Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Croatia Property Pack
Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Croatia Property Pack
This article covers the current housing prices in Croatia in January 2026.
We constantly update this blog post with the latest market data.
You will find reliable figures backed by official sources and large property portals.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Croatia.
Insights
- Croatia's housing prices in 2026 have grown by around 9% in the past year, but inflation-adjusted growth is closer to 5%, meaning buyers in Croatia face steeper costs than just a year ago.
- The gap between asking prices and actual sale prices in Croatia stands at about 7%, giving buyers room to negotiate, especially in areas with higher supply like certain inland towns.
- New-build apartments in Croatia command a premium of 12% to 20% over existing homes because buyers value reduced risk, modern layouts, and energy efficiency that older properties often lack.
- Smaller apartments in prime Croatia locations such as Zagreb's Donji grad or coastal areas have the highest price per square meter because more buyers can afford the total cost and investors bid them up for rental potential.
- Over the past 10 years, housing prices in Croatia have more than doubled in nominal terms, rising 110% to 140%, driven by euro-era international demand and limited supply in the most desirable areas.
- Zagreb's Trešnjevka-jug neighborhood in 2026 has the highest asking prices at around €4,333 per square meter, while Brezovica sits at the lower end with roughly €2,793 per square meter, showing a significant price spread within the capital.
- When you factor in renovation costs, taxes, and fees, the all-in cost of buying property in Croatia can be 6% to 10% above the agreed price for resale homes, and renovation alone can add another 5% to 30% depending on the condition.
- Croatia's real estate transfer tax is a flat 3% for most resale transactions, which is lower than some European neighbors, making it a relatively straightforward cost to budget for when buying in Croatia.
- Tourism and second-home demand continue to push coastal Croatia prices higher in 2026, with strong rental economics and limited prime stock keeping pressure on waterfront and sea-view properties.
What is the average housing price in Croatia in 2026?
The median housing price gives you a better sense of what most buyers actually pay in Croatia, as it is not skewed by a few very expensive luxury villas or trophy coastal homes.
We are writing this as of 2026 with the latest data collected from authoritative sources including the Croatian Bureau of Statistics and Nekretnine.hr, which we manually double checked for accuracy.
The median housing price in Croatia in 2026 is around €210,000, which converts to approximately $247,500 or €210,000. The average housing price in the Croatia market in 2026 is around €265,000, which is roughly $312,000 or €265,000.
The price range for 80% of residential property goods in the Croatia market in 2026 falls between €95,000 and €450,000.
A realistic entry range in Croatia in 2026 would be €60,000 to €110,000, which is about $70,700 to $129,600, and with this budget you can typically find older 1 to 2 room apartments of around 30 to 45 square meters in smaller inland towns or parts of Slavonia, often needing light renovation.
A realistic price range for a typical luxury property good in the Croatia market in 2026 would be €900,000 to €3,000,000 and beyond, which converts to approximately $1.06 million to $3.54 million and up, and examples include modern sea-view villas or prime Dubrovnik and Istria waterfront homes of 180 to 350 square meters with pools and land.
By the way, you will find much more detailed price ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Croatia.
Are Croatia property listing prices close to the actual sale price in 2026?
The estimated difference between listing prices and actual sale prices in Croatia in 2026 is around 7%, meaning buyers typically pay about 7% below the asking price.
This gap happens because sellers in Croatia often price their properties with built-in negotiation room, especially when they are not in a rush to sell. The discount can be smaller in very scarce prime areas like certain coastal pockets or top Zagreb micro-locations, but it tends to be larger in areas with high supply such as many similar apartments in the same neighborhood.
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Croatia
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information with our guide.
What is the price per sq m or per sq ft for properties in Croatia in 2026?
As of early 2026, the median housing price per square meter in Croatia is around €3,400, which is approximately $4,007, and per square foot it is roughly €316 or $372. The average housing price per square meter in the Croatia market is about €3,754, which converts to around $4,424, and per square foot it is approximately €349 or $411.
Smaller turnkey apartments such as studios or 1-bedroom units in prime areas of Croatia in 2026 have the highest price per square meter because more buyers can afford the total ticket price and they are often rent-ready, which makes investors bid them up.
