When I first arrived in Slovenia four years ago, nothing was certain except one thing — I needed a fresh start.
I didn’t fly, I didn’t take a bus.
I came by private car travel, the underground “taxi” system that drives people from Belgrade to Slovenia for 50–70€ one way. A long road, a cramped car, strangers who talk too much or don’t talk at all — but somehow, everyone in the car shares the same hope: a better life on the other side of the border.
At that time, my visa was already in process thanks to the company that hired me.
But I still remember that road.
Every kilometer felt like leaving a piece of my old life behind.
⚒️ My First Job: Painting Metal, Power Plants & Anything That Rusts
My first job wasn’t glamorous.
I worked as a painter and anti-corrosion worker:
- Power plants
- Power lines
- Highway repairs
- Bridge repairs
- Even the port of Koper
Big jobs. Hard jobs.
The kind that leave your clothes smelling like metal and chemicals, and your hands permanently stained no matter how much you wash them.
I was proud of myself — I was working, earning, surviving — but life wasn’t easy.
🔧 Three Years Later: A New Skill, A New Job
After three years, I changed jobs.
Now I install:
- PVC windows
- Aluminum windows
- Wooden windows
- Doors and facade systems
- Glass façades on big buildings
The work is cleaner, more technical, more skilled.
And surprisingly… I enjoy it.
It feels good to build something that lasts.
💶 The Reality: Cost of Living in Slovenia
People think Slovenia is small and cheap.
Maybe small — yes.
Cheap — absolutely not.
To survive here, you must learn the system quickly.
🏠 Room Rental
A simple room with a shared bathroom + kitchen:
- 200€ minimum per month
And trust me… that’s the minimum.
🏢 Renting Your Own Apartment
If you want privacy, peace, and your own space:
- 400–500€ per month (minimum)
- Plus 2 deposits (standard rule)
So if rent is 500€, you pay:
- 500€ rent
- 1000€ deposit
- 1500€ needed on day one
The deposit stays with the owner until the contract ends.
If there is no damage — you get it back.
If something breaks — goodbye deposit.
This is the real Slovenia.
Not the Instagram version.
Not the tourist version.
This is the worker’s Slovenia.
🌍 My Life Today
I live in Celje, but I work all over Slovenia.
One day Ljubljana, next day Maribor, then maybe Koper or Novo Mesto.
Sometimes I feel like I know the country better than many locals.
Life is stable.
Not perfect.
Not easy.
But stable.
And every day, I think:
“Four years ago I took that long car ride… and it changed my life.”
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