๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,738 in Zagreb versus $1,395 in Kaลกtela.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,574 in Zagreb versus $2,164 in Kaลกtela.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,409 in Zagreb versus $2,932 in Kaลกtela.
๐Living in Zagreb is roughly 25% more expensive than Kaลกtela, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Zagreb30% above, Kaลกtela4% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78โฌ10.13
$16.28โฌ14.00
-27.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1โฌ59.5
$80.7โฌ69.4
-14.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.49โฌ8.16
$9.51โฌ8.18
-0.21%
Cappuccino
$2.43โฌ2.09
$2.81โฌ2.42
-13.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16โฌ2.72
$3.56โฌ3.06
-11.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$2.64โฌ2.27
-10.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.67โฌ3.16
$4.60โฌ3.96
-20.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67โฌ4.01
$3.74โฌ3.22
24.87%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35โฌ1.16
$1.38โฌ1.19
-2.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87โฌ1.61
$1.55โฌ1.33
20.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.66โฌ2.28
$3.03โฌ2.61
-12.21%
Eggs
$3.65โฌ3.14
$3.81โฌ3.27
-4.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.88โฌ9.36
$9.59โฌ8.25
13.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.92โฌ8.54
$9.76โฌ8.40
1.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.72โฌ10.94
$12.55โฌ10.80
1.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.88โฌ1.62
$1.69โฌ1.46
11.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66โฌ1.43
$1.65โฌ1.42
0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98โฌ1.71
$2.12โฌ1.82
-6.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06โฌ2.64
$2.36โฌ2.03
29.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44โฌ1.24
$1.51โฌ1.30
-4.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.47โฌ1.26
$1.45โฌ1.25
1.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30โฌ1.12
$1.42โฌ1.22
-8.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29โฌ1.11
$1.26โฌ1.08
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.76โฌ4.96
$5.74โฌ4.94
0.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.49โฌ8.16
$7.34โฌ6.31
29.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84โฌ1.58
$1.37โฌ1.18
34.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30โฌ1.98
$1.18โฌ1.01
94.92%
๐ Getting Around
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64โฌ0.55
$2.33โฌ2.00
-72.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.0โฌ49.05
$37.76โฌ32.48
51.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28โฌ1.96
$3.44โฌ2.96
-33.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07โฌ0.92
$2.04โฌ1.76
-47.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.12โฌ8.70
$9.29โฌ7.99
8.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79โฌ1.54
$1.70โฌ1.47
5.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1Kโฌ30.2K
$38.5Kโฌ33.1K
-8.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2Kโฌ22.5K
$26.6Kโฌ22.9K
-1.66%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208โฌ179
$184โฌ158
12.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.19โฌ17.37
$24.06โฌ20.69
-16.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.82โฌ28.23
$25.56โฌ21.99
28.40%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.7โฌ43.58
$58.6โฌ50.4
-13.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47โฌ12.44
$14.59โฌ12.55
-0.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.85โฌ7.61
$9.29โฌ7.99
-4.74%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$501โฌ431
$187โฌ161
168.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3Kโฌ11.4K
$1,402โฌ1,206
845.98%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.3โฌ84.5
$83.5โฌ71.8
17.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43โฌ33.92
$27.96โฌ24.05
41.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.2โฌ84.5
$107โฌ92.2
-8.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117โฌ100
$104โฌ89.4
12.22%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873โฌ751
$481โฌ414
81.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662โฌ569
$346โฌ298
91.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,467โฌ1,262
$619โฌ532
136.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,079โฌ928
$554โฌ476
94.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,268โฌ4,531
$3,420โฌ2,942
54.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,255โฌ2,800
$2,463โฌ2,118
32.18%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Zagreb
Kaลกtela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,886โฌ1,623
$926โฌ797
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
๐ 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.
๐ฐZagreb 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.
๐Dining 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.