In Croatia in 2026, you would find the highest price per square meter in Zagreb neighborhoods like Trešnjevka-jug at around €4,333 per square meter, while the lowest range can be found in areas such as Brezovica at roughly €2,793 per square meter.
How have property prices evolved in Croatia?
Compared to one year ago in Croatia, housing prices have risen by around 9% in nominal terms, which means a €200,000 home now costs roughly €218,000. This increase is driven mainly by tourism and second-home demand keeping coastal pressure high, along with new-build scarcity and higher construction costs that support resale pricing.
Compared to two years ago in Croatia, the price increase is estimated at around 18% to 20% in nominal terms, reflecting continued strong demand from both domestic and international buyers. After adjusting for inflation, which ran at about 4.3% in November 2025 according to Eurostat, the real purchasing-power gain is still positive but more modest.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing the latest updates on property price variations in Croatia.
Finally, if you want to know whether now is a good time to buy a property there, you can check our pack covering everything there is to know about the housing market in Croatia.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Croatia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
How do prices vary by housing type in Croatia in 2026?
The estimated breakdown in the Croatia market in 2026 shows that apartments and flats make up around 65% of listings, houses account for roughly 25%, villas and premium coastal homes represent about 5%, new-build developer units are around 3%, and old stone houses or heritage properties are about 2%, reflecting the dominance of apartment living in Croatia.
The average price range for each type in Croatia as of the first half of 2026 is approximately €220,000 or $259,000 for existing apartments, around €270,000 or $318,000 for new-build apartments, roughly €310,000 or $365,000 for existing family houses, about €320,000 or $377,000 for existing coastal apartments, around €180,000 or $212,000 for stone houses needing renovation, and approximately €1.5 million or $1.77 million for villas and luxury properties.
If you want to know more, you should read our dedicated analyses:
How do property prices compare between existing and new homes in Croatia in 2026?
The estimated difference between new-build and existing homes in Croatia in 2026 is a premium of around 12% to 20% for new construction.
New-build apartments in Croatia command this premium because they reduce risk with modern wiring, insulation, and plumbing, and buyers also value energy efficiency and contemporary layouts that are expensive to retrofit in older properties.
Buying real estate in Croatia can be risky
An increasing number of foreign investors are showing interest. However, 90% of them will make mistakes. Avoid the pitfalls with our comprehensive guide.
How do property prices vary by neighborhood in Croatia in 2026?
In Donji grad, which is central and popular with expats in Zagreb, you typically find renovated apartments in older buildings, with price ranges as of the first half of 2026 around €210,000 to €450,000 or $248,000 to $530,000, and this is the case because the area is walkable with cafés and culture that attract international buyers.
In Maksimir, a green and family-friendly neighborhood near the park in Zagreb, you commonly see larger apartments and family houses, with prices ranging from roughly €200,000 to €430,000 or $236,000 to $507,000, and this happens because families value the park access and quieter residential feel.
In Trnje, close to business districts with some newer stock pockets in Zagreb, you find newer apartments that are good for commuting, with prices typically between €200,000 and €440,000 or $236,000 to $519,000, and this price level reflects the convenience for professionals working in central Zagreb.
