I arrived in Croatia on a crisp autumn day with a head full of daydreams.
After years of hearing whispers across digital nomad forums about Croatia’s “cheap” cost of living and the siren song of its sun-soaked coast, I wanted to see for myself: Is Croatia genuinely affordable for a remote worker, or is its budget-friendly reputation mostly a product of savvy marketing?
Armed with my laptop and an appetite for both adventure and data, I set out to live the answer.
The Hype vs. Reality
From the moment I settled into my Zagreb apartment, I noticed a paradox. Croatia does feel like a dreamy nomad haven – the pace of life is relaxed, Wi-Fi is fast, English is widely spoken, and the Adriatic lifestyle is seductive.
It’s easy to see why the country’s tourism board proudly courts remote workers. In 2021 Croatia launched a Digital Nomad Visa allowing non-EU nationals to stay for up to a year, tax-free on foreign income.
That visa initiative, combined with images of laptops perched beside medieval city walls and turquoise bays, created a buzz that Croatia was the next great bargain in Europe for remote workers.
But sitting at a cafe in Zagreb’s old town, €2 coffee in hand, I began tallying my expenses and comparing them to other nomad hotspots I’d lived in. The truth is nuanced. Croatia can be affordable – especially compared to places like London or Paris – but it’s not the rock-bottom steal some might imagine.
In fact, since adopting the euro currency in 2023, everyday prices here have risen noticeably, with inflation about 4.5% in 2024. Locals even staged a “price boycott” in early 2025 to protest cost increases, after Croatia saw some of the sharpest price jumps in the EU.
This isn’t to say Croatia has suddenly become expensive, but the gap between the perception and reality of its affordability has certainly narrowed.
To really answer the question, let’s dive into the key cost-of-living factors – accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment, and digital nomad infrastructure – and see how Croatia stacks up, with some personal anecdotes and comparisons to fellow European nomad hubs like Portugal, Greece, and Italy along the way.
City Apartments vs. Seaside Living
Like many nomads, rent was my single biggest expense in Croatia. I landed in Zagreb in the off-season (early November), hoping to snag a good deal. I found a modest one-bedroom in a century-old building right in downtown Zagreb for about €600 per month.
It was a walk-up with creaky parquet floors and no elevator – nothing fancy, but perfectly livable and close to the action. This price (~€600) is pretty typical for a one-bedroom in Zagreb’s city center. If you want something more modern or spacious, expect to pay €800–1,200 for a nicer one or two-bedroom in the center.
I quickly learned that Croatia’s booming tourist economy (and now its influx of nomads) has driven housing costs higher than I anticipated.
For comparison, I thought back to my time in Lisbon, Portugal. There, the housing crunch is even more severe: the average one-bedroom apartment in Lisbon now goes for around €1,200 a month, and that’s after a 17% surge in rents in a single year.
In Portugal’s capital, €600 would barely get you a room in a shared flat. In fact, Lisbon’s housing costs have escalated so much that the government ended its generous tax breaks for foreign residents and halted new Airbnb licenses to curb the crisis. By those standards, Zagreb felt like a bargain – I was getting a whole apartment for half the price of one in Lisbon’s city center.
Meanwhile in Athens, Greece, rents remain a bit gentler. A decent studio or small one-bedroom in central Athens might cost around €500–800 per month in a non-touristy neighborhood.
The Greek capital hasn’t seen quite the same nomad-driven price explosion as Lisbon. One digital nomad friend in Athens reported paying roughly €700 for a roomy apartment in a good area, and even local sources suggest that €1,000 a month can secure a comfortable one-bedroom in popular areas of Athens.
So, while Zagreb’s €600 flat felt reasonable, it wasn’t dramatically cheaper than Athens. It’s certainly pricier than some smaller Greek cities or towns (in laid-back Crete or Thessaloniki, you might find places for under €500).
And what about Italy? Italy’s a mixed bag. Big destinations like Rome, Milan, or Florence will blow your budget – for instance, in Rome the average one-bedroom apartment rents for a whopping €1,875 per month.
I’ve met remote workers who based themselves in Italy’s smaller towns (say, Bari or Palermo) to save money, where rents can drop to the €500–700 range, but Italy’s major hubs are generally more expensive than anything in Croatia. My €600 Zagreb apartment, with its high ceilings and peeling paint, felt like a steal next to a tiny Roman flat that might cost triple.
Even the Italian government implicitly acknowledges the cost: their newly launched digital nomad visa requires applicants to earn about €2,833 a month (roughly €34,000 a year), suggesting they know living in “la dolce vita” isn’t cheap.
Back in Croatia, I discovered there are ways to keep accommodation costs down. Timing is crucial. As a local blog warned, if you come in peak summer and only stay a month, you’ll spend a lot.
In coastal hotspots like Split or Dubrovnik, landlords can charge summer tourists extortionate short-term rates – think €2,000 a month or more for a little apartment by the sea, which is nowhere near “affordable.”
However, if you commit to a longer stay or arrive in the off-season, prices plummet. Many nomads (myself included) leverage this by renting during winter or signing 3-6 month contracts.
