Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Makarska and Rijeka

For one person, living costs are similar in Makarska and in Rijeka: $1,615 and $1,588 a month, rent and utilities included.

Makarska, Croatia
Rijeka, Croatia
Makarska
🇭🇷 Croatia
$1,615
/mo nomad
Rijeka
🇭🇷 Croatia
$1,588
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Makarska and in Rijeka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Makarska and in Rijeka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,615 in Makarska versus $1,588 in Rijeka.

  • Makarska $1,615
  • Rijeka $1,588

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,504 in Makarska versus $2,430 in Rijeka.

  • Makarska $2,504
  • Rijeka $2,430

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,393 in Makarska versus $3,272 in Rijeka.

  • Makarska $3,393
  • Rijeka $3,272

Living in Makarska is roughly 2% more expensive than in Rijeka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Makarska 19% above, Rijeka 17% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.29 €15.53
$13.58 €12.20
27.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.3 €71.2
$71.9 €64.6
10.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.01 €7.20
$9.95 €8.94
-19.50%
Cappuccino
$3.16 €2.84
$2.26 €2.03
39.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 €3.52
$3.11 €2.80
26.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 €2.66
$1.88 €1.68
57.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.54 €4.98
$3.75 €3.37
47.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83 €4.34
$4.54 €4.08
6.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 €1.05
$1.20 €1.08
-2.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 €1.49
$1.54 €1.39
7.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.16 €2.84
$3.44 €3.09
-8.14%
Eggs
$5.04 €4.53
$3.65 €3.28
38.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.36 €13.80
$15.79 €14.18
-2.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.60 €8.62
$10.15 €9.12
-5.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.87 €10.66
$14.20 €12.76
-16.41%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 €1.69
$1.64 €1.48
14.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 €1.38
$1.74 €1.56
-11.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 €1.85
$1.88 €1.69
9.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.47
$2.55 €2.29
7.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 €2.04
$1.33 €1.20
71.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.88
$1.27 €1.14
64.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 €1.43
$1.36 €1.23
16.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 €1.45
$1.37 €1.23
18.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.66 €5.08
$5.88 €5.28
-3.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.72 €6.94
$7.83 €7.04
-1.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.27
$1.64 €1.47
-14.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 €1.27
$2.09 €1.88
-32.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 €1.55
$2.75 €2.47
-37.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.80 €43.84
$53.8 €48.37
-9.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 €2.66
$5.57 €5.00
-46.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 €1.32
$1.43 €1.28
2.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.55 €12.17
$27.85 €25.02
-51.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.54
$1.87 €1.68
-8.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K €23.4K
$28.1K €25.2K
-7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K €22.8K
$24.9K €22.4K
1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$182 €163
$188 €169
-3.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.27 €24.50
$24.20 €21.74
12.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.95 €38.58
$39.87 €35.82
7.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.7 €52.7
$52.3 €46.95
12.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.97 €13.45
$11.00 €9.88
36.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.65 €9.57
$10.34 €9.29
3.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$426 €383
$553 €497
-22.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,821 €6,127
$12.8K €11.5K
-46.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1 €81.0
$97.2 €87.3
-7.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.62 €40.08
$41.16 €36.97
8.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 €93.5
$101 €91.1
2.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 €69.9
$108 €97.2
-28.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$673 €604
$681 €612
-1.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$516 €463
$523 €470
-1.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,165 €1,046
$1,198 €1,077
-2.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$875 €786
$869 €780
0.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,347 €3,905
$4,001 €3,594
8.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,887 €2,594
$3,809 €3,422
-24.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makarska
Rijeka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,473 €1,323
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.72
3.73
-0.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makarska: October 27, 2026

Last update for Rijeka: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Makarska
$516
Rijeka
$523 1.5% $7.6
Groceries & Markets
Makarska
$294
Rijeka
$292 0.5% $1.6
Eating Out
Makarska
$265
Rijeka
$213 19.6% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makarska
$252
Rijeka
$252 0.2% $0.5
Clothing & Footwear
Makarska
$142
Rijeka
$157 9.9% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Makarska
$80
Rijeka
$73 8.8% $7
Getting Around
Makarska
$66
Rijeka
$78 17.5% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Makarska and $681 in Rijeka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $79 in Makarska vs $72 in Rijeka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $292 per month, with Rijeka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇭🇷 Makarska
🇭🇷 Rijeka
🕒 Local time
19:47 7:47 PM
19:47 7:47 PM
Same time as Makarska
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,809
107,964
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Makarska Rijeka 310 km
From you
  • Makarska
  • Rijeka

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Makarska vs Rijeka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rijeka cheaper than Makarska?
Rijeka is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, leisure, and utilities. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,423 in Makarska and $2,381 in Rijeka to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Makarska and Rijeka?
Rent for a central apartment: $673 in Makarska versus $681 in Rijeka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Makarska runs roughly 9% less than in Rijeka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
What are total monthly expenses in Makarska and in Rijeka?
All in, you’ll spend $1,615 per month in Makarska versus $1,588 in Rijeka – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 enough to cover costs in Makarska or in Rijeka?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,500. Rijeka is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Makarska or in Rijeka?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Makarska or Rijeka?
Safety-wise, Makarska and Rijeka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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