🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,624 in Rijeka versus $1,627 in Petrinja.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,498 in Rijeka versus $2,509 in Petrinja.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,373 in Rijeka versus $3,391 in Petrinja.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Rijeka and Petrinja; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rijeka18% above, Petrinja18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.89€11.95
$18.01€15.50
-22.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2€63.9
$80.8€69.5
-8.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.57€9.10
$7.96€6.85
32.79%
Cappuccino
$2.34€2.01
$3.47€2.98
-32.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19€2.75
$4.00€3.44
-20.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.72
$3.13€2.69
-36.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92€3.37
$5.70€4.90
-31.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$4.55€3.91
0.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.06
$1.22€1.05
0.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66€1.43
$1.72€1.48
-3.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54€3.05
$3.15€2.71
12.38%
Eggs
$3.86€3.32
$5.14€4.42
-24.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.83€14.48
$15.67€13.48
7.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.43€8.97
$10.21€8.79
2.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.69€12.64
$12.52€10.77
17.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75€1.51
$1.94€1.67
-9.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.57€1.35
14.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.64
$2.25€1.94
-15.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.66€2.28
$2.85€2.45
-6.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43€1.23
$2.38€2.05
-39.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31€1.13
$2.18€1.87
-39.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.17
$1.58€1.36
-13.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37€1.18
$1.69€1.45
-18.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14€5.29
$5.97€5.14
2.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.16€7.03
$8.25€7.10
-1.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.42
$1.44€1.24
14.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.90
$1.54€1.33
43.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.97
$1.33€1.15
72.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.7€48.82
$42.47€36.54
33.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.76€4.95
$3.61€3.11
59.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48€1.28
$1.50€1.29
-1.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.41€25.31
$21.60€18.59
36.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95€1.68
$1.90€1.64
2.63%
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)
$25.8K€22.2K
$25.9K€22.3K
-0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€166
$186€160
3.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.89€21.41
$28.06€24.15
-11.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.70€35.03
$44.41€38.22
-8.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5€47.78
$46.16€39.72
20.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44€9.85
$17.19€14.80
-33.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00€6.03
$9.30€8.00
-24.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$558€480
$438€377
27.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K€11.3K
$7,036€6,054
87.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€89.4
$94.3€81.1
10.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.90€36.92
$45.51€39.16
-5.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€90.6
$106€90.8
-0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115€98.7
$82.5€71.0
39.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$727€626
$649€558
12.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$554€477
$619€532
-10.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,237€1,065
$1,092€940
13.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892€768
$773€665
15.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,274€3,678
$4,582€3,943
-6.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,159€3,579
$2,745€2,362
51.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,525€1,312
-
-
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: August 31, 2026
Last update for Petrinja: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $727 in Rijeka and $649 in Petrinja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $74.0 in Rijeka vs $81.0 in Petrinja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $305 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 Petrinja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Rijeka compared to Petrinja?
You'd need roughly $2,435 in Rijeka and $2,440 in Petrinja 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 Rijeka and in Petrinja?
Rent for a central apartment: $727 in Rijeka versus $649 in Petrinja. 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 Petrinja?
Childcare runs $558 in Rijeka versus $438 in Petrinja. 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 Rijeka and Petrinja?
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 Petrinja safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rijeka and Petrinja 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 Rijeka and Petrinja?
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.