For example, in Split I met a couple who secured a modern one-bedroom for about €500/month by renting November through April – a fraction of the summer price.
Location also matters. Zagreb is generally the most cost-effective big city year-round, since it’s less touristy than the coast. My local contacts pointed out that in Zagreb’s well-connected outskirts, you can find two-bedroom apartments for €400–500.
Indeed, neighborhoods just outside the center (like Trešnjevka or Maksimir) offer better deals, and something as low as €350 for a studio is possible if you go far from the center or to smaller towns.
By contrast, Split and Dubrovnik tend to mirror Zagreb’s prices in the low season and exceed them in high season. One global cost-of-living index even noted that you can rent a one-bedroom in Split or Dubrovnik’s center for around $500 (~~€460) a month off-season, or as low as $380 (€350) outside the center – figures that match the lower end I saw in winter listings.
The key phrase is “off-season.” Come summer, those same apartments might go for several times more to weekly tourists.
All told, I’d rate Croatian housing costs as moderate for Europe. They’re higher than in some parts of Greece or Eastern Europe, but still far below the likes of London, Paris, or even Lisbon’s current frenzy.
The real affordability test comes from how you navigate it: use local rental sites (like Njuskalo) and avoid the inflated expat-oriented agencies, consider longer stays, and be mindful of the seasonal swings.
I learned this the hard way after nearly booking a short-term seaside rental in July – the price for one month was what a local might pay in six! Marketing materials tend to gloss over this nuance, but it’s crucial. Croatia rewards those who slow down and stay a while.
Food & Dining
Every travel story of mine seems to revolve around food, and Croatia was no exception. Each morning I’d wander Zagreb’s Dolac Market, filling a tote bag with fresh produce and local cheese, feeling very much like a frugal local – until I did the math.
Groceries in Croatia are not the ultra-cheap bounty one might expect from a “former Eastern Bloc” country (a stereotype that lingers unfairly). In fact, grocery prices have crept up to near Western European levels in recent years. The government even stepped in with price caps on staples in 2023 to combat inflation.
On average, I found myself spending around €300 per month on groceries for one person who cooks most meals at home. That figure aligns with local advice that a single, cooking at home and not being overly indulgent, will still spend roughly €300 monthly on food.
For two people, a middle-of-the-road grocery budget is about €400 per month. Is that affordable? Well, it’s certainly less than what I used to spend in London, but not dramatically different from my grocery bills in Spain or Italy.
Everyday items in Croatian supermarkets – milk (~€1/L), bread (€1.5 a loaf), eggs (€2.5–3 per dozen), chicken (€5–6 per kilo) – are on par with prices in Greece or Portugal. The days of super cheap eats here are gone; by 2025, locals noted food costs are comparable to the UK or USA for many items.
However, the quality is excellent, especially if you shop at farmers markets. I splurged on seasonal cherries and locally pressed olive oil, and it was worth every kuna (er, euro – still getting used to the new currency!).
Just beware: not everything at the “local market” is a bargain – off-season or imported fruits can cost a pretty penny (I gaped at a papaya priced around €4). Eating healthily or indulging in imported almond milk will definitely push your budget higher.
My recommendation for nomads: cook with the seasons. I adjusted my diet to what was abundant (and cheap) each month – figs and tomatoes in late summer, hearty root veggies in winter.
Dining out in Croatia splits into two realities. Casual eats and local joints are quite affordable, but anything geared toward tourists (or in a prime old-town location) can be pricey.
For a quick bite, you can grab a ćevapi (grilled meat sandwich) or a slice of pizza for €5–€8 and be totally satisfied. A fast-food meal is about €6 on average. There’s also the ubiquitous burek, a delicious pastry, which costs just a couple of euros and can singlehandedly power a morning of work.
At everyday konobas (family-run restaurants) away from tourist areas, I often paid €8–€12 for a main dish – for example, a plate of risotto or grilled fish in a non-touristy town might be €10. These are the places where you’ll see Croatian families dining, and the value is fantastic.
On the flip side, trendy restaurants or coastal spots can approach Western European prices. In Zagreb, a mid-range meal (say, three courses or a nice sushi dinner) set me back about €20 per person without drinks.
Along the Adriatic coast, restaurants in Split or Dubrovnik charge more – easily €20+ for an entrée and much more if you’re having seafood with a view of the old city walls. I recall a dinner for two in Dubrovnik’s historic center: two mains, a shared starter, and local wine – the bill was around 500 kuna (approximately €65).
It made me gulp, but then again, Dubrovnik in summer is an outlier in many ways (heavily tourist-oriented, and you pay a premium for those Game of Thrones vistas). As a rule of thumb, Zagreb dining is 10-20% cheaper than on the coast for equivalent fare.
In contrast, Portugal once had a reputation for very cheap dining, but that’s changing. In Lisbon these days, a “mid-range” restaurant will cost at least €20 per person as well, much like Croatia, and perhaps more for international cuisines.
