Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Dubrovnik Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Dubrovnik

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,738 per month in Zagreb vs $1,991 in Dubrovnik, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,574 per month in Zagreb vs $2,825 in Dubrovnik, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,409 per month in Zagreb vs $3,659 in Dubrovnik, rent included.

Zagreb is about 13% cheaper than Dubrovnik, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Zagreb and Dubrovnik sit above the global median – Zagreb by 30%, Dubrovnik by 49%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.78 €10.13

$17.24 €14.83

-31.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.1 €59.5

$80.8 €69.5

-14.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.49 €8.16

$12.53 €10.78

-24.26%

Cappuccino

$2.43 €2.09

$3.48 €2.99

-30.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 €2.72

$4.94 €4.25

-36.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 €2.03

$3.83 €3.30

-38.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.67 €3.16

$6.77 €5.83

-45.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 €4.01

$4.75 €4.09

-1.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.35 €1.16

$1.22 €1.05

10.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.87 €1.61

$1.53 €1.32

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.66 €2.28

$2.26 €1.94

17.70%

Eggs

$3.65 €3.14

$4.30 €3.70

-15.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 €9.36

$12.36 €10.63

-11.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.92 €8.54

$12.44 €10.70

-20.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 €10.94

$10.62 €9.13

19.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.88 €1.62

$1.75 €1.50

7.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 €1.43

$1.67 €1.43

-0.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 €1.71

$1.89 €1.62

4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.06 €2.64

$2.65 €2.28

15.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.44 €1.24

$1.21 €1.04

19.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 €1.26

$0.88 €0.75

67.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 €1.12

$1.56 €1.34

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 €1.11

$1.23 €1.06

4.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.76 €4.96

$5.20 €4.47

10.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.49 €8.16

$4.74 €4.08

100.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 €1.58

$1.33 €1.14

38.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 €1.98

$2.98 €2.56

-22.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 €0.55

$2.54 €2.18

-74.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$57.0 €49.05

$56.0 €48.20

1.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.28 €1.96

$2.99 €2.57

-23.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 €0.92

$1.15 €0.99

-6.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.12 €8.70

$7.50 €6.46

34.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.79 €1.54

$1.75 €1.51

2.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.1K €30.2K

$38.7K €33.3K

-9.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K €22.5K

$26.6K €22.9K

-1.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$208 €179

$189 €162

10.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$20.19 €17.37

$22.85 €19.65

-11.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.82 €28.23

$26.74 €23.00

22.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.7 €43.58

$71.6 €61.6

-29.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.47 €12.44

$24.14 €20.76

-40.06%

Cinema Ticket

$8.85 €7.61

$8.21 €7.06

7.80%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$501 €431

$91.1 €78.4

450.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K €11.4K

$7,988 €6,872

66.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.3 €84.5

$76.2 €65.6

28.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.43 €33.92

$28.86 €24.83

36.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 €84.5

$69.1 €59.5

42.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 €100

$81.1 €69.8

43.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$873 €751

$1,256 €1,081

-30.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$662 €569

$892 €768

-25.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,467 €1,262

$1,708 €1,469

-14.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,079 €928

$1,248 €1,073

-13.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,268 €4,531

$8,513 €7,323

-38.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,255 €2,800

$4,440 €3,819

-26.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,886 €1,623

$1,509 €1,298

24.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.72

4.66

-20.17%

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

Last update for Zagreb: June 2, 2026

Last update for Dubrovnik: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $873 in Zagreb versus $1,256 in Dubrovnik. 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 25% higher in Zagreb, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Zagreb versus $81.0 in Dubrovnik. Groceries tell a different story – $281 in Zagreb vs $273 in Dubrovnik – so Dubrovnik 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

Zagreb vs Dubrovnik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,738 in Zagreb, $1,991 in Dubrovnik – roughly 15% apart. Dubrovnik costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,607 per month in Zagreb and $2,986 in Dubrovnik. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zagreb, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Zagreb. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $501 per month in Zagreb and $91.1 in Dubrovnik. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Zagreb, where all-in costs run around $1,738, than in Dubrovnik at $1,991. In Zagreb it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dubrovnik it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Dubrovnik has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,738 in Zagreb to $1,991 in Dubrovnik. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Zagreb. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dubrovnik makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.