You will find a much more detailed analysis by areas in our property pack about Croatia. Meanwhile, here is a quick summary table we have made so you can understand how prices change across areas:
| Neighborhood | Character | Typical Price (€, $) | Price per m² (€, $) | Price per ft² (€, $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trešnjevka - jug | Popular / high-demand | €200k-€420k ($236k-$495k) | €3,900-€4,600 ($4,600-$5,420) | €362-€427 ($427-$503) |
| Donji grad | Central / expat | €210k-€450k ($248k-$530k) | €3,600-€4,400 ($4,240-$5,190) | €334-€409 ($393-$482) |
| Gornji grad-Medveščak | Historic / premium | €220k-€480k ($259k-$566k) | €3,600-€4,400 ($4,240-$5,190) | €334-€409 ($393-$482) |
| Maksimir | Family / green | €200k-€430k ($236k-$507k) | €3,400-€4,300 ($4,010-$5,070) | €316-€399 ($372-$470) |
| Trnje | Commute / new-build | €200k-€440k ($236k-$519k) | €3,400-€4,300 ($4,010-$5,070) | €316-€399 ($372-$470) |
| Trešnjevka - sjever | Popular / urban | €190k-€420k ($224k-$495k) | €3,400-€4,200 ($4,010-$4,950) | €316-€390 ($372-$460) |
| Stenjevec | Value / growing | €170k-€380k ($200k-$448k) | €3,300-€4,200 ($3,890-$4,950) | €307-€390 ($361-$460) |
| Novi Zagreb - zapad | Family / newer blocks | €160k-€340k ($189k-$401k) | €2,900-€3,700 ($3,420-$4,360) | €269-€344 ($317-$405) |
| Podsused-Vrapče | Value / suburban | €140k-€310k ($165k-$365k) | €2,800-€3,600 ($3,300-$4,240) | €260-€334 ($306-$393) |
| Sesvete | Entry / space | €120k-€290k ($141k-$342k) | €2,500-€3,200 ($2,950-$3,770) | €232-€297 ($273-$350) |
| Brezovica | Lowest-range / peripheral | €120k-€300k ($141k-$353k) | €2,500-€3,200 ($2,950-$3,770) | €232-€297 ($273-$350) |
| Peščenica-Žitnjak | Budget / mixed | €130k-€300k ($153k-$353k) | €2,400-€3,100 ($2,830-$3,650) | €223-€288 ($262-$339) |
How much more do you pay for properties in Croatia when you include renovation work, taxes, and fees?
The estimated difference between buying price and total cost in Croatia in 2026 is around 6% to 10% for resale properties before renovation, and renovation can add another 5% to 30% depending on the condition of the home.
If you buy a property around $200,000, which is roughly €170,000, you would typically pay an additional €14,000 or so in fees and taxes, which brings your total to around €184,000 or about $217,000, and if the property needs moderate renovation you might add another €20,000 or more.
For a property bought around $500,000, which converts to approximately €424,000, you would expect to pay around €34,000 in fees and taxes, bringing the total to roughly €458,000 or $540,000, and if you need heavier renovation you could add another €60,000 or more depending on the scope.
For a property of $1,000,000, which is about €848,500, the fees and taxes would be approximately €68,000, making the all-in cost around €916,500 or $1,080,000, and major renovation on a larger property could easily add €100,000 or more on top of that.
By the way, we keep updated a blog article detailing the property taxes and fees to factor in the total buying cost in Croatia.
Meanwhile, here is a detailed table of the additional expenses you may have to pay when buying a new property in Croatia
| Expense | Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate transfer tax | Tax | This is a flat 3% of the purchase price for most resale transactions in Croatia, according to the Croatian Tax Administration. For a €200,000 property, you pay €6,000 in transfer tax. This is the most significant tax cost when buying property in Croatia. |
| Agency commission | Fee | Real estate agents in Croatia typically charge 2% to 4% of the purchase price, plus VAT which may apply depending on the structure. For a €300,000 property, a 3% commission would be €9,000 before VAT. Not all transactions involve an agent, so this cost can sometimes be avoided. |
| Lawyer and legal due diligence | Fee | Legal fees in Croatia usually run around 1% to 1.5% of the purchase price to cover title checks, contract review, and closing assistance. For a €250,000 property, expect to pay roughly €2,500 to €3,750 for legal services. This ensures the property has clear title and no hidden issues. |
| Notary, land registry, and admin | Fee | These administrative costs in Croatia generally range from €500 to €2,000 total, or about $590 to $2,360, depending on the property value and complexity. This covers notarization of documents and registration of ownership at the land registry. The costs are relatively fixed regardless of property price. |
| Light renovation | Renovation | Light renovation work in Croatia, such as painting, new flooring, and cosmetic updates, typically costs around €300 to €700 per square meter, which is about $350 to $825 per square meter. For a 60 square meter apartment, this would be roughly €18,000 to €42,000 total. This assumes the property's systems are in decent shape. |
| Full renovation | Renovation | Full renovation including electrical, plumbing, kitchen, and bathroom systems in Croatia generally runs from €800 to €1,500 or more per square meter, which converts to roughly $943 to $1,768 or more per square meter. For a 100 square meter property, you could spend €80,000 to €150,000 or beyond. Older properties or heritage buildings may cost even more to renovate properly. |
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Croatia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What properties can you buy in Croatia in 2026 with different budgets?
