Costs to Retire in Croatia

Today, I will share our estimated monthly costs to retire in Croatia including rent, groceries, utilities, internet, cell phone, restaurants, drinking water, laundry, and transportation if the two of us were to retire here on a tight budget.

Google Map

The United States is one of the greatest places in the World to make money. But I left the US 17 years ago. Why is that? After living in 71 countries, I have noticed that my money goes much further almost everywhere overseas.

You see, I found out that money is not everything. The rat race is all about making money but it is not the only game in town. Many other cultures place a greater emphasis on living an enjoyable life.

Honestly, I didn’t feel the difference completely until a year after I left. Now that I know the difference, I only go home to visit. And when the plane leaving the USA takes off, I can feel the weight of the rat race lifting off my shoulders.

After I share my cost of living in Croatia, I will share what I learned about Croatian healthcare, food, real estate, things to do, social considerations, visas, walkability, weather, Internet speeds, and expat considerations,

Estimated Costs to Retire in Croatia

 

Rents: Today, I found this furnished 1 bedroom apartment with a long-term lease at 331 Euros ($360 USD) per month in Split Croatia. If you walk to Old Town you will be there in about 15 minutes. If you rent for a short term on Airbnb it would be much more expensive.

A larger apartment or an apartment closer to the old town could easily cost twice as much per month. So for the middle range expenses, I estimate $720 USD per month or more depending upon area and size.

Here is the process we use to find great apartments. So, we will show you a table of all estimated expenses in a moment. We will use $360 USD per month for our lower rent estimate and $720 per month for the middle cost of living estimate for expats who want more space.

In case these rents are too high for you, smaller towns in Croatia can have as much as 30% cheaper rents and rural areas can be even cheaper. When we took the bus south from Split we saw some less touristy towns along the coast that blew our minds like, Omis and Podstrana.

 

Utilities: For the apartment above, we estimate the year-round average utilities for us would be about $60 USD per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $140 USD per month.

Groceries: We would shop in the farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables, and purchase nonperishable foods and other things like shampoo and detergents in the grocery stores. We estimate about $350 USD per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to spend more on imported groceries they miss from home spending $450 USD per month or more on groceries, since most don’t go to the farmer’s markets.

Restaurants: We would eat out twice per week mostly in more local-style restaurants averaging about $10 to $14 USD per meal per person and one or two splurges per month of $12 to $18 USD per meal per person. If you add all that up, we would spend around $260 per month for the two of us. We may have a beer here and there, but that is covered below in alcohol.

Other expats are likely to eat more Western-style foods in expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, so they would likely spend more like $380 per month for 2 people in restaurants. It is lifestyle-dependent.

Cell Phone Data: The cheapest prepaid physical SIM cards in Croatia are about $12 USD for 30 days with 5 GB of data. My Android phone will act as a hotspot so we can both be on the internet when we are out of the house together.

Other (retired) expat couples are likely to buy two prepaid SIM cards so they would need about $25 USD per month.

Laundry: The apartments all seemed to have clothes washing machines. The above grocery estimate includes laundry detergent.

Drinking Water: We read online that the water is clean here and many people drink water from the tap but we would be a little more careful. We didn’t see reverse osmosis delivery in 20-liter jugs here so we would probably get a Brita water filter. The filter refills would be about $5 USD per month.

Internet: ATT Test said our Airbnb wifi router had 30 Mbps down and 22 Mbps upload speeds. We read online that these speeds cost about $28 USD per month for in-home wifi.

Public Transportation: Public transportation tickets cost an average about $1.50 USD per person each way. Daily needs are so walkable that we would probably average 1 ride per week or 4 per month, for the two of us which is about 8 rides total per month for the two of us, or $12 USD per month. We would probably take another 4 Bolt Taxi App rides per month averaging about $8 USD each, or $32 USD per month. So total transportation would be about $44 per month for the two of us.

Other expats might walk less and spend more on taxis and less on public transportation, so I estimate $120 per month for them.

Alcohol (Optional): Domestic beers in the LIDL grocery store in Croatia start at 0.95 Euros, or $1.03 for the half-litre size which is about 50% larger than the standard-sized beer in the USA. In bars and restaurants, half-liter draft domestic beers run from about $3 to $8 USD. We estimate about $150 per month on alcohol for the two of us.

Many other expats would spend a higher amount for imported foreign or craft beers in expat bars, so about $290 USD per month for 2 people assuming they are not into imported whiskey or wine.

Entertainment (Optional): We would budget about $200 per month for entertainment for the two of us. We enjoy doing more do-it-yourself kinds of entertainment so expats would spend a little more, maybe $300 per month, for 2 of them?

