How Much Does It Cost to Live in Croatia?
Today Croatia is known as a really attractive travel destination that has gained popularity since Independence Day.
The Mediterranean nature with its mountains, green slopes, shores, and man-made buildings made Croatia one of the outstanding places to be.
The diversity of the country and its geopolitical changes had a great impact on the economy.
Tourists from Eastern Europe should expect to spend more.
At the same time, most of western Europeans and Americans might feel pretty rich staying in this country.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Croatia
RESTAURANTS
Having a three-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant costs around $42 (against a $7 meal in McDonald’s or similar).
Talking about drinks, a small bottle of imported beer is $2.86, which is 30 cents more than Coke or Pepsi.
A cup of regular cappuccino ranges between $1.23 – $1.75.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $8.58 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $2.57 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.53 |
MARKETS
Market prices are just awesome.
$1 can buy you one pound of white rice, apples, bananas, oranges, or tomatoes.
One lettuce, 1.5 l of water, and 0.5 l of local beer will not exceed $1.54.
With $0.50 in your pocket, you can still afford a pound of potato or onion.
The highest bill is for a bottle of wine ($4.61 – $7.68).
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.10 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.12 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.70 |
TRANSPORTATION
If taking a taxi is your thing, be ready to pay a normal tariff of $2.86 for taxi start, or $1.48 per mile (note $6.14 per hour of waiting).
Love driving and want to buy a car in Croatia?
A brand new vehicle like Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90KW trendline or similar, and Toyota Corolla 1.6 l 97KW are $21,503.99 and $24,020.21 respectively.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $1.43 |
| Monthly Pass | $50.06 |
| Gasoline | $1.68 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Monthly utilities that Croatians usually pay for include the connection to the Internet and local calls with a cell phone.
In fact, a good deal of people’s income goes to public facilities.
Water, electricity, heating, cooling, and garbage cost seven times the price of unlimited Internet.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $174.04 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.13 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $25.95 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Working out in Croatia is presented by fitness clubs and tennis courts which tend to be the most trendy places.
According to statistics, fitness gets the upper hand against tennis: a monthly fee for 1 adult is $41.03.
Or rent a tennis court for three hours on weekend.
Watching foreign films is way cheaper – $6.29 per seat.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $41.03 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $11.06 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $6.29 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Businessmen rule the world and increase the economy.
If you are one of them, be ready to pay for your image in Croatia.
A pair of men’s business shoes made of leather is $89.19.
Just a little bit more expensive than a pair of Nike running shoes or most of the Levis jeans.
By the way, summer dresses are half-price so give them a try.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $78.13 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $33.89 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $77.67 |
RENT PER MONTH
This is what students, tourists, ex-pats, and many locals would be interested in.
Rental prices are quite acceptable for people with average wages if they are ready to pay half their monthly income for rent.
The one-bedroom premises in the city center cost $100 more than those outside the downtown.
Add $260 more to starting price to rent a three-bedroom apartment in the center.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $469.82 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $359.72 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $746.79 |
HEALTHCARE
Croatia provides universal public healthcare funded by mandatory payroll contributions of about 16.5 percent of gross salary.
Supplemental private insurance is common and typically costs 15 to 40 USD per month.
Out-of-pocket spending averages roughly 300 to 600 USD per person per year.
With average monthly salaries around 1,200 USD, healthcare costs are manageable for most residents, especially those relying mainly on public services.
EDUCATION
Public primary and secondary schools are tuition-free, with families covering books, uniforms, and supplies.
Private schools charge $6,000 to $15,000 per year.
Public universities charge modest tuition, usually $1,500 to $3,000 per year for local students, while private universities can range from $4,000 to $10,000 annually.
Students also pay for housing, food, transport, and textbooks.
Average monthly income is about $1,200, making university tuition and private schooling a significant expense for families.
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Croatia?
Interestingly, people in Croatia spend the biggest part of their money at the markets and paying bills.
The least goes for clothing and shoes.
If you want to calculate your expenditures in advance, note these facts: the three biggest money eaters in Croatia are eating, driving, and rental.
Locals usually do not pay much for sports and leisure, clothing, shoes, and utilities.
If you want to be like the average person in Croatia, rent an apartment in the city center, buy food in the markets, eat out often, and take a taxi back home.
Average Costs Breakdown
Croatia: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The National Minimum Wage is the smallest sum of money an employer pays in accordance with the law to his employees per month, per day, or per hour.
The minimum monthly salary in Croatia in 2018 has been $479.9 or $6,316.10 per year.
The lowest wage permitted by Croatian law increased by 5% in the recent reporting period.
Among 97 countries that are ranked by the lowest minimum monthly income amount, Croatia is placed 33rd.
The most reduced compensation in Croatia in the past 20 years was in 2001 and made as little as $208.5 per month.
The highest minimum salary was 10 years ago, back in 2008 at the level of $587.3 per month.
As to the mortgage interest rate, it makes an average of 4.77% yearly.
Croatia Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Croatia Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | LOW |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Croatia
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
 Osijek |
44.95 |
| Rijeka |
52.96 |
| Split |
53.62 |
| Zagreb |
52.2 |
I’ve been hearing a lot about Croatia lately! What’s the best time of year to visit for those stunning landscapes?