Cost of Living Comparison Between Wausau, WI and Rijeka Cost of Living Comparison Between Wausau, WI and Rijeka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,708 per month in Wausau, WI vs $1,616 in Rijeka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,700 per month in Wausau, WI vs $2,401 in Rijeka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,691 per month in Wausau, WI vs $3,186 in Rijeka, rent included.

Wausau, WI costs about 6% more than Rijeka, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Wausau, WI and Rijeka sit above the global median โ€“ Wausau, WI by 27%, Rijeka by 21%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.59 $18.59
$12.78 โ‚ฌ10.90
45.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1 $64.1
$69.2 โ‚ฌ59.1
-7.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 $8.70
$10.36 โ‚ฌ8.84
-16.02%
Cappuccino
$4.93 $4.93
$2.33 โ‚ฌ1.99
111.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$3.46 โ‚ฌ2.95
-15.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$2.18 โ‚ฌ1.86
-10.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.05 $5.05
$4.30 โ‚ฌ3.67
17.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61 $5.61
$4.91 โ‚ฌ4.19
14.26%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.19 โ‚ฌ1.01
-31.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 $2.89
$1.62 โ‚ฌ1.38
78.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.39 $4.39
$4.12 โ‚ฌ3.51
6.55%
Eggs
$4.34 $4.34
$3.58 โ‚ฌ3.05
21.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.97 $8.97
$16.35 โ‚ฌ13.95
-45.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$10.82 โ‚ฌ9.23
-39.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 $13.53
$14.33 โ‚ฌ12.22
-5.58%
Apples (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$1.63 โ‚ฌ1.39
165.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.71 โ‚ฌ1.46
-31.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.98 $3.98
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.47
131.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.59 โ‚ฌ2.21
58.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 $1.82
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.01
54.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.31 โ‚ฌ1.11
59.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.12 โ‚ฌ0.96
78.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.17 โ‚ฌ0.99
-13.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.49 $8.49
$5.94 โ‚ฌ5.06
42.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.21 $9.21
$8.31 โ‚ฌ7.08
10.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.56 โ‚ฌ1.33
14.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$2.09 โ‚ฌ1.79
8.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.64
5.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$55.2 โ‚ฌ47.12
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.87 $2.87
$5.67 โ‚ฌ4.84
-49.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.17
13.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.96 $20.96
$29.33 โ‚ฌ25.02
-28.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.78 โ‚ฌ1.52
-55.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K $30.2K
$38.4K โ‚ฌ32.7K
-21.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.6K โ‚ฌ22.7K
-2.72%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 $167
$187 โ‚ฌ159
-10.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.41 $47.41
$22.44 โ‚ฌ19.14
111.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5 $62.5
$33.40 โ‚ฌ28.49
87.19%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.35 $30.35
$52.7 โ‚ฌ44.94
-42.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$15.00 โ‚ฌ12.80
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.12 $6.12
$9.41 โ‚ฌ8.03
-34.96%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,819 $1,819
$289 โ‚ฌ247
529.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K $24.6K
$16.5K โ‚ฌ14.1K
48.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.78 $24.78
$92.7 โ‚ฌ79.1
-73.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.66 $44.66
$35.11 โ‚ฌ29.95
27.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 $66.2
$99.3 โ‚ฌ84.7
-33.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 $86.5
$103 โ‚ฌ87.8
-15.89%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$938 $938
$657 โ‚ฌ561
42.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 $702
$536 โ‚ฌ457
31.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,600 $1,600
$1,036 โ‚ฌ884
54.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,337 $1,337
$772 โ‚ฌ658
73.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,685 $1,685
$4,252 โ‚ฌ3,627
-60.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 $1,702
$3,985 โ‚ฌ3,399
-57.28%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Wausau, WI
Rijeka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,515 $3,515
$1,545 โ‚ฌ1,318
127.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
4.63
41.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Wausau, WI: April 22, 2026

Last update for Rijeka: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Wausau, WI versus $657 in Rijeka. 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 127% higher in Wausau, WI, 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 $64 in Wausau, WI versus $69 in Rijeka. Groceries tell a different story โ€“ $299 in Wausau, WI vs $297 in Rijeka โ€“ 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
Wausau, WI vs Rijeka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rijeka cheaper than Wausau, WI?
Yes โ€“ Wausau, WI is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,563 per month in Wausau, WI and $2,424 in Rijeka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 are total monthly expenses in Wausau, WI vs Rijeka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,708 in Wausau, WI and $1,616 in Rijeka. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,819 per month in Wausau, WI and $289 in Rijeka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Wausau, WI or Rijeka?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Rijeka, where all-in costs run around $1,616, than in Wausau, WI at $1,708. In Rijeka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Wausau, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Wausau, WI or Rijeka more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rijeka โ€“ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Wausau, WI or Rijeka?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rijeka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Wausau, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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