Estimated Costs to Retire in Croatia

Split Croatia

Lower

(USD)

Middle

(USD)

Rent

360

720

Utilities

60

140

Groceries

350

450

Restaurants

260

380

Cell Data

12

25

Laundry

0

0

Drinking Water

5

5

Internet

28

28

Transportation

44

120

Total

$1119

$1909

 

 

 

Alcohol

150

290

Optional Total

$1269

$2129

 

 

 

Entertainment

200

300

Optional Total

$1469

$2429

Our above lower cost estimates would be for the two of us living on a tight budget. When we first started exploring, we were on a much tighter budget. But now, we spend more because we receive additional income from YouTube and Memberships.

I would estimate that 80 to 90% of overseas retirees will spend significantly more than our above-estimated lower budget. So, the middle estimate is just another example of what other expats might spend for these expenses if they moved here.

To understand what it would cost you to live here, you must put your feet on the ground, see what you would choose to rent, eat, drink, and how you would entertain yourself, and add it all up. It doesn’t matter what anyone else spends because we are all different.

If you are a retired expat in Croatia and would like to share your cost of living, please leave a comment below and I will invite you on the channel as a guest.

Croatia Retirement Desirability Factors

I will now share what I learned about Croatian retirement visas, healthcare, walkability, Internet, food, weather, things to do, social considerations, safety, expat communities, and real estate, and then assign an overall retirement desirability score to Croatia.

Walkability: High. We walked everywhere in Split Croatia. We found all of our daily needs within a 5 to 20-minute walk of our apartment. So we would not need a car if we lived in Split. Avoiding the expense of a car would be highly desirable to us.

Internet: High. The wifi in our Airbnb had 30 Mbps down and 22 Mbps upload speeds. That is good enough for us to do Zoom calls, upload YouTube videos, and watch Netflix.

Food: High. There was a Farmer’s market just about a 10-minute walk from our apartment and the LIDL grocery store was just about 15 minutes walk away. For fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats, we would shop in the Farmers Market. Our webpage with all this information is the first link in the first comment below this video at VagabondBuddha.com.

There are local restaurants with delicious meals starting around $10 USD to $14 just a few blocks outside the old town which is a tourist area. There is also a large selection of foreign restaurants running from $12 to $18 USD per meal both in and outside the tourist area. But we found a world-class pizza joint just 2 blocks outside the tourist area with the best large-size pizza in the world for 10.2 Euros $11.07 USD.

Weather: High. Average daytime highs in Split in the month of January are 51F (11C) but gradually increase until July to 87F (31C) daytime highs. Average nighttime lows in Split in January are 42F (6C) but gradually increase until July to 72F (22C) nighttime lows. The best weather runs from May through October. The rainy season is September through December when it rains more than 3 inches (90 mm) per month. Snow is rare in Split but if it does it is only for a day or two and is unlikely to survive on the ground.

So this is the first place we have been on this Eastern European Tour when I would say the weather would be livable year-round for me. That is why I am rating the weather high in Split.

Things to Do: High. Split is one of the top three tourist towns in Croatia. But you don’t have to wander far away from the medieval old town area before you are surrounded by locals. So you can play with the tourists when the mood strikes, or completely avoid the high prices and crowds without much effort.

The Split Summer Festival has attracted thousands of spectators since the 1960s with fine arts events such as drama, opera, ballet, music, dance, and street theatre performances.

There is the International Festival of New Film screening of alternative video, film, and new media. Other performance fine arts include Marko Marulic literary heritage, the Split Graphic Art Biennial exhibition, Split Carnival of fancy masks, live music, DJ music, and dazzling fireworks, the 8-day Croatia Boat and Yacht Show, and the Olympic Sailing Week races. Event Calendars 1, 2.

There are also all of the Adric Sea water sports, iland hoping, and all of the beautiful smaller villages up and down the coast including the Dubrovnik Castle, one of the most beautiful water castles in the world. Plus you are just a ferry ride across the sea from Italy.

Social Considerations: High. 60% of Croatians are comfortable speaking English. While the official language is Croatian, younger people especially, can communicate in English pretty well. Television and movies are in English with Croatian subtitles, and most modern music has English lyrics. Plus, children learn English in elementary school. People would just look at us and know to start speaking English.

Safety Considerations: High. Croatia was ranked the 14th safest country in the world 117 spots safer the the USA. When I last checked, the US State Department webpage for Croatia published the lowest level 1 risk–Exercise normal precaution. You can also review my report, How to Travel the World Safely, which is how I have remained safe traveling the world for 17 years. We went out walking after midnight in the old town of Split and never felt a hint of trouble.

Expat Community: High. Croatia became the 28th European Union member state on July 1, 2013, joined the Schengen visa membership, and adopted the Euro as its currency on January 2023. Croatia has been a NATO member since 2009.

