๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Zagreb versus $1,213 in Beliลกฤe.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,574 in Zagreb versus $1,820 in Beliลกฤe.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Zagreb versus $2,427 in Beliลกฤe.
๐Living in Zagreb is roughly 43% more expensive than Beliลกฤe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Zagreb is 30% above, Beliลกฤe is 9% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78โฌ10.13
$8.27โฌ7.11
42.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1โฌ59.5
$40.47โฌ34.81
70.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.49โฌ8.16
$6.92โฌ5.95
37.14%
Cappuccino
$2.43โฌ2.09
$2.14โฌ1.84
13.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16โฌ2.72
$2.26โฌ1.95
39.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$2.09โฌ1.79
12.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.67โฌ3.16
$2.35โฌ2.02
56.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67โฌ4.01
$2.37โฌ2.04
97.05%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35โฌ1.16
$0.91โฌ0.78
48.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87โฌ1.61
$0.66โฌ0.57
183.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66โฌ2.28
$2.82โฌ2.43
-5.67%
Eggs
$3.65โฌ3.14
$3.14โฌ2.70
16.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.88โฌ9.36
$10.84โฌ9.32
0.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.92โฌ8.54
$7.65โฌ6.58
29.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.72โฌ10.94
$11.29โฌ9.71
12.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88โฌ1.62
$1.18โฌ1.02
59.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66โฌ1.43
$1.37โฌ1.18
21.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98โฌ1.71
$1.60โฌ1.38
23.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06โฌ2.64
$2.52โฌ2.17
21.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44โฌ1.24
$0.91โฌ0.78
58.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47โฌ1.26
$1.22โฌ1.05
20.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30โฌ1.12
$1.22โฌ1.05
6.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29โฌ1.11
$0.95โฌ0.82
35.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76โฌ4.96
$5.67โฌ4.88
1.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.49โฌ8.16
$7.77โฌ6.69
22.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84โฌ1.58
$1.19โฌ1.02
54.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30โฌ1.98
$2.02โฌ1.74
13.86%
๐ Getting Around
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64โฌ0.55
$1.69โฌ1.46
-62.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.0โฌ49.05
$42.34โฌ36.42
34.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28โฌ1.96
$3.81โฌ3.28
-40.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07โฌ0.92
$1.10โฌ0.95
-2.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.12โฌ8.70
$5.71โฌ4.91
77.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79โฌ1.54
$1.66โฌ1.42
7.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.2K
$32.6Kโฌ28.0K
7.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2Kโฌ22.5K
$26.5Kโฌ22.8K
-1.27%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208โฌ179
$124โฌ107
67.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.19โฌ17.37
$18.07โฌ15.54
11.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.82โฌ28.23
$26.21โฌ22.55
25.22%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7โฌ43.58
$25.53โฌ21.96
98.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47โฌ12.44
$14.98โฌ12.88
-3.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.85โฌ7.61
$5.26โฌ4.53
68.25%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$501โฌ431
$345โฌ297
45.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3Kโฌ11.4K
$2,799โฌ2,407
374.04%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.3โฌ84.5
$123โฌ106
-19.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43โฌ33.92
$43.74โฌ37.62
-9.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2โฌ84.5
$46.48โฌ39.98
111.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117โฌ100
$57.4โฌ49.33
103.38%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873โฌ751
$191โฌ164
356.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662โฌ569
$464โฌ399
42.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,467โฌ1,262
$347โฌ298
323.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079โฌ928
$771โฌ663
39.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,268โฌ4,531
$4,078โฌ3,508
29.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,255โฌ2,800
$1,241โฌ1,067
162.37%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,886โฌ1,623
$1,884โฌ1,621
0.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
3.2
16.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zagreb: June 2, 2026
Last update for Beliลกฤe: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $873 in Zagreb and $191 in Beliลกฤe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐZagreb pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $69.0 in Zagreb vs $40.00 in Beliลกฤe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $224 per month, with Beliลกฤe 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
Zagreb vs Beliลกฤe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zagreb and Beliลกฤe?
Zagreb and Beliลกฤe differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,738 vs $1,213 including rent). Beliลกฤe is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Zagreb or Beliลกฤe?
Zagreb pays 0% 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 do apartment prices compare in Zagreb and Beliลกฤe?
Rent for a central apartment: $873 in Zagreb versus $191 in Beliลกฤe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Zagreb and Beliลกฤe?
Childcare runs $501 in Zagreb versus $345 in Beliลกฤe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Zagreb. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,213 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,738 in Zagreb, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤe but tight or insufficient in Zagreb. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zagreb and Beliลกฤe?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Zagreb or Beliลกฤe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zagreb and Beliลกฤe 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: Zagreb or Beliลกฤe?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤe gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 43% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.