One shocker: Lisbon’s famous cafés used to sell a coffee and pastry for under €3, but prices have crept up; my last galão (latte) there was €2.50 – more than I often pay in Zagreb. Greece, meanwhile, still offers great value in local tavernas. In Athens or Thessaloniki, you can sit down to a hearty meal of grilled souvlaki, salad, and wine for well under €15 each.
In fact, a main dish at a normal restaurant in Athens runs about €8–13, noticeably cheaper than the €15–20 you’d pay in a comparable Croatian restaurant.
I fondly recall Athens meals where the owner would throw in free dessert or raki, all for a modest sum. So in terms of dining, I’d say Croatia’s affordability is middling: not as dirt-cheap as Greece’s local eateries, but generally less expensive than eating out in tourist-heavy parts of Italy or the trendier spots in Portugal.
One area Croatia absolutely excels: coffee culture. As a remote worker, I spend a lot of time in cafes, and here my kuna (er, euro) went far. A standard coffee (espresso or Americano) in a Zagreb café averages just €2.00. Even a fancy latte with oat milk tops out around €2.50 – a steal compared to the €4+ I’ve begrudgingly paid in London or the €3.50 in central Lisbon.
I could linger for hours nursing a single coffee and strong Wi-Fi, which many cafes offer for free. On the coast, coffee does get a “tourist tax” – I learned to avoid having my afternoon cappuccino right on Dubrovnik’s Stradun (main street) after one cost me €4.50.
But just a block away, a local kafana charged half that. Italy might be the only place that beats Croatia in coffee value: in Rome or Milan, an espresso at the bar is still often €1, and a cappuccino around €1.50 – a cultural artifact of Italy’s love affair with coffee.
So yes, Italy wins on the absolute cheapest caffeine fix, but Croatia’s cafe prices are comfortably low by global standards and come with that inviting, sit-as-long-as-you-like atmosphere.
What about drinks and nightlife? I’m more of a craft beer person than a nightclubber, but I dabbled. In local pubs, a large draft beer (0.5L) in Zagreb is ~€3 – music to my ears (and wallet), since I’ve paid €5–7 in many EU capitals. A glass of local wine might be €4.
These everyday prices are similar to Greece (Athens might charge €4–5 for wine or cocktails at a basic bar) and definitely cheaper than in Lisbon, where I routinely shelled out €6 for a craft beer.
The discrepancy appears when you hit the more exclusive venues: for instance, I treated myself one night at a chic beach bar on Hvar island – the same Croatian beer that was €3 in a Zagreb café was €8 there, and a cocktail was €15 (resort pricing at its finest).
It reminded me of ordering a cocktail in Venice or a rooftop in Lisbon – your surroundings heavily influence the cost.
Overall, if you stick to local taverns and avoid the tourist traps, entertainment and dining in Croatia can be very affordable. But if you want high-end or tourist-zone experiences, be prepared: Croatia knows its worth and charges accordingly in those scenarios.
Getting Around on a Nomad Budget
One pleasant surprise in Croatia was how little I spent on getting around. In Zagreb, I rarely needed anything beyond my own two feet and the tram system.
The city is extremely walkable, and when I did hop on a tram, it was cheap – a 30-minute ticket costs just €0.53. I often bought an all-day pass on days I wanted to explore further neighborhoods; that set me back a grand total of €3.98 for unlimited rides.
For a capital city, that’s a fantastic deal (compare that to, say, a €7 daily transit ticket in Berlin, or €15 in London). In Split and other cities, public buses are similarly inexpensive – about €1–2 per ride.
Public transit in Croatia isn’t as extensive as in bigger European metros, but it’s reliable where it exists. Zagreb’s tram network covers the city well, and other cities have decent bus systems.
Truthfully, many coastal towns are small enough that you won’t need transport at all – I could stroll across Split or Zadar in half an hour. When I did need to go farther or was feeling lazy, ride-hailing apps (Uber and Bolt) are available in major areas, and they were reasonably priced. A 15-minute Uber across Zagreb cost me around €5-6, which I found fair.
For longer distances, Croatia has a robust bus network. I became quite familiar with the Zagreb–Split route, often using the affordable intercity buses. A one-way bus ticket from Zagreb to Split (a journey of 5-6 hours) runs about €25 if booked in advance.
Companies like FlixBus even offer modern coaches with Wi-Fi at times, making those coastal weekend getaways feasible on a budget. By contrast, the trains in Croatia are slower and not as popular (I took one train trip to Slovenia – it was scenic but took ages).
Given the geography (mountains, islands), buses or ferries are the way to go. Ferry tickets between islands are also affordable (e.g. Split to Hvar passenger ferry was about €8 when I went).
When I compare this to other countries: Portugal has cheap buses too, but internal flights or trains can be pricier. A fast train from Lisbon to Porto, for example, can cost €30-40, whereas a Zagreb to Split bus was €25 for a similar distance.
Greece has dirt-cheap intercity buses (KTEL buses) – I once paid under €20 for a 5-hour Athens-Thessaloniki ride – but island ferries in Greece can get expensive in summer (€50+ for a high-speed to Santorini). Croatia’s ferry system, on the other hand, felt reasonable (my ferry to Brač island was like €6).
