Which is the most expensive Croatian city to live in? And it is not Zagreb
- by croatiaweek
- in News
Which is the most expensive Croatian city to live in?
While many assume Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, is the most expensive city in the country to live in, new data reveals a surprising contender.
Comparing the costs of living in Croatia’s four largest cities – Zagreb, Osijek, Split, and Rijeka – it becomes clear that life in Dalmatia is the most expensive.
At least, this is what data from the specialised website Numbeo indicates, as Večernji list reports.
The estimated monthly expenses for a family of four in Zagreb, excluding rent, amount to €2,596.70, while the costs for a single person are €751.70.
In Split, however, the estimated monthly expenses for a family of four (excluding rent) are €2,714.40, and for a single person, they are €772.80.
Rijeka ranks third, and Osijek fourth, with costs for a family of four amounting to €2,262.10 and €659.20 for a single person.
Rijeka
What makes Split more expensive than Zagreb – and the most expensive of Croatia’s largest cities – are property prices and rental costs, which likely stem from its appeal as a tourist destination.
According to Numbeo, the average price per square metre of a flat in Split is €5,409.36, compared to €4,960.98 in Zagreb.
Split
In Rijeka, the average price per square metre is €2,681, while in Osijek, it is €2,190.
When it comes to average rental prices, a two-bedroom flat in the centre of Split costs €812.50 per month, compared to €681 in Zagreb, €543.75 in Rijeka, and €435.42 in Osijek.
Comparing prices across several categories – such as groceries, restaurants, transport, utilities, sports and leisure, childcare, clothing and footwear, and housing – the overall cost of living in Zagreb is 8.3% lower than in Split.
Osijek
If we focus solely on Zagreb and Split, rental prices in Zagreb are 11.4% lower, restaurant prices are 20.4% lower, and grocery prices are 3.4% lower.
Zagreb
In comparison to Zagreb, taxi fares, public transport, meals in budget-friendly restaurants, cappuccinos, local cheese, and bottles of quality wine are all more expensive in Split.
