🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,631 in Rijeka versus $1,631 in Makarska.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,514 in Rijeka versus $2,548 in Makarska.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,397 in Rijeka versus $3,465 in Makarska.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Rijeka and Makarska; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rijeka18% above, Makarska18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.85€11.93
$17.72€15.28
-21.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4€64.1
$81.1€69.9
-8.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49€9.04
$8.31€7.16
26.23%
Cappuccino
$2.37€2.04
$3.39€2.92
-30.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14€2.70
$4.21€3.63
-25.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.72
$3.17€2.73
-36.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.91€3.37
$5.85€5.04
-33.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74€4.09
$4.77€4.11
-0.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.18€1.01
5.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63€1.40
$1.69€1.46
-3.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.45€2.98
$3.22€2.78
7.14%
Eggs
$3.81€3.29
$5.10€4.39
-25.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.53€14.25
$15.90€13.71
3.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.72€9.24
$10.25€8.83
4.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.56€12.55
$12.31€10.61
18.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.78€1.53
$2.05€1.77
-13.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.58€1.36
13.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.95€1.68
$2.16€1.86
-9.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.38
$2.87€2.48
-3.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37€1.18
$2.30€1.98
-40.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35€1.17
$2.15€1.85
-37.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.19
$1.66€1.43
-16.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.41€1.22
$1.72€1.48
-18.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09€5.25
$5.95€5.13
2.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.96€6.86
$8.23€7.09
-3.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.43
$1.42€1.22
16.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.88
$1.53€1.32
42.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.02
$1.53€1.32
52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.6€47.88
$40.25€34.69
38.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.90€5.09
$3.53€3.04
67.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.31
$1.52€1.31
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.16
$19.23€16.58
51.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.98€1.70
$1.69€1.46
17.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K€23.2K
$27.2K€23.5K
-1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K€22.5K
$26.4K€22.7K
-0.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$200€172
$184€159
8.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.26€21.77
$28.88€24.90
-12.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.65€35.91
$44.69€38.52
-6.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.1€47.53
$54.1€46.67
1.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.68€10.07
$15.93€13.73
-26.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.15€6.16
$9.24€7.96
-22.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$568€490
$430€370
32.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.1K€11.3K
$6,955€5,995
88.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.8
$94.5€81.5
10.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.77€37.73
$46.65€40.21
-6.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.0
$106€91.4
-0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114€98.6
$82.0€70.7
39.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728€628
$706€609
3.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548€472
$546€471
0.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,225€1,056
$1,246€1,074
-1.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$902€778
$853€736
5.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,228€3,644
$4,267€3,679
-0.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,063€3,502
$2,941€2,535
38.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Makarska
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,531€1,320
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.73
3.72
0.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rijeka: September 6, 2026
Last update for Makarska: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Rijeka and $706 in Makarska. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Rijeka vs $81.0 in Makarska for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $304 vs $306 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
Rijeka vs Makarska: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,446 in Rijeka and $2,447 in Makarska 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 Rijeka and Makarska?
Rent for a central apartment: $728 in Rijeka versus $706 in Makarska. 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 Rijeka runs roughly 38% less than in Makarska. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Rijeka and in Makarska?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Makarska. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Rijeka or in Makarska?
At $1,631 in Rijeka versus $1,631 in Makarska, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rijeka but tight or insufficient in Makarska. The gap between the two cities makes Rijeka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rijeka or Makarska more family-friendly?
For families, Rijeka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Makarska, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rijeka or Makarska?
Safety-wise, Rijeka and Makarska are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Rijeka wins on affordability, Makarska on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.