This Is the Cost of Living in Croatia in 2025 (Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Etc.)

The cost of living in Croatia keeps going up, mainly because of the economic growth, but also by the inflation that plagued the world in the past few years.

Now, since I’ve spent enough time here to have a better understanding of what it really costs to live in Croatia, I have this cost of living guide to share.

Below, you’ll find my personal estimates, combined with what fellow expats, digital nomads and everyday residents experience. In other words, the most reliable cost of living estimate for living anywhere in Croatia!

Quick Overview

If you don’t want to go through all the details – although you should, to get the full picture – here is what your monthly living expenses should look like for long-term living:

For a person living alone, the cost of living in Croatia in 2025 is between €1,300 – €1,500 per month, with moderate spending. Couples splitting expenses will pay around €1,100 each.

If you are interested in estimates for a holiday here, it might be a better idea to check my travel prices in Croatia article.

Now let’s get more in-depth with the estimates and see how that monthly budget will be split!

Accommodation / Rental Costs

One of the biggest monthly costs is rent, although renting remains relatively affordable in most cities for long-term deals. Here’s what you should expect to pay:

• Studio (good area): Around €375/month. Better deals might be available on the outskirts.
• 1-Bedroom: €500–€650/month (Much higher if it has sea views/premium location).
• 2-Bedrooms: Often found around €800/month, though rates can climb in touristy neighborhoods.

IMPORTANT: People in Croatia list their apartments based on total rooms, not bedrooms. That means a “3-room apartment” will have two bedrooms and a living room.

My insider tip: when renting or searching for a place to rent, make sure that you look at local agencies that are aimed at Croatians, and not the fancy ones for foreigners.

The latter are more expensive and have far fewer properties to offer. Check out websites like njuskalo.hr for local prices (the website, however, is in Croatian only – use Google Translate with it to make it easier to navigate).

Another tip: Start searching for a place during the off season months (October – April) as prices are lowest during this time. From May to September, property owners who weren’t able to rent long term will usually switch to renting short term for higher earnings.

It also depends on where you want to live: larger cities are more expensive (Zagreb being the most expensive, for example), while smaller towns and villages are cheaper, as long as they’re not popular resorts.

If you want to spend a short time in Croatia only, I recommend looking at one of the top all inclusive resorts here to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Monthly food costs in Croatia

This is always one of the most difficult categories to estimate, because people can spend here anything from pennies to little fortunes.

I tend to cook at home with fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets or the major supermarkets with low prices. When I eat out, I usually pick affordable Konoba Fetivi (family-run taverns) rather than tourist hotspots, and this helps keep costs low.

I estimate that you will spend around €400 per month on food if you’re living alone or around €700 per month in total as a couple.

I repeat: these costs can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle. If you eat out a lot, or if you follow specific diets (mainly gluten-free or eating exclusively organic), expenses will go up really fast.

Here are some typical grocery prices (expect slight variation based on season):

• Tomatoes (1 kg): €1.80
• Potatoes (1 kg): €1.00
• Lettuce (1 head): €1.00
• Apples (1 kg): €1.00 – €1.50
• Oranges (1 Kg): €1.20
• Bananas (1 Kg): €1.20
• Cheese (1 Kg): €8.5
• Eggs (10 eggs): €2.80
• Chicken Breasts, boneless, skinless (1 kg): €8.50
• Fresh fish, local (1 kg): €6.00
• Loaf of Bread (300 grams): €1.00
• Milk (1 Liter – store brands): €1.10
• Bottle of cheap local wine: €5.00
• Bottle of better local wine: €8.50
• Beer (0.5 liter): €1.10 (in stores)
• Sparkling water (1.5 l): €1.00
• Bottled water (7 l): €2.30
• Bottle of natural juice (1 liter): €2.5

Related reading: Best Restaurants & Pubs in Split, Croatia

Restaurant prices in Croatia

When it comes to eating out in a restaurant, prices have gone up a lot in recent years, especially after Croatia switched to using the Euro in 2023.

