😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,603 in Rijeka versus $1,393 in Buenos Aires.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,369 in Rijeka versus $2,191 in Buenos Aires.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,135 in Rijeka versus $2,988 in Buenos Aires.
🌍Living in Rijeka is roughly 15% more expensive than in Buenos Aires, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rijeka20% above, Buenos Aires4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.91€11.28
$14.82ARS 21.9K
-12.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€60.1
$60.1ARS 88.8K
14.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.41€9.10
$11.97ARS 17.7K
-13.03%
Cappuccino
$2.28€1.99
$3.99ARS 5,898
-42.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.08
$2.17ARS 3,207
62.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.91
$1.47ARS 2,169
48.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.18€3.65
$3.68ARS 5,440
13.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.10
$3.90ARS 5,761
20.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.08
$1.60ARS 2,371
-23.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61€1.41
$2.53ARS 3,738
-36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.99€3.49
$2.22ARS 3,279
79.73%
Eggs
$3.53€3.08
$3.17ARS 4,683
11.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.15€14.11
$12.03ARS 17.8K
34.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.75€9.39
$7.84ARS 11.6K
37.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73€12.87
$9.25ARS 13.7K
59.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$2.45ARS 3,624
-31.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$2.04ARS 3,012
-16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71€1.49
$1.31ARS 1,932
30.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63€2.30
$2.53ARS 3,745
3.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.03
$1.45ARS 2,150
-18.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27€1.11
$1.48ARS 2,191
-14.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12€0.98
$1.79ARS 2,643
-37.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.07
$1.45ARS 2,141
-15.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.89€5.15
$3.18ARS 4,697
85.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.79€6.81
$5.83ARS 8,622
33.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.40
$2.22ARS 3,277
-27.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.82
$3.07ARS 4,535
-32.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.94€1.69
$0.67ARS 988
189.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.9€48.86
$16.26ARS 24.0K
243.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.88€5.14
$1.58ARS 2,333
272.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31€1.15
$0.86ARS 1,267
52.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.63€25.02
$5.97ARS 8,826
379.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.55
$1.12ARS 1,653
58.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K€33.8K
$24.8KARS 36.6M
55.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K€22.6K
$29.2KARS 43.2M
-11.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184€161
$109ARS 161.0K
68.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.25€19.44
$21.47ARS 31.7K
3.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.59€29.35
$28.58ARS 42.2K
17.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0€45.42
$41.73ARS 61.7K
24.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.08€13.17
$11.77ARS 17.4K
28.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.17€8.01
$9.25ARS 13.7K
-0.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285€249
$325ARS 479.6K
-12.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4K€14.3K
$5,275ARS 7.8M
211.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8€79.3
$112ARS 165.0K
-18.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57€30.20
$85.9ARS 127.0K
-59.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€88.0
$123ARS 181.5K
-18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€92.6
$129ARS 190.6K
-17.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$663€579
$657ARS 970.6K
0.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535€468
$448ARS 661.6K
19.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,058€924
$1,150ARS 1.7M
-7.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$776€678
$814ARS 1.2M
-4.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,153€3,628
$2,577ARS 3.8M
61.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,977€3,475
$1,844ARS 2.7M
115.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,550€1,354
$842ARS 1.2M
84.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
52.71
-91.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rijeka: July 12, 2026
Last update for Buenos Aires: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $663 in Rijeka and $657 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rijeka pays 84% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Rijeka vs $60.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $296 vs $269 per month, with Buenos Aires 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
Rijeka vs Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rijeka and in Buenos Aires?
Rijeka and Buenos Aires differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($1,603 vs $1,393 including rent). Buenos Aires is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rijeka or Buenos Aires?
Average pay runs 84% higher in Rijeka, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rijeka and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $663 in Rijeka versus $657 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rijeka and Buenos Aires?
Childcare runs $285 in Rijeka versus $325 in Buenos Aires. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Rijeka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,393 in Buenos Aires versus $1,603 in Rijeka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Buenos Aires but tight or insufficient in Rijeka. The gap between the two cities makes Buenos Aires the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rijeka and Buenos Aires?
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 Rijeka or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rijeka and Buenos Aires are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rijeka or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Buenos Aires gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Rijeka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.