Croatia is a country located in southeastern Europe and bordered by Slovenia and Hungary to the north, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the east. Croatia is a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, NATO, the World Trade Organization and, since 1 July 2013, of the European Union. As an economy, it is classified as a developing country.
The population according to the latest data is 3 888 529 inhabitants.
Croatia is a country with beautiful scenery and with its coastal towns, historical sites and rich traditions it is a very popular tourist destination. The country is in the top 25 countries with the most islands, a total of 718, of which 48 are inhabited.
Wages play a key role in the daily life of Croats, influencing the standard of living and economic development of different regions.
If you are considering moving or working in Croatia, it is important to find out what to expect from your salaries, taxes and living expenses.
Minimum wage
According to the local government, the official minimum wage in Croatia in 2023 is 700 euros. For comparison, in Croatia’s neighbouring Montenegro, the minimum wage is set at 532.5 euros per month, while in Serbia they earn at least 340 euros. After taxes and social security contributions, the minimum wage in Croatia is 560 euros.
Average salary
According to official data, the average salary in Croatia in 2023 is 1,499 euros per month. After paying taxes and social security contributions, 1094 euros are available. The average hourly wage in Croatia is 8.41 euros (gross) and 6.14 euros (net).
The highest average monthly net salary in Croatia was reported in the category “Air transport” – 1685 euros, and the lowest in the category “Other activities in the field of personal services” – 748 euros.
Distribution of wages by occupation
The amount of salary in Croatia varies depending on the profession. The highest salaries are earned in the fields of technology, healthcare and finance. Average wages are earned in services and trade. The lowest salaries are received in the field of agriculture and tourism.
Here are some concrete examples of salaries in different professions in Croatia gross per month:
Programmer: 2.000-3.000 €
Financier: 1.500-2.500 €
Doctor: 5.000-7.000 €
Teacher: 1.000-1.500 €
Dentist: 1.300-1.500 €
Service worker: 700-900 €
In production: 800-850 €
Distribution of wages by region
The amount of salary also varies depending on the region. The highest salaries are received in the capital Zagreb. Average salaries are earned in other major cities, such as Rijeka, Split and Osijek. The lowest wages are earned in rural areas.
At the same time, coastal regions where tourism is more developed may also offer high incomes in some sectors.
Payroll taxes in Croatia
Croatia has a well-developed tax system. Taxes are levied on all residents of the country, as such are citizens who have a home in the country or are physically present in Croatia more than 182 days a year. Residents of Croatia are required to pay taxes on all types of income, regardless of the country in which they are received. The tax return is submitted to the tax authority every year in February.
According to Article 19 of the Croatian Income Tax Act, the annual tax bases and income tax rates are shown as follows:
The basic rate of the tax is 22% up to 40,000 euros. For people with incomes over 40.000 euros, the rate is increased to 45%.
Cost of living
The cost of living in Croatia is lower than in most other European Union countries and is determined by the prices of housing, food, transport and other factors. Cities and tourist areas often have higher costs compared to smaller provincial areas.
Here are some examples of common costs in Croatia:
One-bedroom apartment outside the city center: € 200.00 – € 600.00
Expenditure on food, groceries and restaurants:
Cheap restaurant: € 5 – € 13.00
Beer Heineken : €1.19 – 0.33 liters
Coca-Cola/Pepsi: € 1.05 – 0.5 liters
1L milk: € 1.33
Bread: € 0.65 – € 1.45
12 eggs: € 2.90
1 kg chicken : € 3.20
1 kg beef: € 9.59
1 kg tomatoes : € 2.69
1 kg white rice: € 2.00
For transport:
One-way ticket (local transport): € 0.50 – € 2.00
Internet:
Epic: 26 €/Месец за 20 Mbit/s
For clothing, personal belongings, fitness and leisure:
Pair of jeans (Levi’s 501 or similar): € 40.00 – € 105.00
Summer dress: € 15.00 – € 45.00
Running shoes (sneakers): € 50.00 – € 100.00
Business shoes: € 50.00 – € 130.00
Gym membership: € 26.00 – € 45.00
Cinema (cinema) ticket: € 4.00 – € 7.00
Short visit to the doctor (15 minutes): € 47
Deodorant: € 3.00
Toilet paper(4 rolls): € 1.50
Shampoo: € 4.00