Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Kaลกtela Cost of Living Comparison Between Zagreb and Kaลกtela

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Zagreb versus $1,395 in Kaลกtela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,574 in Zagreb versus $2,164 in Kaลกtela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Zagreb versus $2,932 in Kaลกtela.

Living in Zagreb is roughly 25% more expensive than Kaลกtela, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb 30% above, Kaลกtela 4% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 โ‚ฌ10.13
$16.28 โ‚ฌ14.00
-27.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 โ‚ฌ59.5
$80.7 โ‚ฌ69.4
-14.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.49 โ‚ฌ8.16
$9.51 โ‚ฌ8.18
-0.21%
Cappuccino
$2.43 โ‚ฌ2.09
$2.81 โ‚ฌ2.42
-13.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 โ‚ฌ2.72
$3.56 โ‚ฌ3.06
-11.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$2.64 โ‚ฌ2.27
-10.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.67 โ‚ฌ3.16
$4.60 โ‚ฌ3.96
-20.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 โ‚ฌ4.01
$3.74 โ‚ฌ3.22
24.87%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 โ‚ฌ1.16
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.19
-2.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 โ‚ฌ1.61
$1.55 โ‚ฌ1.33
20.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.66 โ‚ฌ2.28
$3.03 โ‚ฌ2.61
-12.21%
Eggs
$3.65 โ‚ฌ3.14
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.27
-4.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.88 โ‚ฌ9.36
$9.59 โ‚ฌ8.25
13.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.92 โ‚ฌ8.54
$9.76 โ‚ฌ8.40
1.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.72 โ‚ฌ10.94
$12.55 โ‚ฌ10.80
1.35%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 โ‚ฌ1.62
$1.69 โ‚ฌ1.46
11.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 โ‚ฌ1.43
$1.65 โ‚ฌ1.42
0.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 โ‚ฌ1.71
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.82
-6.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.06 โ‚ฌ2.64
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
29.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.44 โ‚ฌ1.24
$1.51 โ‚ฌ1.30
-4.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 โ‚ฌ1.26
$1.45 โ‚ฌ1.25
1.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 โ‚ฌ1.12
$1.42 โ‚ฌ1.22
-8.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 โ‚ฌ1.11
$1.26 โ‚ฌ1.08
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76 โ‚ฌ4.96
$5.74 โ‚ฌ4.94
0.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.49 โ‚ฌ8.16
$7.34 โ‚ฌ6.31
29.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 โ‚ฌ1.58
$1.37 โ‚ฌ1.18
34.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 โ‚ฌ1.98
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.01
94.92%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.64 โ‚ฌ0.55
$2.33 โ‚ฌ2.00
-72.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$57.0 โ‚ฌ49.05
$37.76 โ‚ฌ32.48
51.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 โ‚ฌ1.96
$3.44 โ‚ฌ2.96
-33.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 โ‚ฌ0.92
$2.04 โ‚ฌ1.76
-47.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 โ‚ฌ8.70
$9.29 โ‚ฌ7.99
8.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.47
5.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K โ‚ฌ30.2K
$38.5K โ‚ฌ33.1K
-8.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K โ‚ฌ22.5K
$26.6K โ‚ฌ22.9K
-1.66%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$208 โ‚ฌ179
$184 โ‚ฌ158
12.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.19 โ‚ฌ17.37
$24.06 โ‚ฌ20.69
-16.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.82 โ‚ฌ28.23
$25.56 โ‚ฌ21.99
28.40%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.7 โ‚ฌ43.58
$58.6 โ‚ฌ50.4
-13.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47 โ‚ฌ12.44
$14.59 โ‚ฌ12.55
-0.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.85 โ‚ฌ7.61
$9.29 โ‚ฌ7.99
-4.74%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$501 โ‚ฌ431
$187 โ‚ฌ161
168.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K โ‚ฌ11.4K
$1,402 โ‚ฌ1,206
845.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.3 โ‚ฌ84.5
$83.5 โ‚ฌ71.8
17.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43 โ‚ฌ33.92
$27.96 โ‚ฌ24.05
41.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.2 โ‚ฌ84.5
$107 โ‚ฌ92.2
-8.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 โ‚ฌ100
$104 โ‚ฌ89.4
12.22%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$873 โ‚ฌ751
$481 โ‚ฌ414
81.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$662 โ‚ฌ569
$346 โ‚ฌ298
91.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,467 โ‚ฌ1,262
$619 โ‚ฌ532
136.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,079 โ‚ฌ928
$554 โ‚ฌ476
94.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,268 โ‚ฌ4,531
$3,420 โ‚ฌ2,942
54.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,255 โ‚ฌ2,800
$2,463 โ‚ฌ2,118
32.18%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,886 โ‚ฌ1,623
$926 โ‚ฌ797
103.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.72
4.35
-14.48%

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

Last update for Zagreb: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kaลกtela: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $873 in Zagreb and $481 in Kaลกtela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zagreb pays 104% 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 $81.0 in Kaลกtela. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $263, with Kaลกtela 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
Zagreb vs Kaลกtela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zagreb and Kaลกtela?
Zagreb and Kaลกtela differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,738 vs $1,395 including rent). Kaลกtela is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Zagreb or Kaลกtela?
Zagreb pays 104% 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 Kaลกtela?
Rent for a central apartment: $873 in Zagreb versus $481 in Kaลกtela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Zagreb and Kaลกtela?
A monthly transit pass in Kaลกtela runs roughly 51% less than in Zagreb. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Zagreb and Kaลกtela?
Childcare runs $501 in Zagreb versus $187 in Kaลกtela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,395 in Kaลกtela versus $1,738 in Zagreb, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaลกtela but tight or insufficient in Zagreb. The gap between the two cities makes Kaลกtela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zagreb and Kaลกtela?
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 Kaลกtela safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zagreb and Kaลกtela 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 Kaลกtela?
Expats usually find Kaลกtela gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 25% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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