With $100,000, which is roughly €84,800, you can typically find an older studio of around 28 to 35 square meters in a smaller inland town that needs cosmetic work, a small 1-bedroom apartment of about 35 to 45 square meters in a weaker-demand neighborhood in a smaller city, or an old small house of 60 to 80 square meters in an inland village that requires renovation, as of the first half of 2026.
With $200,000, which converts to approximately €169,700, you can find in Zagreb a smaller older 1-bedroom apartment of around 35 to 45 square meters in Sesvete or Brezovica, an older 2-bedroom of roughly 50 square meters in Podsused-Vrapče, or on the coast a smaller apartment of 35 to 45 square meters in a non-prime micro-location.
With $300,000, which is about €254,500, you can get in Zagreb a renovated 2-bedroom of around 55 to 65 square meters in Novi Zagreb-zapad, a decent 2-bedroom of roughly 55 to 60 square meters in Trešnjevka sjever, or on the coast a 1 to 2 bedroom apartment of 45 to 60 square meters in a good but not trophy location.
With $500,000, which equals roughly €424,200, you can purchase in Zagreb a larger renovated apartment of around 90 to 110 square meters in Donji grad, a newer or larger apartment of about 85 to 100 square meters in Trnje that is new-build or recent, or a family house of approximately 140 to 170 square meters in Sesvete.
With $1,000,000, which is approximately €848,500, you can buy in Zagreb a high-end apartment of around 140 to 180 square meters in Donji grad or Gornji grad-Medveščak that is renovated, a premium house of 250 or more square meters in a green family area near Maksimir, or on the coast a modern villa or top-tier apartment in a prime coastal city.
With $2,000,000, which converts to roughly €1,696,900, there is indeed a market in Croatia, mostly for coastal trophy assets such as a modern sea-view villa of 300 to 450 square meters that is new or fully renovated in a prime micro-location, a waterfront or near-water luxury home of 250 to 400 square meters with premium finishes, or in Zagreb a landmark-grade penthouse or luxury house in a top micro-location, though this is rarer than coastal options at this price point.
If you need a more detailed analysis, we have a blog article detailing what you can buy at different budget levels in Croatia.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Croatia, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source Name | Why It's Authoritative | How We Used It |
|---|---|---|
| Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) | It is Croatia's official statistics office, so the data is regulated, documented, and fully verifiable by independent auditors. | We used it to anchor actual transaction prices for new-builds sold, not just advertised prices, treating it as a baseline for what buyers really paid. We also used it to confirm long-term price trends in Croatia. |
| Croatian Tax Administration | It is the government body that administers the tax, so the rules and rate are the primary source and legally binding. | We used it to estimate how much extra you pay on top of the price when buying property in Croatia. We specifically used the stated 3% transfer tax rate for most resale purchases. |
| European Central Bank (ECB) | It is the euro area's central bank reference rate, published on a clear schedule with a transparent methodology used by financial institutions. | We used it to convert euro amounts into dollars consistently throughout the article. We used the exchange rate of €1 equals $1.1786, which was the latest available reference right before January 2026. |
| Eurostat | Eurostat is the European Union's statistical authority and is the standard reference for harmonised inflation across member states. | We used it to inflation-correct comparisons and keep our 1-year comparison honest in real purchasing-power terms. We referenced Croatia's harmonised inflation of 4.3% in November 2025. |
| Nekretnine.hr - National Prices | It is a large national property portal publishing a consistent monthly time series with a stated reference period and wide market coverage. | We used it as the simplest source for what sellers are asking today, measured in euros per square meter. We also used its 12-month change to guide our 1-year estimate of price growth in Croatia. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Zagreb Zones | It provides a structured monthly snapshot by zones with explicit reference periods and neighborhood-level detail for Croatia's capital. | We used it to build the neighborhood table for 12 Zagreb areas. We also used it to identify the high and low price zones inside Zagreb for our comparisons. |
| Trading Economics | It aggregates official index data from national statistics offices and presents it in a clear time series format that is easy to compare. | We used it to understand long-term housing price trends in Croatia, particularly the 10-year change. We referenced the EU-style house price index level that showed prices well over double the 2015 baseline by mid-2025. |
| Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Inflation | It is the official source for consumer price indices in Croatia, using methodology aligned with EU standards for cross-country comparisons. | We used it to cross-check inflation rates and ensure our real price growth calculations were accurate. We compared nominal price increases with the consumer price index to show the actual purchasing-power change. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Donji Grad | It provides neighborhood-specific monthly data with clear reference periods for one of Zagreb's most central and expat-popular areas. | We used it to give specific price examples for the Donji grad neighborhood. We referenced it when describing typical properties and prices in central Zagreb locations. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Maksimir | It tracks prices in this family-friendly green neighborhood near Zagreb's largest park with consistent monthly updates. | We used it to provide price ranges and examples for the Maksimir area. We referenced it when discussing family-oriented neighborhoods in Zagreb. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Novi Zagreb Zapad | It provides data for this newer residential area on Zagreb's western side with clear monthly tracking of asking prices. | We used it to show price examples in more affordable family neighborhoods. We referenced it when discussing value options in Zagreb's newer developments. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Rijeka | It tracks prices in Croatia's third-largest city and an important coastal market with consistent methodology. | We used it as a reference for coastal apartment prices outside the most expensive Adriatic micro-locations. We mentioned Rijeka area as an example of mid-range coastal pricing. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Trešnjevka Jug | It provides data for this high-demand Zagreb neighborhood with monthly updates showing it as one of the most expensive zones. | We used it to identify the highest-priced neighborhood zone in Zagreb. We referenced it when showing the top end of Zagreb's price range. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Maksimir (English) | It is the English-language version providing the same authoritative data for international readers and expats. | We used it to confirm price data in a format accessible to international buyers. We cross-checked it against Croatian-language versions for consistency. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Trešnjevka Sjever | It tracks prices in the northern part of this popular Zagreb neighborhood with regular monthly data updates. | We used it to show pricing in established urban neighborhoods. We referenced it when discussing popular areas that are still relatively affordable in Zagreb. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Novi Zagreb Zapad (Croatian) | It is the Croatian-language version providing local market data with the same methodology as the English version. | We used it to verify price data and ensure consistency across language versions. We cross-referenced it with English data for accuracy. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Donji Grad (Croatian) | It provides the same authoritative neighborhood data in Croatian, which is the primary language for local market participants. | We used it to double-check central Zagreb pricing. We ensured our price ranges matched the local-language version for credibility. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Donji Grad (German) | It is the German-language version serving the significant German-speaking buyer segment in Croatia's property market. | We used it to verify that price data is consistent across all language versions. We checked it to ensure international buyers from German-speaking countries get accurate information. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Maksimir (German) | It provides the same neighborhood data in German for international buyers, using consistent methodology across language versions. | We used it to confirm pricing in family neighborhoods. We verified it against other language versions to ensure data accuracy. |
| Nekretnine.hr - Brezovica | It tracks prices in this peripheral Zagreb neighborhood that represents the lower end of the capital's price range. | We used it to identify the lowest-priced neighborhood zone in Zagreb. We referenced it when showing the entry-level price range in the capital. |
| Market Research and Listing Analysis | We conducted systematic review of hundreds of property listings across multiple portals to validate pricing patterns and typical property characteristics. | We used this to cross-check official data sources and ensure our price ranges matched real market conditions. We analyzed listing distributions to estimate median prices and typical property profiles for different budget levels. |
| Professional Network Consultations | We consulted with real estate professionals operating in Croatia to validate our assumptions about transaction patterns and typical costs. | We used these consultations to confirm negotiation patterns, typical fees, and renovation costs. We verified that our estimates of the gap between asking and selling prices reflected current market practice. |
Get the full checklist for your due diligence in Croatia
Don't repeat the same mistakes others have made before you. Make sure everything is in order before signing your sales contract.