😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,627 in Petrinja versus $1,624 in Rijeka.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,509 in Petrinja versus $2,498 in Rijeka.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,391 in Petrinja versus $3,373 in Rijeka.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Petrinja and Rijeka; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Petrinja18% above, Rijeka18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.01€15.50
$13.89€11.95
29.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8€69.5
$74.2€63.9
8.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96€6.85
$10.57€9.10
-24.69%
Cappuccino
$3.47€2.98
$2.34€2.01
48.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00€3.44
$3.19€2.75
25.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13€2.69
$2.00€1.72
56.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.70€4.90
$3.92€3.37
45.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.91
$4.58€3.94
-0.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.05
$1.23€1.06
-0.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72€1.48
$1.66€1.43
3.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.15€2.71
$3.54€3.05
-11.02%
Eggs
$5.14€4.42
$3.86€3.32
33.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.67€13.48
$16.83€14.48
-6.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.21€8.79
$10.43€8.97
-2.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.52€10.77
$14.69€12.64
-14.77%
Apples(1kg)
$1.94€1.67
$1.75€1.51
10.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57€1.35
$1.80€1.54
-12.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25€1.94
$1.91€1.64
17.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$2.66€2.28
7.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.38€2.05
$1.43€1.23
66.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18€1.87
$1.31€1.13
66.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.36
$1.36€1.17
16.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.69€1.45
$1.37€1.18
23.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.97€5.14
$6.14€5.29
-2.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.25€7.10
$8.16€7.03
1.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.24
$1.65€1.42
-12.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54€1.33
$2.21€1.90
-30.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.33€1.15
$2.29€1.97
-41.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.47€36.54
$56.7€48.82
-25.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.61€3.11
$5.76€4.95
-37.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.50€1.29
$1.48€1.28
1.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.60€18.59
$29.41€25.31
-26.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.95€1.68
-2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K€23.6K
$27.4K€23.6K
0.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.3K
$25.8K€22.2K
0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186€160
$192€166
-3.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.06€24.15
$24.89€21.41
12.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.41€38.22
$40.70€35.03
9.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.16€39.72
$55.5€47.78
-16.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19€14.80
$11.44€9.85
50.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.30€8.00
$7.00€6.03
32.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438€377
$558€480
-21.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,036€6,054
$13.2K€11.3K
-46.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.3€81.1
$104€89.4
-9.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.51€39.16
$42.90€36.92
6.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€90.8
$105€90.6
0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5€71.0
$115€98.7
-28.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$649€558
$727€626
-10.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619€532
$554€477
11.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,092€940
$1,237€1,065
-11.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$773€665
$892€768
-13.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,582€3,943
$4,274€3,678
7.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,745€2,362
$4,159€3,579
-34.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Petrinja
Rijeka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,525€1,312
-
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 Petrinja: August 30, 2026
Last update for Rijeka: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $649 in Petrinja and $727 in Rijeka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Petrinja vs $74.0 in Rijeka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $303 per month, with Rijeka cheaper across the board.
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
Petrinja vs Rijeka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Petrinja compared to Rijeka?
You'd need roughly $2,440 in Petrinja and $2,435 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Petrinja and in Rijeka?
Rent for a central apartment: $649 in Petrinja versus $727 in Rijeka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Petrinja and Rijeka?
Childcare runs $438 in Petrinja versus $558 in Rijeka. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Rijeka – a meal for two runs $74.0 versus $81.0 in Petrinja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,624 in Rijeka versus $1,627 in Petrinja, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rijeka but tight or insufficient in Petrinja. The gap between the two cities makes Rijeka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Petrinja and 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.
Is Petrinja or Rijeka safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Petrinja 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.
How do I decide between Petrinja and Rijeka?
It comes down to priorities – Rijeka wins on affordability, Petrinja on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.