Italy’s transport costs vary: local city buses are cheap (Rome’s metro is €1.50 a ride), but Italy’s high-speed trains are expensive (€60 from Rome to Milan). Croatia, having no high-speed trains and a smaller scale, avoids that category entirely.
One extra I budget for as a nomad is weekend trips to other countries. Here, Zagreb’s location shined. It’s a hub in Central Europe, and I found ridiculously cheap flights – I flew to Rome for €30 round-trip in the spring, and to Berlin for €40, courtesy of budget airlines.
Low-cost carriers connect Croatia to the rest of Europe, especially off-season, making side trips tempting. Lisbon and Athens also have good connectivity (Lisbon in particular is a flight hub to Europe and beyond), but flights from Croatia surprised me by how low they could go in shoulder seasons.
It’s not directly a cost-of-living factor, but it affects the overall value for a nomad who wants to explore.
If you prefer having your own wheels, know that gasoline in Croatia costs around €1.40 per liter (roughly $6.30/gallon), in line with European norms (i.e., expensive for Americans, normal for Europeans).
I rented a car with a friend for a countryside road trip; the rental was about €30/day in the off-season (not bad split between us), but in summer those rates double or triple.
So, while I wouldn’t call Croatia a driver’s paradise cost-wise, you hardly need a car unless you’re going far off the beaten path.
Perhaps the most fun transport option I used was electric scooters, widely available in Zagreb. For those last-mile trips or just zipping to a meeting across town, scooters cost a couple of euros per ride. It’s comparable to other cities that have them (like Lisbon or Athens).
Public bike systems also exist in some towns, often free for the first 30 minutes. All told, getting around within Croatia didn’t put a dent in my wallet. Public transport and regional travel here remain very affordable, aligning nicely with the country’s image.
If anything, the marketing didn’t emphasize this enough: they love to show idyllic images of sailing and road-tripping (which are great but can cost more), whereas the real day-to-day win is the ability to move around cheaply.
On a €38 monthly transit pass in Zagreb, I had unlimited trams – compare that to €40-50 in many Western capitals.
Athens, to its credit, is similarly cheap (a monthly city transport card there was around €30 when I last checked, and a 90-minute ticket just €1.40). Lisbon costs a bit more (€40 for a monthly pass), and Milan or Barcelona are closer to €35-40 as well.
So Croatia is on par with Europe’s best in this category. No hyperbole here – the affordability of getting around is real and lovely.
Living the Good Life
What’s the point of being a digital nomad in a beautiful country if you can’t enjoy life there, right?
Croatia offers plenty to do, often at low or no cost, which is where it truly earns some of its hype as a nomad-friendly place.
My weekdays might have been spent in front of a screen, but come evenings and weekends, I was out exploring – from local gyms to live music to island hopping – all on a reasonable budget.
I’m one of those remote workers who needs a gym to stay sane. In Zagreb, I joined a fitness center in the business district for about €40 a month, which is pretty standard.
Some cheaper, no-frills gyms exist for ~€30, and high-end ones (with pools, classes, etc.) might be €50-60. This is in line with much of Europe – in Lisbon I paid €35 at a low-cost gym; in Athens the average is around €45. One thing I loved: Croatia’s outdoor lifestyle.
In nicer months, I often jogged in city parks or along the coast for free, or joined locals in public sports courts. Zagreb’s Jarun Lake, for instance, is an awesome spot where you can bike, skate or kayak without spending much.
Croatia’s nightlife can be as thrifty or lavish as you desire. On one hand, you have local taverns and craft beer bars where a night out might be just a few beers at €3 each – a €10 evening and some great conversation.
On the other, you have swanky beach clubs in Hvar or yacht parties in Dubrovnik that cater to the jet-set (not my usual scene, but I peeked in out of curiosity) – those can burn through €100 in an evening easily with cover charges and €15 cocktails.
I mostly stuck to casual fun: live music at a hole-in-the-wall bar with €4 glasses of wine, or summer street festivals that were free entry. Zagreb has a burgeoning arts and music scene; many events, especially outside of peak summer, are either free or very cheap.
I saw an open-air jazz concert in autumn for €0 (just had to buy a drink), and a museum night where all museums were free. Even a regular movie ticket is only about €7.50, which undercuts prices in the US or UK for sure.
When I went to see a film in Split’s cinema, it was around 55 kuna (€7) – slightly cheaper than my local cinema in Athens, which charged about €8-9.
Theater performances or opera in Zagreb can range from €15 and up – again, quite affordable compared to Western Europe (I once paid €50 for a decent seat at a play in London; in Zagreb, €20 got me excellent seats at the national theater).
For local experiences, Croatia shines. Many of the best leisure activities are natural or cultural wonders that cost little. Hiking up Marjan Hill in Split, swimming in the Adriatic, exploring medieval hilltop villages – these were free. National parks like Plitvice or Krka do have entrance fees, but even those are modest (around €10-30 depending on season).
