Cost of Living Comparison Between Rijeka and Pula Cost of Living Comparison Between Rijeka and Pula

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,624 per month in Rijeka vs $1,638 in Pula, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,498 per month in Rijeka vs $2,583 in Pula, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,373 per month in Rijeka vs $3,527 in Pula, rent included.

Rijeka is about 1% cheaper than Pula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rijeka and Pula sit above the global median – Rijeka by 18%, Pula by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.89 €11.95
$15.18 €13.06
-8.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 €63.9
$68.6 €59.1
8.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.57 €9.10
$9.21 €7.93
14.77%
Cappuccino
$2.34 €2.01
$2.50 €2.15
-6.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 €2.75
$3.15 €2.71
1.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.18 €1.88
-8.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 €3.37
$3.53 €3.04
11.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 €3.94
$4.67 €4.02
-1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.25 €1.08
-1.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.86 €1.60
-10.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.54 €3.05
$3.22 €2.77
9.94%
Eggs
$3.86 €3.32
$4.08 €3.51
-5.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.83 €14.48
$11.29 €9.71
49.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.43 €8.97
$11.44 €9.84
-8.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.69 €12.64
$19.52 €16.80
-24.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 €1.51
$1.96 €1.69
-10.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 €1.54
$1.96 €1.68
-8.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 €1.64
$2.22 €1.91
-13.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.66 €2.28
$2.58 €2.22
3.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 €1.23
$1.43 €1.23
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 €1.13
$1.37 €1.18
-4.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.37 €1.18
-0.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$1.26 €1.09
8.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.14 €5.29
$5.75 €4.94
6.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.16 €7.03
$8.09 €6.96
0.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.42
$2.01 €1.73
-17.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 €1.90
$2.57 €2.21
-14.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.39 €2.06
-4.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 €48.82
$34.58 €29.75
64.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.76 €4.95
$3.41 €2.93
68.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 €1.28
$2.26 €1.94
-34.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.41 €25.31
$22.60 €19.45
30.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.95 €1.68
$1.88 €1.62
3.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K €23.6K
$27.6K €23.8K
-0.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K €22.2K
$27.2K €23.4K
-5.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$192 €166
$158 €136
21.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.89 €21.41
$22.89 €19.70
8.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.70 €35.03
$41.34 €35.58
-1.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 €47.78
$50.4 €43.37
10.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 €9.85
$39.07 €33.62
-70.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.00 €6.03
$11.10 €9.55
-36.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 €480
$249 €215
123.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K €11.3K
$2,956 €2,543
345.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 €89.4
$116 €100
-10.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.90 €36.92
$37.36 €32.15
14.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €90.6
$146 €126
-27.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 €98.7
$137 €118
-16.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$727 €626
$714 €614
1.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 €477
$543 €467
2.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,237 €1,065
$1,365 €1,175
-9.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$892 €768
$1,038 €894
-14.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,274 €3,678
$4,523 €3,892
-5.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,159 €3,579
$3,814 €3,282
9.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Pula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,525 €1,312
$1,560 €1,343
-2.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.73
3.54
5.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Rijeka: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pula: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Rijeka versus $714 in Pula. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2% higher in Pula, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Rijeka versus $69.0 in Pula. Groceries tell a different story – $303 in Rijeka vs $312 in Pula – so Rijeka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rijeka and in Pula compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,624 in Rijeka, $1,638 in Pula – roughly 1% apart. Pula costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Rijeka compared to Pula?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,435 per month in Rijeka and $2,457 in Pula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rijeka and Pula?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rijeka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rijeka and Pula?
Kindergarten costs $558 per month in Rijeka and $249 in Pula. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Pula, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rijeka, where all-in costs run around $1,624, than in Pula at $1,638. In Rijeka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pula it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Rijeka or Pula?
Families tend to lean toward Rijeka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Rijeka or Pula safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Rijeka and Pula?
If budget matters most, go with Rijeka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pula makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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