😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,708 in Wausau, WI versus $1,643 in Zadar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,700 in Wausau, WI versus $2,584 in Zadar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,691 in Wausau, WI versus $3,525 in Zadar.
😐Living in Wausau, WI is roughly 4% more expensive than Zadar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wausau, WI27% above, Zadar23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.59$18.59
$15.99€13.64
16.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1$64.1
$79.6€67.9
-19.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70$8.70
$8.30€7.08
4.82%
Cappuccino
$4.93$4.93
$2.55€2.17
93.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92$2.92
$3.24€2.76
-9.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$2.06€1.76
-4.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05$5.05
$3.57€3.04
41.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.61$5.61
$3.71€3.16
51.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82$0.82
$1.18€1.01
-30.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89$2.89
$1.37€1.17
110.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$3.01€2.57
45.85%
Eggs
$4.34$4.34
$4.22€3.60
2.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.97$8.97
$10.46€8.92
-14.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.52$6.52
$11.52€9.83
-43.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53$13.53
$10.85€9.25
24.70%
Apples(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.65€1.41
161.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17$1.17
$1.54€1.32
-24.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.98$3.98
$2.10€1.79
89.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.10$4.10
$2.53€2.16
62.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82$1.82
$1.41€1.21
29.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09$2.09
$1.49€1.27
40.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00$2.00
$0.96€0.82
108.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01$1.01
$1.18€1.01
-14.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.49$8.49
$5.33€4.55
59.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.21$9.21
$7.19€6.13
28.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79$1.79
$1.39€1.18
28.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27$2.27
$1.41€1.20
60.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$1.87€1.60
8.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.72€39.00
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.87$2.87
$3.02€2.58
-4.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.05€0.90
49.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.96$20.96
$8.96€7.64
133.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.69€1.44
-53.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K$30.2K
$37.6K€32.1K
-19.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$26.4K€22.5K
-2.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167$167
$187€159
-10.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.41$47.41
$23.75€20.26
99.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.5$62.5
$29.90€25.51
109.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.35$30.35
$41.73€35.59
-27.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.08€14.57
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.12$6.12
$16.44€14.02
-62.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,819$1,819
$247€211
635.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.6K$24.6K
$1,416€1,208
1637.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.78$24.78
$104€88.5
-76.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.66$44.66
$38.46€32.81
16.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.2$66.2
$139€119
-52.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5$86.5
$116€99.0
-25.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938$938
$719€614
30.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702$702
$626€534
12.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,600$1,600
$1,322€1,128
20.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,337$1,337
$1,089€929
22.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,685$1,685
$4,758€4,058
-64.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,702$1,702
$3,890€3,318
-56.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wausau, WI
Zadar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,515$3,515
$1,407€1,200
149.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
4.7
39.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wausau, WI: April 22, 2026
Last update for Zadar: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $938 in Wausau, WI and $719 in Zadar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wausau, WI pays 150% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $64 in Wausau, WI vs $80 in Zadar. Groceries flip the comparison at $299 vs $264, with Zadar 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
Wausau, WI vs Zadar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wausau, WI or Zadar?
Zadar wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Wausau, WI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zadar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Wausau, WI or Zadar?
Wausau, WI pays 150% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Wausau, WI vs Zadar?
Rent for a central apartment: $938 in Wausau, WI versus $719 in Zadar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Wausau, WI and Zadar?
Childcare runs $1,819 in Wausau, WI versus $247 in Zadar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Wausau, WI vs Zadar?
Dining out is cheaper in Zadar – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $64.0 in Wausau, WI. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Wausau, WI or Zadar?
At $1,643 in Zadar versus $1,708 in Wausau, WI, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Zadar but tight or insufficient in Wausau, WI. The gap between the two cities makes Zadar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Wausau, WI or Zadar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zadar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,643 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zadar hard to pass up.
How safe is Wausau, WI compared to Zadar?
Safety-wise, Wausau, WI and Zadar 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zadar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Wausau, WI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Wausau, WI vs other spots: cost of living compared