Still, a daily menu can still be found for €10, which is pretty affordable.

My advice is to find the restaurants where locals eat, like the aforementioned Konoba Fetivi, and you can have a decent meal for a low price. Now here’s what you’ll spend eating out:

• Meal for two, casual place: €35 (main course & drink, maybe desert)
• Meal for two, upscale restaurant (three course): €55
• Beer (0.5 l): €3.00
• Coke (0.25 l): €2.50
• Wine (0.75 l): €20 Euros for a bottle (but can easily go up)
• Cappuccino: €2.00
• Fresh lemonade: €3.00

Related reading: Best Restaurants in Zagreb, Croatia

Croatia: Utilities cost

Usually, rent doesn’t include any utilities or common expenses for the building.

All in all, for the utilities, it’s best to budget around €230 per month. Some locals manage to keep costs a lot lower, but expats usually spend more than locals do.

Here is what you are normally expected to pay on utilities each month, on average:

• Electricity, heating, garbage disposal, and water: 120 Euros for 1-bedroom apartment, but it can go up if you keep the AC unit running 24/7 during the summer.

• Communal building expenses (elevators, cleaning, etc.): 20 Euros

• Mobile, Internet & TV Package: 47 Euros /month (fast internet, 120 TV channels and unlimited calls). You can see Telekom’s offer below:

All in all, the prices for utilities in Croatia have grown a lot in the past several years and they keep growing, although not at an alarming rate.

Additional expenses

This category is tough to define because it varies so much by person. Clothing, healthcare, transportation, and entertainment all add up. Here are some price examples:

• Public transport pass: ~€50/month (single tickets ~€1.50)
• Gym membership: ~€35/month
• Gasoline: ~€1.50/liter
• Cinema ticket: ~€5
• Private health insurance: starts around €75/month

The good thing is that most cities in Croatia are walkable – or at least a bike will do.

Can you live in Croatia on €1,000 per month?

Living on €1,000/month is challenging for a single person who also needs to pay rent, but couples might manage a basic lifestyle if they split main costs. Let’s see how the monthly budget would look per person, in a couple:

290 Euros for rent (sharing costs for a 1-br)
400 Euros for food and eating out
110 Euros for utilities and phone/internet

______________

TOTAL: 800 Euros per month

This would leave a person with €200/month to cover all the misc. expenses, like buying toiletries and clothes, paying for health insurance, extra entertainment and so on. While it’s not a lot, it covers the basic needs and allows you to live a decent, yet modest life.

Keep in mind that the average net salary in Croatia is €1,380/month, so a budget of €1,000 per month puts you well behind. But it’s still doable – probably not for long, though.

I would say that a budget starting at 2,200 Euros per month for a couple would be pretty decent. Ah, the advantages of not being single!

So, if you don’t tick this box, make sure to read my guide to Croatian women (or Croatian men, depending on your interests) to get this sorted out.

If you have kids, you’ll have plenty of extra expenses. Public schools are free, but classes are taught in Croatian.

Private schools and kindergartens charge tuition, which can easily range from €400 for private daycare up to €1,000 for primary or secondary education.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Croatia?

To live comfortably in Croatia, you should budget at least 1,500 Euros per month. This allows you to choose better living conditions, eat better food and enjoy Croatian life at its fullest. With €2,000/month as a single person, you’ll feel like royalty here.

Croatia remains a cheap country to live in, especially if you compare it with others in Western Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and so on.

Conclusion

I tried to paint a picture that’s as clear and accurate as possible. I have to repeat, though, that as it is the case of any situation when personal preferences and different lifestyles are involved, your reality could vary greatly from mine. But at least you have a starting point and I personally consider it as close to reality as possible.

If you have personal insights regarding the monthly living costs in Croatia, I would love to hear them: the more people we have sharing their personal expenses, the easier it will be for those interested in moving here to estimate their costs.

Thanks for sharing this article!