I visited Plitvice Lakes in October for about €10 (off-season rate), which was an absolute bargain for the jaw-dropping scenery. By contrast, when I visited Portugal’s popular Benagil caves, I had to pay for a boat tour about €30; in Croatia, I could independently explore many sights cheaply.
Greece has a mix – some archeological sites cost €20+ (the Acropolis of Athens is €20, for example), but many lesser-known ruins are free or a few euros. Italy’s big attractions (Colosseum, Uffizi, etc.) also tend to be more expensive than anything in Croatia.
What about just plain fun? Like going out dancing or to clubs – in Zagreb, the nightlife is more low-key than, say, Ibiza (obviously), but there are clubs with €5-10 entry fees, and drinks inside are similar to bar prices.
One night, a group of us nomads went to a popular nightclub in Zagreb’s Tkalčićeva street area – no cover charge that night, beers €3, and we danced till 3 am without feeling robbed.
In Split’s summer party scene, some clubs charged a €10 cover and higher drink prices, but if you’re female or arrive early, oftentimes you skip the cover.
Honestly, if you party moderately and stick to local spots, Croatia’s nightlife won’t strain your budget.
One line item on my leisure budget is weekend trips and excursions. Being in Croatia tempts you to explore its islands, mountains, and neighboring countries. I did a sailing day-trip (work hard, play hard!) which cost about €60 for a whole day with lunch – not cheap, but a fair price for a special outing.
A comparable day sailing in Greece’s Aegean was quoted at €80, and in Italy’s Amalfi Coast a boat tour could be €100+, so I felt I got good value in Croatia.
Many simpler pleasures were virtually free: taking a ferry to a nearby island for a few euros and hiking around, or renting a bicycle in Zagreb for the afternoon at €1/hour.
Gyms, nightlife, cultural events, outdoor adventures – I found Croatia to offer great quality of life at reasonable cost.
It’s certainly possible to overspend (some nomads get lured into the luxury side of Dubrovnik or the music festival scene – Ultra Europe in Split can dent your wallet, with festival tickets and pricey accommodation).
But those are choices. The baseline lifestyle – keeping fit, socializing, enjoying nature – is very accessible on a modest budget. This is one area where I think Croatia’s marketing rings true: you really can enjoy a rich life on relatively little money here, especially compared to glitzier locales.
For context, in Lisbon I recall budgeting more for fun: entry to popular nightlife venues €15+, cocktails €8-10, surf lessons €30, etc.
In Athens, many things were similarly low-cost as Croatia (Greece is also great for free beaches and cheap tavernas), although Athens is a huge city so there’s more temptation to spend on events, shopping, etc.
Italy was often hardest on my wallet for leisure – a night out in Rome or clubbing in Milan, forget it, I’d easily spend double what I do in Zagreb. And Italy’s gyms or yoga classes were also a bit more (I paid €50/month in Florence for a gym).
In summary, Croatia passes the leisure affordability test with flying colors for a nomad like me. The country’s selling point of an excellent quality of life without West European prices holds up .
You get a lot of bang for your buck – whether that’s relaxing in a café, climbing an ancient fortress, or mingling at a co-working event with fellow nomads (often over cheap beers).
Digital Nomad Infrastructure
No evaluation of a digital nomad destination is complete without looking at the nuts and bolts that make remote work feasible: internet connectivity, work-friendly spaces, visa formalities, and the all-important community and networking scene.
On these fronts, I found Croatia to be generally excellent – with a few caveats and comparisons worth noting.
Let’s start with Wi-Fi and internet reliability. The very first morning in my Zagreb apartment, I ran a speed test while joining a video meeting. The result? 90 Mbps download on fiber – more than enough for my needs.
In Croatia’s cities and tourist areas, broadband is widely available and fast. Officially, average internet speeds are over 70–100 Mbps in urban areas, putting Croatia on par with much of Western Europe. In fact, a recent report noted Zagreb’s internet is “pretty impressive, over 70 Mbps”, and I can confirm I rarely had any connectivity issues.
Mobile data coverage is also solid – I grabbed a local SIM card with 10 GB data for around €11, and had 4G (sometimes 5G) almost everywhere I traveled, even on some islands. This is a huge plus because, for instance, some Greek islands I visited had spotty internet, and even parts of rural Portugal struggled with connectivity.
Greece’s average internet speed is notably lower (around 56 Mbps), which aligns with my experience that outside Athens, Wi-Fi could be hit or miss. Italy’s internet has improved and I didn’t have issues in major cities, but in smaller Italian towns I occasionally encountered slow DSL connections.
Croatia, by contrast, has invested in telecom infrastructure and it shows – even many small towns have decent internet, as long as you have a SIM or a cafe with Wi-Fi.
One quirky anecdote: I was working from a café in a coastal village on Hvar island – population maybe 3,000 – and I still pulled 50 Mbps on my connection while gazing at the Adriatic.
That felt like peak digital nomad bliss. The country has truly embraced the need for connectivity; even the tourism board advertises the number of free Wi-Fi hotspots.
