How Much Does It Cost to Live in Split?
Split has been one of the dynamically developing cities in Croatia.
This is a center of a resort region in the middle of the Adriatic coastline.
Citizens of the modern Split meet tourists, make wine, and go fishing.
Besides, they are busy with all kinds of jobs in the seaports.
Split is a very important cultural area which has settled and remained in touch with lots of international organizations.
As the second largest city after the capital, Split is not the cheapest place to stay, but it definitely has lots of great things to offer.
Cost of Living Breakdown in Split
RESTAURANTS
Going to have a cheeseburger and cappuccino in McDonald’s?
Stop and think twice, because having added a couple of dollars to your budget would do you a great favor in a mid-range restaurant where a three-course meal is just $7.68.
Cappuccino usually costs up to 2 dollars; Coke and imported beer around $3.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $9.22 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $2.77 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.36 |
MARKETS
Either you are on a vacation or business trip, visiting markets is always part of the programme.
In Split, you can save much money by doing so.
Some regular basket of vegetables like onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce are $5-6 (with a view to 1 lb of each unit).
Smokers spend about $4.30 for a pack of their favorite cigarettes.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $0.90 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.93 |
| Eggs (12) | $2.42 |
TRANSPORTATION
In Split, if you want to take a taxi, they’ll let you have it for an average of $1.48 per mile (start costs $2.61, an hour of waiting is $6.14).
Sure thing, you can buy a car in Split, then a new Volkswagen Golf or Toyota Corolla (or any one like these) is between $19.908 and $26.114.
Gasoline – $5.78/gallon.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $1.69 |
| Monthly Pass | $44.56 |
| Gasoline | $1.52 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
People who live in Split, Croatia spend 1/4 of their monthly income for some basic utilities like water, heating etc.
If you don’t mind prepaid mobile connection (no plans or discounts included), pay as much as $0.11 per minute.
60 Mbps of the Internet is between $18.43 and $31.49.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $171.52 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.12 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $27.82 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
Who would refuse to get up early in the morning and exercise out on the beaches of Split?
In case you consider it a bad idea or you are simply a night person, think of getting a monthly subscription to a fitness club for $37.83 (adult).
Tennis court is thrice as little (rent per hour on weekends).
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $35.45 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $12.42 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $5.38 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
Why not be self-indulgent and buy yourself a pair of jeans for $82, a nice summer dress in H&M for $35 and mid-range running shoes for $81.50?
Split allows you to be ready for any occasion in life, be it a beach party with friends or a romantic evening in a restaurant.
Incidentally, a pair of business shoes for men is $90.49.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $77.59 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $38.92 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $78.25 |
RENT PER MONTH
Split is a large city, it has lots of new and old buildings, where people come and go all the time.
Renting an apartment should not be problematic out of the holiday season.
A one-room flat in the city center costs $200 less than a three-room apartment in the downtown, while the 1-bedroom premises outside the center are as cheap as $320 roughly.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $430.21 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $318.53 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $698.61 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Split?
Without food, you feel either on a diet or always hungry.
Food on the markets is the priority to an average Split citizen.
Either a half or 2/3 of that money is spent on monthly rent and eating out.
Locals give 14.4% of their income to taxis, gasoline or public transport tickets.
Keep track of the wardrobe, utilities and leisure time and you will get a decent sum of money collected specially for these needs.
Should it be mentioned that the figures in bills are twice as big as the expenditures for clothing and shoes?
Average Costs Breakdown
Split: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
The average monthly net salary after tax in Split, Croatia is $851.56.
In the last year, the net average monthly salary and the minimum wage per month have increased by 5%, according to the official statistics.
Nevertheless, Croatia and its cities are placed 33rd among 97 countries with the lowest minimum wage.
At that, a good part of the Croatians can’t afford themselves a mortgage with the interest rate of 4.77% yearly.
Yet 20 years at a fixed rate make mortgage in Split one of the options to get living premises fast and enjoy your private space.
Split Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Split Safety Review

| OVERALL RISK | LOW |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | MEDIUM |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
Cost of Living by City in Croatia
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| 44.95 | |
| 52.96 | |
| 52.2 |





Nice write up, but it leaves me thinking about how expensive visiting or living there must be; all the charm sounds great until you factor in sky high accommodation, tourist prices at every decent restaurant and the everyday costs that seem to push locals into tighter corners. I can appreciate the cultural draw, yet I keep wondering whether the benefits really trickle down or mostly raise prices for everyone else, so I would check nightly rates and local food costs before making plans.