly. Therefore, before moving, it is useful to compare housing prices in EU countries and draw up a budget specifically for the chosen city.