😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,563 in Rijeka versus $1,522 in Petrinja.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Rijeka versus $2,420 in Petrinja.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,165 in Rijeka versus $3,317 in Petrinja.
🌍Living in Rijeka is roughly 3% more expensive than in Petrinja, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rijeka17% above, Petrinja14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.48€10.93
$16.24€14.23
-23.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.6€61.0
$79.6€69.7
-12.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.55€9.25
$7.99€7.00
32.04%
Cappuccino
$2.26€1.98
$3.50€3.07
-35.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61€3.16
$3.77€3.31
-4.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.97
$2.56€2.24
-12.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.20€3.68
$4.68€4.10
-10.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93€4.32
$3.72€3.26
32.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$1.14€1.00
3.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60€1.40
$1.35€1.19
18.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.00€3.51
$3.11€2.72
28.62%
Eggs
$3.48€3.05
$5.12€4.49
-32.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.05€14.06
$17.76€15.56
-9.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.04€9.67
$11.78€10.32
-6.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.69€12.87
$11.55€10.12
27.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$1.65€1.45
2.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.50
$1.58€1.38
8.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77€1.55
$2.17€1.90
-18.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50€2.19
$2.51€2.20
-0.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23€1.08
$1.43€1.26
-13.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27€1.11
$1.43€1.25
-11.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08€0.95
$0.89€0.78
21.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22€1.07
$1.13€0.99
7.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70€5.00
$5.23€4.58
8.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.80€6.83
$7.19€6.30
8.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61€1.41
$1.35€1.18
19.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.82
$1.42€1.24
46.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.92€1.68
$1.77€1.55
8.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.4€47.63
$42.90€37.59
26.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.86€5.14
$3.03€2.66
93.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.21
$1.02€0.90
35.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.03€25.43
$9.11€7.98
218.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76€1.54
$1.72€1.51
2.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€33.3K
$38.7K€33.9K
-1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K€22.5K
$26.0K€22.8K
-1.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€164
$189€166
-0.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.53€19.74
$23.64€20.71
-4.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.06€28.97
$30.37€26.60
8.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.1€44.80
$52.7€46.20
-3.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.88€13.04
$14.67€12.86
1.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27€8.12
$8.54€7.48
8.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$287€252
$242€212
18.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6K€14.5K
$1,389€1,217
1092.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0€79.8
$103€89.9
-11.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07€30.72
$46.43€40.67
-24.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5€87.1
$139€122
-28.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€93.0
$104€91.0
2.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$656€574
$657€575
-0.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$529€464
$464€406
14.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€925
$1,059€928
-0.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$765€670
$770€675
-0.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,126€3,615
$3,390€2,970
21.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,007€3,510
$2,990€2,620
33.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Petrinja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,546€1,354
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
4.7
-1.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rijeka: July 21, 2026
Last update for Petrinja: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $656 in Rijeka and $657 in Petrinja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Rijeka vs $80.0 in Petrinja. Groceries flip the comparison at $296 vs $292, with Petrinja cheaper for home cooking.
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 is the total cost difference between living in Rijeka and in Petrinja?
Rijeka and Petrinja differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,563 vs $1,522 including rent). Petrinja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rijeka compared to Petrinja?
You'd need roughly $2,345 in Rijeka and $2,284 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: $656 in Rijeka versus $657 in Petrinja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Rijeka and in Petrinja?
A monthly transit pass in Petrinja runs roughly 27% less than in Rijeka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rijeka and Petrinja?
Childcare runs $287 in Rijeka versus $242 in Petrinja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,522 in Petrinja versus $1,563 in Rijeka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Petrinja but tight or insufficient in Rijeka. The gap between the two cities makes Petrinja 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.
Where should expats move: Rijeka or Petrinja?
Expats usually find Petrinja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Rijeka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.