A few locals verified what we have learned over the last few months traveling around Eastern Europe–prices seem to rise rapidly when countries adopt the Euro as their currency especially when they are also a Schengen member.

Here are a few Facebook pages that cater to English-speaking expats living in Croatia: 1, 2, 3, 4. These online expat communities are great for learning all about things that expats want to learn when they first move overseas. Make sure to search for previous questions asked and answered recently before posting any questions to these groups.

Medical: High. This healthcare international comparison index ranks Croatia 53rd in the world, 16 spots better than the United States which ranks 69th. There are different ways healthcare is rated, but this one seems to be considering quality of care in relation to what patients are charged.

If you decide to move here, make sure to ask around for referrals and establish relationships with doctors based on the feedback you have gotten from others who have used their services. The above Expats Facebook pages may be a good source for that information.

Tourist Visa: High. Croatia is a member of the Schengen Visa countries. Citizens of many countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, USA, and many many others, are given 90 days in any 180-day period for time spent in any of the Schengen member countries. Before attempting to enter any Schengen member country, check to see if the electronic visa waiver program is in effect yet. It has been on hold for over a year now. We were able to fly in without applying online when we went.

Residence Permits: Medium. It depends on whether you hold an EU passport or a non-EU passport.

EU Citizens: EU citizens are entitled to live and or work in Croatia so they just need to apply for a legal temporary residence.

Citizens of Non-EU Countries: The is no residence permit specifically for non-EU citizens intending to retire in Croatia.

According to this source, there are three ways that retired people live in Croatia: (1) Prepayment of rent, (2) Owning a property, or (3) doing volunteer work. We are not discussing work permit visas here since we are talking about retirement.

Prepayment of Rent Visa: Applicants can get a one-year residence permit in Croatia by paying the rent one full year in advance. The landlord must provide a 12-month contract so you can register that address as your 1-year permitted address. You have to leave the country within 3 months after the permit expires and you can not renew it until 6 months after the contract expires.

Owning a Property: If you buy a residential property you can apply for a 1 year residence permit so long as you reside in the purchased property. This permit is renewable provided you leave Croatia for 90 days after the permit expires and you wait until 6 months after the permit expires before applying again.

Volunteering: You must be under 65 years of age and obtain a volunteer contract with a non-profit in Croatia for no longer than one year.

Here is a link with more details on all three temporary residence permits. We have not personally vetted this source so make sure to do your due diligence before using their services.

Rather than promoting any one visa agency, I would recommend that you request a referral to an agent on one of the Facebook pages I shared above. Ask the expats there for an agent (or better yet, an immigration lawyer) who they have already successfully used to get residence permits.

Real Estate: Medium. When I read about it today, foreigners are allowed to purchase real estate in Croatia. Today, I saw this small apartment for sale in Split starting for about $159k Euros $172k USD. However, I do not recommend buying real estate in a foreign country until you have lived there for an extended period of time making sure you love it. If you decide to buy real estate, you should also get your own lawyer who has no conflict of interest with you. For example, do not use a lawyer recommended by your real estate broker or your local lover.

 

Croatia Retirement Desirability Score: High. The winters are mild here as compared to other parts of Eastern Europe, so I could live here year-round without the need to fly south for the winter. I like warmer year-round weather but I don’t mind cooler weather for a few months of the year so long as it is not cold. Also, this part of the world is so beautiful I would love to live here.

What would it cost you to live here in Split Croatia?

You should also add anything to the above table that you spend money on in your home country that is not listed in the above table. Presumably, you find those things necessary in life. To do that, visit the Numbeo Split and add anything not mentioned in the above table.

Also, if you are going to try to retire cheap offshore, make sure to read my report, the Two Biggest Risks of Retiring Early for Cheap Offshore, which explains why you should have emergency funds available for unexpectedly large expenses.

Never move anywhere until you have visited first personally to verify the living costs for your lifestyle and needs. I am not guaranteeing these prices. These are just my notes and estimates from the time of my visit and this post. Your costs will likely be drastically different depending on your lifestyle and the time since this post.

Many of the expats we meet living overseas are self-insured for medical care. That means that not everyone buys health insurance when they move overseas. That probably sounds crazy to many of you.

I didn’t carry medical insurance for most of my first 17 years living overseas. But last year I bought medical insurance. If you are wondering what it costs and what it covers, watch my medical insurance video at this link. This is not an affiliate link.

More typical expat living costs in Split range from about $1500 to $3000 USD per month. But people spending that much often have higher savings, incomes, or pensions. They often report spending more on accommodations, entertainment, eating out more, traveling, and alcohol. Many also have more expensive cars, houses, or apartments.

To get a better understanding of things you should add to our estimated cost of living watch this video: 9 Reasons You Can’t Retire on $1000 Month Overseas.