I will say, during peak summer in very touristy spots, networks can get congested (I had a couple of sluggish Zoom calls in Dubrovnik – but there were cruise ships in town dumping thousands of users onto the cell towers).
Generally, though, Croatia’s Wi-Fi reliability exceeded my expectations, and edges out some competitors like Greece in this department.
Now, coworking spaces. When I first arrived, I wondered if Croatia – relatively new on the nomad scene – would have many coworking options. It does, and the number is growing rapidly.
In Zagreb, I toured at least three coworking spaces: Impact Hub Zagreb, a boutique space called BIZkoshnica, and a larger trendy spot called HUB385. Each had its own vibe – Impact Hub felt startup-y and mission-driven, BIZkoshnica was cozy and community-oriented, and HUB385 was a big tech hub with events.
The costs ranged from around €120 to €180 per month for a hot desk when I inquired, which is quite reasonable. In fact, one cost-of-living index cited €100–200 monthly for coworking in Zagreb, which matches what I saw. This is cheaper than many Western cities (coworking in London or New York can be $300+).
It’s roughly on par with Lisbon, where I found spots for ~€150/month, and a bit less than top-end spaces in Barcelona or Berlin. In Athens, coworking also falls in the €150–250 range, so Croatia is competitive.
Where Croatia might lag is outside the main hubs – coworking spaces are plentiful in Zagreb and along the Dalmatian coast (Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar each have a few now), but if you fancy a remote island or rural life, you won’t find formal coworking there (understandably).
However, many cafes are very work-friendly. I often worked from cafes with my laptop; nobody batted an eye as long as I bought a coffee. In fact, I compiled a list of “laptop-friendly” cafes in Zagreb (there’s even a local guide for that) and rotated through them for a change of scenery. Free Wi-Fi + €2 coffee + a table by the window = my remote office.
This informal coworking culture – using cafes – is strong in Croatia, much like in Portugal. Italy, by contrast, often discourages lingering in cafes with laptops (Italians drink coffee quickly and go), whereas Croatians enjoy their coffee breaks and don’t mind sitting a while. I’d say the atmosphere in Croatia is welcoming for remote workers; I was seldom the only person with a MacBook in a cafe.
Next, visa policy. For non-EU nomads, this is a big one. Croatia’s much-publicized Digital Nomad Residence Permit (often called a visa) is indeed a game-changer. I went through this process myself (I’m from the U.S.), and it was refreshingly straightforward: an online application, proof of income, background check, and a few weeks of waiting.
The visa allows up to 12 months of residence with no local income tax due on your remote earnings. That tax break is huge – it means you don’t pay Croatian tax on your salary, which is a clear perk over, say, working from Portugal or Spain long-term (where you’d eventually be taxed).
Croatia essentially says, “come spend your money here, but keep paying tax back home (or not at all) – we won’t double dip.” Portugal’s approach was to lure folks with a flat 20% tax via its now-sunset NHR scheme (and they require a higher income, about €3,280/month minimum). Greece’s nomad visa similarly requires a high income (around €3,500/month minimum) but offers a 50% tax break for up to 7 years on Greek income tax.
Italy finally rolled out a nomad visa in 2024 with an income requirement roughly €2,500–3,000/month and some tax incentives, but it has more bureaucracy and you still pay some taxes there.
By comparison, Croatia’s income requirement was around €2,200/month initially and has adjusted to roughly €2,540/month in 2025 (they peg it to 2.5× the average salary). So the bar to qualify is a bit lower than Portugal’s or Greece’s.
I met several remote workers (Americans, South Africans, etc.) who chose Croatia partly because it was one of the easiest European nomad visas to get and came with that enticing tax exemption.
That said, one drawback: Croatia’s visa is not renewable consecutively – you must leave for 90 days after a year before you can apply again. It’s designed for temporary stays, not a backdoor to permanent residency. Portugal’s and Greece’s visas can convert into longer-term residency permits (with pathways to citizenship if one stays years).
It’s a trade-off: Croatia is a great medium-term base, but not (yet) the place to settle indefinitely under the nomad visa. However, for the span of time you are in-country, life is made easy.
Registering my residency with local authorities was painless (the officials in Zagreb even had a special line for nomad visa holders – we’re a known species now).
Finally, let’s talk community. This is perhaps the most “narrative” part of my experience – the human side of being a nomad in Croatia. When I arrived, I wondered if I’d find a thriving digital nomad community or be a lone ranger.
I was pleasantly surprised. In Zagreb, I tapped into a Digital Nomads Croatia Facebook group and found weekly meetups at different bars. The first meetup I attended, at a craft beer bar in the trendy Martićeva street, drew about 30 people – a mix of expats, remote corporate workers, freelance creatives, and even some local Croatians who enjoy hanging with the international crowd.
Instantly, I felt welcomed. People swapped tips on everything from the best SIM card deals to which hiking trails to hit on weekends. There’s also a Digital Nomad Association (DNA) Croatia that hosts events and provides resources.
