😐A single person spends $1,935 per month in Dubrovnik vs $1,558 in Rijeka, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,832 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,374 in Rijeka, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,729 per month in Dubrovnik vs $3,191 in Rijeka, rent included.
😐Dubrovnik costs about 24% more than Rijeka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Dubrovnik and Rijeka sit above the global median – Dubrovnik by 45%, Rijeka by 17%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.10€14.81
$12.54€10.86
36.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.5€69.7
$70.3€60.9
14.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.62€10.93
$10.53€9.12
19.85%
Cappuccino
$3.46€3.00
$2.25€1.95
53.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78€4.14
$3.64€3.15
31.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.22
$2.24€1.94
66.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.91€5.98
$4.19€3.63
64.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.62€4.00
$4.78€4.14
-3.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$1.23€1.07
-4.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46€1.27
$1.53€1.33
-4.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.27€1.96
$4.09€3.54
-44.50%
Eggs
$4.34€3.76
$3.44€2.98
26.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23€10.59
$16.41€14.21
-25.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.57€10.89
$10.83€9.38
16.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.21€8.84
$14.40€12.47
-29.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68€1.45
$1.61€1.39
4.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.47
$1.65€1.43
3.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89€1.64
$1.70€1.47
11.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66€2.31
$2.55€2.21
4.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19€1.03
$1.19€1.03
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.86€0.75
$1.27€1.10
-32.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.29
$1.10€0.95
35.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.11
$1.16€1.01
10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.19€4.49
$5.95€5.16
-12.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.53€3.92
$8.12€7.03
-44.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.15
$1.59€1.38
-16.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89€2.50
$2.10€1.82
37.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.67€2.31
$2.00€1.73
33.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.8€50.0
$54.0€46.78
6.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10€2.68
$5.87€5.08
-47.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15€0.99
$1.32€1.15
-12.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.59€6.57
$28.50€24.68
-73.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69€1.46
$1.77€1.54
-4.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K€32.4K
$37.5K€32.5K
-0.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.5K
$26.3K€22.8K
-1.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190€164
$191€165
-0.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.26€20.14
$22.34€19.35
4.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.42€23.75
$32.97€28.56
-16.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.2€61.7
$53.0€45.91
34.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.33€21.07
$14.97€12.97
62.53%
Cinema Ticket
$8.46€7.33
$9.33€8.08
-9.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.6€80.2
$295€255
-68.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,944€6,879
$16.8K€14.5K
-52.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9€65.7
$92.4€80.0
-17.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41€24.60
$34.26€29.67
-17.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.7€60.3
$101€87.2
-30.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0€70.2
$104€89.9
-21.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,215€1,052
$651€564
86.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$879€761
$532€460
65.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,746€1,512
$1,060€918
64.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,244€1,077
$789€684
57.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,160€7,067
$4,270€3,698
91.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,347€3,764
$4,044€3,502
7.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,488€1,289
$1,509€1,307
-1.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.66
4.63
0.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dubrovnik: July 27, 2026
Last update for Rijeka: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,215 in Dubrovnik versus $651 in Rijeka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 1% higher in Rijeka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Dubrovnik versus $70.0 in Rijeka. Groceries tell a different story – $271 in Dubrovnik vs $295 in Rijeka – so Dubrovnik wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Dubrovnik vs Rijeka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dubrovnik and in Rijeka compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,935 in Dubrovnik, $1,558 in Rijeka – roughly 24% apart. Dubrovnik costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dubrovnik compared to Rijeka?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,902 per month in Dubrovnik and $2,337 in Rijeka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dubrovnik and Rijeka?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rijeka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Dubrovnik and in Rijeka?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Rijeka. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dubrovnik and Rijeka?
Kindergarten costs $92.6 per month in Dubrovnik and $295 in Rijeka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Rijeka, where all-in costs run around $1,558, than in Dubrovnik at $1,935. In Rijeka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubrovnik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Dubrovnik or Rijeka?
Families tend to lean toward Rijeka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Dubrovnik or Rijeka safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Dubrovnik and Rijeka?
If budget matters most, go with Rijeka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubrovnik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.