Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and CascaisCost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Cascais
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Zagreb versus $2,195 in Cascais.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,574 in Zagreb versus $3,513 in Cascais.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Zagreb versus $4,831 in Cascais.
🙂Living in Zagreb costs roughly 21% less than in Cascais, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb30% above, Cascais64% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78€10.14
$14.14€12.17
-16.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1€59.5
$46.31€39.87
49.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.49€8.17
$9.08€7.82
4.52%
Cappuccino
$2.43€2.09
$2.89€2.49
-15.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16€2.72
$2.15€1.85
46.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.03
$1.50€1.29
57.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.67€3.16
$2.25€1.93
63.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.02
$3.46€2.97
34.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.16
$1.07€0.92
26.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87€1.61
$1.83€1.57
2.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66€2.29
$1.88€1.62
41.49%
Eggs
$3.65€3.14
$3.08€2.65
18.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.88€9.37
$11.13€9.58
-2.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.92€8.54
$7.77€6.69
27.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.72€10.95
$14.43€12.42
-11.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88€1.62
$2.48€2.14
-24.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.43
$1.70€1.47
-2.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.96€1.69
1.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06€2.64
$2.90€2.50
5.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44€1.24
$1.46€1.26
-1.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$2.05€1.77
-28.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30€1.12
$1.72€1.48
-24.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$0.94€0.81
37.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76€4.96
$6.07€5.22
-5.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.49€8.17
$7.96€6.85
19.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.58
$1.27€1.09
44.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30€1.98
$2.64€2.27
-12.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64€0.55
$2.67€2.29
-76.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.0€49.09
$46.99€40.46
21.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.97
$4.06€3.49
-43.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07€0.92
$0.86€0.74
24.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.12€8.71
$14.53€12.51
-30.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.54
$1.98€1.71
-9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K€30.2K
$34.9K€30.0K
0.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K€22.5K
$40.0K€34.5K
-34.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208€179
$147€127
41.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.19€17.38
$21.49€18.50
-6.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.82€28.25
$41.98€36.14
-21.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7€43.61
$68.9€59.3
-26.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47€12.45
$11.37€9.79
27.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.85€7.62
$8.42€7.25
5.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$501€432
$616€530
-18.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K€11.4K
$16.2K€13.9K
-18.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.3€84.6
$87.5€75.3
12.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43€33.95
$38.42€33.08
2.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2€84.5
$92.7€79.8
5.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€100
$94.1€81.0
23.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873€751
$1,712€1,474
-49.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662€570
$1,277€1,100
-48.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,467€1,263
$3,794€3,266
-61.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079€929
$2,605€2,243
-58.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,268€4,535
$7,217€6,213
-27.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,255€2,802
$5,058€4,354
-35.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Cascais
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,886€1,624
$2,300€1,980
-17.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
3.81
-2.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zagreb: June 2, 2026
Last update for Cascais: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $873 in Zagreb and $1,712 in Cascais. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cascais pays 22% 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: $69.0 in Zagreb vs $46.00 in Cascais for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $263 per month, with Cascais 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 Cascais: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cascais cheaper than Zagreb?
Zagreb is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Zagreb or Cascais?
On paper, Cascais earns 22% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Zagreb and Cascais?
Rent for a central apartment: $873 in Zagreb versus $1,712 in Cascais. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Zagreb and Cascais?
Shoppers in Cascais pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Zagreb or Cascais?
Dining out is cheaper in Zagreb – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $46.00 in Cascais. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for Zagreb or Cascais?
At $1,738 in Zagreb versus $2,195 in Cascais, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Zagreb but tight or insufficient in Cascais. The gap between the two cities makes Zagreb the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Zagreb or Cascais more family-friendly?
For families, Zagreb is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cascais, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Zagreb or Cascais?
Safety-wise, Zagreb and Cascais 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Zagreb gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Cascais. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.