A few decades ago, you wouldn’t see Croatia as one of the most sought after places to retire into. However, thanks to their efforts to highlight the rich history of the Mediterraneans, they have come into the spotlight as one of the best places to retire.
The country is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic – having once been under communist rule. In the 1990s, they adapted the the multi party election – a transition that was filled with a lot of turmoil. Now, the citizens enjoy peace and prosperity as Croatia emerges as an option for those who want to relive the old Mediterranean lifestyle.
About the Republic of Croatia
Croatia can be located just below Hungary and right across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. It is in the center and south eastern part of Europe. The whole territory of the country is more than 56,500 square kilometers.
The landscape of Croatia is a mixture of mountains (Dinaric Alps), shorelines (facing the Adriatic Sea), islands and islets (scattered in the Adriatic Sea), flat plains (Slavonia), forested highlands and hilly regions (Hrvatsko Zagorje). Rivers run across the country – some of the major ones are called Danube (second longest river in Europe), Drava, Sava and Kupa. The Dinaric Alps are prominently of Karst topography – similar to what half of the country is made of. A lot deep caves can be found all over the Croatian territory.
The country is rich in oil, iron ore, gypsum, silica, coal, salt, bauxite and clays – most of which provide the national economy with export income. Of late, tourism became a serious contributor in their economy, having highlighted historical architecture of the old Mediterranean. They also have several natural reserves, parks and the famous Plitvice lakes that is a collection of lakes, waterfall and limestone and dolomite cascades.
Croatia enjoys a warm and rainy climate. There are regions where snow happens – specially in the forests of Gorski Kotar and Lika. But along the Adriatic coastline, locals enjoy the typical Mediterranean climate. The sunniest weathers are experienced on the outermost islands on the Adriatic Sea.
The Croatian Way of Life
Croatia is home to 4.9 million permanent residents. Given the tumultuous war for independence, a lot of Croatians were displaced and forced to flee the country to get out of the line of fire. However, with the peace ensuring a healthier life, a lot of them came back – though not the majority. This population bloats especially in the summer time as 10 million tourists come from other nations to enjoy the sights and sounds in the country.
Retiring in Croatia will give you a taste of the Mediterranean life as it was in the past. They pride in preserving the walls of the medieval cities along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. While this particular aspect of the country is famous, they are also known for the beauty of their natural resources. The Plitvice lakes, city of Zagreb, and the Blue Flag beaches make for very beautiful sights for foreigners. There are theaters, galleries, museums, port towns and even an old Roman amphitheatre in Pula. The churches and palaces of old make for a rich historical experience that retired individuals can relive over and over if they decide to live here.
The language in the country is mostly Croatian. However, English is well spoken in tourism centered locations.
The food is different and will depend on where you are in the country. Croatia is a healthy mixture of 4 cultures: West Roman Empire, Mitteleuropa, Byzantine Empire and Mediterranean. In Dalmatia, you will enjoy mostly Mediterranean and Italian cuisine that is mostly seafood, pasta and vegetables. Further inland is mostly freshwater fish, meat and vegetables, as influenced by Turkish, Austrian and Hungarian cuisine. Wine is usually a staple in meals: white for the inlands and red for the coastlines. Beer had also been a preferred beverage of late.
Cost of Living
Cost of living in Croatia is cheap compared to Italy or France. It is similar to Spain – which is quite low for among European nations. However, as tourism gets higher, the costs start to climb with it.
Based on the Numbeo website, here is a compilation of the basic prices that can be expected in Croatia.
Food: Inexpensive restaurant ($8.57/meal), Fastfood ($6/meal), Beer ($2.4/0.5 liter), Soda ($2.06/0.33 liter), Water ($1.57/0.33 liter), Milk ($1.03/liter), Rice ($1.97/kg), Bread ($1.03/loaf), Chicken ($8.57/kg), Fruits (ave $1.6/kg), Egg ($2.55/dozen), Vegetables (ave $1.25/kg), Wine ($6.53/mid range)
Transportation: Local transport ($1.96/one-way, $54.86/monthly pass), Taxi ($2.61/start, $0.86/km), Gasoline ($1.85/liter)
Home: Utilities ($204.93), Internet ($25.72/Unlimited Data, 6Mbps), Rent City Centre ($377.16/mo/1bd, $600.03/mo/3bd), Rent Outside of Centre ($267.66/mo/1bd, $462.88/mo/3bd)
Sports and Leisure: Fitness Club ($42.86/month), Cinema ($5.66/seat)
Clothing: Jeans (ave $85.72/pair), Dress (ave $42.86/pc), Shoes (ave $85.72/leather, $94.29/rubber shoes)
Croatian prices are still relatively high compared to other destinations in the world. But if compared within European nations, they remain to be quite modest. It is important to make a more detailed research of prices depending on where you plan to live in this country.