When I was there, they were preparing for a “Digital Nomad Week” in Zadar, with workshops and networking – yes, a whole week dedicated to nomads! (Apparently Zadar hosted one in 2024.)
On the coast, the community is a bit more transient but still present. Split has co-working spaces that organize social events, and I stumbled into a meetup at a co-working called WESPA Spaces – a beautiful, modern space where a dozen nomads were co-cooking (yes, they had a kitchen event) and sharing a meal.
Dubrovnik, famous as it is, actually ran a “Digital Nomads in Residence” program in 2021, trying to adjust to off-season by bringing in nomads to help shape city offerings. So the government and tourist boards are actively courting the community.
I met a local entrepreneur in Split who proudly told me he’s opening a coliving space tailored for remote workers. All these anecdotes to say: the digital nomad community in Croatia is growing and quite tight-knit.
It’s not as massive as in Lisbon or Bali, but it’s enthusiastic. And crucially, locals are generally friendly and speak good English, so integration is easier.
Comparatively, Lisbon and Chiang Mai are often touted as nomad-meccas with huge communities, but in Lisbon lately some locals are pushing back (blaming nomads for gentrification).
I didn’t sense such resentment in Croatia – perhaps because the scale is smaller and the government set clear income requirements to ensure nomads contribute economically.
Greece is catching up, with Athens now on nomad radars and some meetups, but the community felt younger in Croatia’s case (figuratively and literally – it’s a new scene with people excited to shape it).
Italy is still nascent as a nomad destination; unless you’re in hubs like Milan or Rome, you might feel more isolated as a remote worker (though I hear places like Palermo and Bologna are starting initiatives).
One more infrastructural win for Croatia: almost everyone I dealt with, from landlords to baristas to officials, spoke enough English to make life easy.
The level of English proficiency is impressively high (a legacy of tourism and good education), which isn’t always true in Spain or Italy once you venture beyond cities.
This intangible factor makes a big difference day-to-day – you don’t feel the friction of language barriers as you set up your life.
To paint a picture of a typical day: I might start at a coworking space (picture a modern office with fast Wi-Fi, good coffee, and a mix of locals and foreigners typing away).
Midday, I take a break at a nearby cafe, chatting with a fellow nomad I bumped into (because by week 2, Zagreb feels like a small world – you start recognizing the same faces at the cool cafés).
After work, perhaps a nomad meetup or a networking event the tourist board organized. These kinds of interactions made my experience richer and told me that Croatia isn’t just coasting on a marketing image; it’s actively cultivating a hospitable environment for us remote workers.
Comparing Croatia with Portugal, Greece, and Italy
Let’s step back and put it all together. Croatia clearly has some genuine advantages for the cost-conscious digital nomad, but how does it stack up overall against similar European destinations?
Overall Cost of Living
Several indices and my own budget tracking place Zagreb’s monthly expenses at around €1,100–€1,300 for a nomad (rent, utilities, food, basic leisure).
This is lower than what I’d budget in Lisbon (which, these days, might easily be €1,500+ for a similar lifestyle) and roughly on par with Athens (I’d estimate €1,200 there for a comparable setup).
A 2024 cost-of-living index indeed ranked Zagreb among Europe’s most affordable capitals for remote workers. Portugal’s rising rents have made it less of the bargain it once was – a single person in Porto or Lisbon now might need €1,300–€1,800/month.
Greece remains quite budget-friendly in terms of daily expenses (Athens average living cost without rent is ~$880, meaning with rent perhaps ~$1,400), though if you choose a Greek island, costs can inflate seasonally.
Italy varies widely, but major cities demand a bigger budget (Rome’s own guide said you need about €2,200 monthly to live comfortably there, though outside the big cities you could live on much less).
Accommodation
Croatia’s rent prices surprised me by how much they’ve increased, but they’re still generally less than Portugal’s hot markets and Italy’s cities. €600 for a Zagreb one-bedroom vs. €1,200 Lisbon vs. €500-700 Athens vs. €1,800 Rome – Croatia comes out looking reasonable.
If you venture to smaller Croatian towns, you might undercut even Greek city rents (imagine €350 in rural Croatia vs similar or a bit more in rural Greece).
However, one must remember the seasonality: coastal Croatia in summer is the worst for rent affordability – in that period, Portugal and Greece (Lisbon, Athens) might actually be cheaper places to rent because they don’t have as extreme a tourist season spike.
Food
Day-to-day grocery and restaurant costs in Croatia and Portugal are quite similar now; neither is super cheap, but both can be moderate with local choices. Greece likely wins for cheapest dining out (I still dream of €2.50 gyros wraps and €1.50 bakery pies in Athens).
Italy’s food costs can swing high or low – groceries in Italy are fairly priced (perhaps even cheaper for some produce, Italy being an agricultural haven), but eating out can be pricier, especially in tourist centers.
Example: a basic meal in a non-touristy Croatian or Portuguese spot €8-10; in Athens €8; in an average Italian trattoria maybe €12-15. Coffee we compared: Italy’s the cheapest, Croatia next, Greece and Portugal slightly more for specialty coffee.
