😐A single person spends $1,961 per month in Dubrovnik vs $1,585 in Rijeka, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,877 per month in Dubrovnik vs $2,394 in Rijeka, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,794 per month in Dubrovnik vs $3,202 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 46%, Rijeka by 18%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51€14.95
$12.94€11.05
35.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.0€70.0
$70.6€60.3
16.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.29€10.50
$10.25€8.75
19.90%
Cappuccino
$3.46€2.95
$2.34€1.99
47.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.81€4.11
$3.58€3.06
34.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76€3.21
$2.16€1.85
74.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.87€5.87
$4.40€3.76
56.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.88
$4.84€4.14
-5.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.00
$1.18€1.01
-0.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51€1.29
$1.60€1.36
-5.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.33€1.99
$3.99€3.40
-41.60%
Eggs
$4.33€3.70
$3.54€3.02
22.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59€10.75
$16.44€14.04
-23.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.23€10.45
$10.77€9.19
13.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.57€9.02
$14.32€12.23
-26.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75€1.50
$1.60€1.36
9.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.45
$1.71€1.46
-0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97€1.68
$1.77€1.51
11.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.67€2.28
$2.59€2.21
3.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23€1.05
$1.23€1.05
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.81€0.69
$1.32€1.13
-38.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.35
$1.09€0.93
44.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.12
$1.17€1.00
11.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34€4.56
$5.86€5.01
-8.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.65€3.97
$8.51€7.27
-45.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.13
$1.55€1.32
-14.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.46
$2.11€1.80
36.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.63€2.25
$1.99€1.70
32.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.1€47.92
$55.2€47.12
1.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16€2.70
$5.65€4.82
-44.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.13€0.97
$1.39€1.19
-18.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.30€6.23
$29.37€25.08
-75.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.50
$1.76€1.51
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€32.9K
$38.0K€32.4K
1.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.2K
$25.8K€22.0K
0.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€159
$186€159
0.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.35€19.94
$22.72€19.41
2.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.73€22.83
$33.43€28.55
-20.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.1€59.9
$52.6€44.88
33.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.69€21.08
$15.25€13.02
61.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.63€7.37
$9.07€7.74
-4.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7€80.0
$288€246
-67.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,019€6,848
$16.7K€14.3K
-52.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.2€64.2
$91.4€78.1
-17.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.40€25.11
$34.31€29.30
-14.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.9€58.9
$98.6€84.2
-30.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8€68.1
$104€89.1
-23.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,236€1,055
$656€561
88.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882€753
$526€449
67.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,706€1,457
$1,046€893
63.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,217€1,039
$766€654
58.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,477€7,239
$4,258€3,636
99.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,430€3,784
$4,014€3,428
10.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dubrovnik
Rijeka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,518€1,297
$1,577€1,346
-3.70%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Rijeka: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,236 in Dubrovnik versus $656 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 4% 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 $82.0 in Dubrovnik versus $71.0 in Rijeka. Groceries tell a different story – $273 in Dubrovnik vs $296 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 Rijeka compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,961 in Dubrovnik, $1,585 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 $2,941 per month in Dubrovnik and $2,377 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 Rijeka?
Public transport costs about 2% 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 $93.7 per month in Dubrovnik and $288 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 $1,585, than in Dubrovnik at $1,961. 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.