Most people will likely be unable to retire for the lower range estimate above. I give example reasons why in this report. Plus, this other report explains how to avoid coming home early with your tail between your legs.

Split History and Old Town Walking

Split was founded by the Greeks in the 2nd Century BC. Five hundred years later, it was the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Later, it became part of the Republic of Venice after a struggle with the Kingdom of Croatia.

Split remained controlled by Venice even while surrounded on land by the Ottoman Empire. Then when Venice fell to Napolean in the 18th Century, Split became part of the Austrian-based Habsburg Monarchy.

Split was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from the end of World War II until Croatia won its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Google Map (Split Old Town Walking Tour)

Riva Harbor: Any tour of Split should start with a walk along the waterfront. Just walking down this street will start the relaxation of what feels like a permanent vacation. Listen to all the languages spoken by tourists from around the world.

If you had arrived by sailing vessel in 300 AD, you would be looking up at the water entrance to the Palace of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. At that time the Adriatic Sea came all the way up to the sea gate for the Palace.

Podrum (Cellars of Diocletian’s Palace): Wine and other goods shipped here from other cities around the Mediterranean would arrive at the Sea Gate of the Diocletian Palace. The goods would be unloaded through this gate into the Palace Cellar Storage.

Over the centuries, as the city grew and trade increased, land was added in front of the Palace so more ships could deliver goods to merchant stores that were established around the city. Today, the piers along the waterfront are large enough to accept passenger cruise ships visiting Split.

Diocletian’s Palace: The palace was built to protect Roman Emperor Diocletian and his citizens should any attempt to attack the growing population of citizens of Split and the garrison of Romain soldiers protecting the Palace.

So it was not only the Emperor’s residence but a fortress that could protect the Roman way of life here in 300 AD. The strength of this Palace Fortress is probably why Split was never taken by the Ottoman Empire 1300 years later when most other parts of Croatia fell.

After Rome accepted Christianity, the Mausoleum of Diocletian became the Cathedral of Saint Domnius.

Cathedral of St. Domnius: Roman Emperor Diocletian likely persecuted thousands of Christians in his life. But he built his final resting place, a mausoleum, before his death and before the Roman Empire accepted Christianity. After his death, his mausoleum became a Christian Cathedral, and his Palace protected Christians for centuries from the Ottoman Empire. The Cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the 7th Century AD.

Later, in the 12th Century AD, the Bell Tower was dedicated to the patron saint of Split, Saint Domnius.

Gregory of Nin (Grgur Ninski Statue): Gregory was the Bishop of Nin in the 10th Century who decided to start preaching the Holy Bible translated from Latin into a language the locals understood. Rome decided he was a radical because preaching was only allowed in Latin.

For this reason, Croatians consider him a patron saint of the Croatian Language and culture and he is honored here. This bronze statue of Gregory used to be in the middle of the Palace until the Italians moved it here during World War II. I guess Rome was still not happy about the Lutheran Reformation when the Bible was translated into every major language in the World. Croatians believe that if you rub Gregory of Nin’s big toe while dreaming of something, your dreams will come true.

People’s Square (Pjaca): This square was the first place that citizens lived outside the palace in the 13th Century. Since that time, the city outside the palace has grown to have about 160k citizens. Notice that the clock has 24 numerals, not the ordinary 12. That represents how the city never completely sleeps.

Fruit’s Square: For over a thousand years, this is where you would go to buy and sell fruit. Now, it is officially named Radic Brothers Square. The two brothers Stjepan and Ante Radic formed a political party that rejected Serbian leadership in Croatian government roles in the 20th Century. Fruit Square was fortified in the 15th Century by the Venetians. The octagonal tower is the Venetian architecture from that time.

Where we stayed in Split

We stayed at this Airbnb for $73 USD per night with the weekly discount before adding Airbnb fees, cleaning fees, and taxes. It was a great location but we would move further out if we had time to stay for a month or longer. Everything we needed was within walking distance and I have listed all of that below under restaurants, shopping, and services.

How we got to Split Croatia from Gdansk Poland

We flew from the Gdansk Poland Airport to Zagreb Croatia on LOT Airlines for $210 USD per person. We were planned to stay a week in Zagred before going to the beach in Croatia. But we changed our mind after we bought the non-refundable ticket to Zagreb. So we took the flight to Zagred and then a bus to Split after we landed in Zagred. It was a long day. We bought our bus tickets online at Flixbus.com for $34 USD per person. The ride was about 9 hours including a bathroom break. We used the Bolt Taxi (APP) to get to and from our Airbnb Apartments in Gdasnk and Split.

Restaurants, Bars, Markets, Services

Restaurants (Euros)

Markets and Services (Euros)