Beer and wine: all four countries have decent prices, but Portugal and Croatia produce a lot of wine and beer themselves, keeping local alcohol costs low (I recall wine being a bit more in Greece due to taxation).
Transport
Croatia’s local transport is cheap and intercity travel is moderate. In Portugal, local transport is also affordable (Lisbon’s monthly pass ~€40), and intercity buses/trains a bit more.
Greece has cheap city transport (Athens monthly ~€30, yes) and inexpensive buses, but island hopping can cost more. Italy’s local transit in cities like Rome/Milan is under €40/month too, but their petrol and tolls are expensive if driving.
None of these countries make transport a budget buster, but Croatia’s small size and cheap city fares give it an edge for intra-country movement. Plus, flights from Croatia are as cheap as from Portugal these days thanks to low-cost carriers, so travel beyond is equally feasible.
Internet and Work Infrastructure
Croatia and Portugal both excel in internet speeds (Portugal even more so in Lisbon – some of the fastest in the world at 200+ Mbps average, though 100+ in Croatia is more than fine).
Greece lags on internet speeds outside big cities, which could matter if you dream of a Greek island base (where you might have to rely on 4G). Italy’s internet is region-dependent but generally decent now, albeit not Portugal-level.
Coworking availability is greatest in Portugal (Lisbon/Porto have dozens of spaces and coliving setups) and growing in Croatia and Greece.
Italy is coming along but slower in that department (they only recently started talking about attracting nomads).
Visa and Bureaucracy
Here’s where Croatia’s marketing and reality align well. The nomad visa is straightforward and welcoming.
Portugal’s D8 (nomad visa) is more bureaucratic and requires higher income, though it offers a path to residency.
Greece’s requires highest income and you still have to navigate Greek bureaucracy (notoriously slow).
Italy’s visa is so new I haven’t met anyone who’s done it yet, but Italy’s bureaucracy has a reputation, and the income threshold is similar to Croatia’s if not a bit higher.
In short, Croatia’s visa is one of the easiest in Europe at the moment, making it very attractive for a year-long adventure. Plus, no local income tax on that visa is a sweetener – Portugal and Greece will tax you (Portugal at 15-20%, Greece effectively at 22% but halved for some years).
Community and Lifestyle
Subjectively, Portugal’s Lisbon probably has the largest, most established digital nomad community in Europe.
But some say it’s become a bit saturated – when every cafe is full of remote workers, it can feel less special, and the influx has driven up prices, causing some local friction.
Greece’s community is smaller but growing; Athens and some islands (e.g. Crete) are beginning to host nomad events. Italy’s nomad scene is not as cohesive – you’ll find plenty of expats and remote workers in, say, Milan or along the Amalfi coast seasonally, but not the same “nomad hub” feel.
Croatia, for its size, punches above its weight: with coordinated efforts like meetups, Nomadbase conferences coming to the country, and official support, it feels like an emerging hub where you can still have a tight-knit network.
I personally loved that it wasn’t too crowded with nomads; it felt like we kind of knew each other, yet I could also easily befriend locals.
So is Croatia truly affordable or just clever marketing? The verdict, in my view, is that Croatia is indeed relatively affordable – especially for digital nomads earning a Western salary – but it’s not the ultra-bargain it’s sometimes portrayed to be.
The marketing is partly riding on old notions (that Eastern Europe is cheap, that post-communist countries cost less) and on specific scenarios (off-season, long-term stays).
When those conditions are met, Croatia can feel like a steal: I lived very comfortably on less than $1,500 a month, with a quality of life that included café living, weekend trips, and beachfront sunsets.
However, if a nomad drops in for July and August expecting rock-bottom costs, they’ll be shocked – coastal Croatia in summer can devour money as hungrily as Ibiza or Capri.
In many ways, Croatia is playing in the same league as Portugal and Greece for nomads: all three offer a compelling mix of lifestyle, culture, and fairly low costs by European Union standards.
Italy is perhaps a notch above in cost (and complexity), appealing for other reasons (cuisine, culture, you name it) but not typically chosen for savings. What sets Croatia apart is that it’s still a bit undiscovered and eager to please.
The government’s proactive steps – easy visa, tax exemption, promoting nomad tourism – suggest this isn’t just a passing fad for them but a strategic direction. As a result, the experience on the ground is of a place that values your presence and tries to make it easy to live and work there.
The trick is to understand the nuances behind the marketing: yes, you can live affordably here, just mind the seasonality, integrate with local ways, and take advantage of the very real perks (fast internet, friendly community, safe and beautiful surroundings).
In doing so, I discovered that the “clever marketing” is grounded in quite a bit of truth. Croatia can be as affordable and rewarding as advertised, provided you know how to navigate the fine print.
In the end, as I packed up to move on to my next destination, I realized Croatia had given me something invaluable: a reminder that quality of life isn’t just about spending less, but about what you get for what you spend.
And in Croatia, I got a whole lot. Authentic experiences, a supportive network, and a European lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of Western capitals, that’s the real deal. Marketing hype or not, I’d call that a win for any digital nomad’s journey.