Croatia is a popular destination to live in for a reason. The cost of living in Croatia for necessities, like food and accommodation, is relatively lower than in other European countries. For example, in Croatia, consumer prices, including rent, are 36.0% lower than in France. On the other hand, comparing consumer prices, including rent in Croatia and Italy, Italy is 37.2% higher than Croatia. And if we review data between Croatia and The United States, the cost of living in Croatia is half the price. For this reason, many people have looked into the Croatia real estate market in the last decade. Because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to live in a beautiful country at a cut price?
Expenses living in Croatia
So let’s look at the numbers for different categories of the cost of living in Croatia provided by Numbeo. This global online database offers statistics on the price of a living. For example, the cost of living plus the rent index in Croatia is 30.2, versus in the United States, it is 60.3. Likewise, the grocery index in Croatia is 39.5, contrasting with the United States, 71.4. Undoubtedly, entirely a big difference in necessities. Firstly, we’ll review the pricing for real estate in Croatia versus The United States.
Croatia
USA
Rent an apartment
- 1 bedroom apartment in City Centre = 439.76 €
- 1 bedroom outside of centre= 336.49 €
- 3 bedrooms apartment in City Centre = 697.57 €
- 3 bedrooms outside centre = 538.75 €
- 1 bedroom in city centre = 1,571.51 €
- 1 bedroom outside of centre= 1,265.82
- 3 bedrooms in city centre = 2,616.27 €
- 3 bedrooms outside Centre = 2,066.65 €
Buy an apartment
- Price per square meter in city centre = 2,916.83 €
- Price per square meter outside Centre = 2,177.09 €
- Price per square meter in city centre = is 4,123.90 €
- Price per square meter outside centre = 2,785.81 €
Cost of Basic Necessities
The monthly costs for a single person, not including rent, are approximately 623.03€ per month. Furthermore, let’s analyze the numbers for everyday groceries, dining out, utilities, transportation and other categories for expenses in Croatia versus The United States.
Groceries
- Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) = 1.05 €
- Rice (white), (1kg) = 2.03 €
- Eggs (regular) (12) = 2.53 €
- Local Cheese (1kg) = 8.58 €
- Chicken Fillets (1kg) = 8.09 €
- Beef Round (1kg) = 9.85 €
- Apples (1kg) = 1.28 €
- Tomato (1kg) = 1.90 €
- Onion (1kg) = 0.84 €
- Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) = 2.98 €
- Rice (white), (1kg) = 3.80 € €
- Eggs (regular) (12) = 3.55 €
- Local Cheese (1kg) = 10.68 €
- Chicken Fillets (1kg) = 10.89 €
- Beef Round (1kg) = 13.77 €
- Apples (1kg) = 4.40 €
- Tomato (1kg) = 4.14 €
- Onion (1kg) =2.51 €
Restaurant
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant = 7.98 €
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course = 39.79 €
- Domestic Beer (0.5-litre draught) = 2.39 €
- Imported Beer (0.33-litre bottle) = 2.65 €
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant = 15.65 €
- Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course = 64.42 €
- Domestic Beer (0.5-litre draught) = 4.60 €
- Imported Beer (0.33-litre bottle) = 5.52 €
Other expenses
- Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) = 24.03 €
- One-way Ticket (Local Transport) = 1.33 €
- Monthly Pass (Regular Price) = 46.26 €
- Taxi (1km) = 0.79 €
- Essential (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment = 163.52 €
- Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child = 123.40 €
- International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child = 5,011.14 €
- Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) =
- One-way Ticket (Local Transport) = 2.30 €
- Monthly Pass (Regular Price) = 64.42 €
- Taxi (1km) = 1.54 €
- Essential (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment = 166.64 €
- Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child = 1,070.78 €
- International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child = 15,207.36 €
The reality of living in Croatia
We can safely make some conclusions, as the numbers speak for themselves. First, the cost of living in Croatia is significantly more affordable than in The United States. But most importantly, individuals can be confident that if they buy or rent a property in Croatia, they can live a lifestyle in Croatia that won’t break their wallet.
There are many options for buying or renting a property in Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar or Zagreb. From one-bedroom apartments in the city centre to luxury villas on the waterfront of the Adriatic sea, the Croatian real estate market is quite flavorful.
Ready to find your next property in Croatia? Rimac Real Estate is here to guide you through your property search journey.
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