Croatia is a very beautiful country in the crossroad of different nations. Once, it was a part of the Venetian Republic, then it was included in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and later it joined Yugoslavia. Therefore, Croatians have incorporated the key features of those epochs, so now the country is a combination of Austrian order, Italian liveliness, and Slavic mindset. You should consider this local speciality, especially when moving to Croatia from the USA, Canada, the United States, or another overseas state. It is also highly recommended to explore this Balkan country for several months before you completely immigrate to Croatia. This article opens a window to this magnificent country for you to be more courageous to make your first steps on the Croatian land.
Whether you are relocating from the USA to Croatia or moving from overseas, you definitely need to learn more about this country and prepare all the necessary documents which will grant your legal stay there. Most likely you are also encouraged to move your personal belongings to Croatia safely. For that reason, we have prepared a table with basic facts about this country and information about international removals to Croatia. It will help you to better understand the country’s culture and people’s mindset before moving to Croatia from the USA or any other country.
| Location | The Republic of Croatia is one of the Balkan countries in south-eastern Europe. |
| Capital city | Zagreb |
| Climate | A larger part of Croatia has a moderate continental climate. The Adriatic coast is characterized by the Mediterranean climate. |
| Currency | Kuna (HRK) |
| Population | There are slightly more than 4 million people living in Croatia. About 90% of the population is homogenous and consists of Croatians, while immigrants from other Balkan countries make up smaller ethnic groups. |
| Language | Croatian is the official language in Croatia. The representatives of a younger generation usually speak English fluently. |
| Timezone | UTC +1 |
| Surprising fact | 78% of Croatians claim knowledge of at least one foreign language. |
Are you planning a relocation to Croatia? Find out a cheap and convenient way to move personal belongings to Croatia or send household appliances abroad with the services for international removals to Croatia. Contact our logistics experts before relocating from the USA to Croatia or moving from any other country.
Expats moving to Croatia from the USA, Canada. Australia, the United Kingdom, and other states find this country very comfortable for living in terms of climate, social equity, and work-life balance. However, there are both pros and cons of living in Croatia. We talked to the locals and expats to find out what the advantages and disadvantages they point out.
Advantages
Disadvantages
The cost of living in Croatia depends on the particular city you move to. The prices also vary depending on a season, so you will notice that everything is cheaper from November till April. Anyway, we have prepared a table with the average prices and basic monthly expenses typical for expats residing in Croatia.
| Apartment rental | $300-500 (1-bedroom apartment) |
| Utility bills | $200 |
| Internet | $25 |
| A meal of the day | $8 |
| A cup of cappuccino | $1.5 |
| International school (optional) | $500 |
Croatia has finally joined the European Union in 2013. It means that Croatia has the same visa regulations as other EU countries. Due to the free movement of goods and labour nationals from the EU and the EEA do not need a visa and work permit to live and work in Croatia. They only have to register in the local police office by providing their actual address of residence in Croatia. Other expats planning to immigrate to Croatia will have to apply for a corresponding type of visa and get a residence permit.
All the citizens and legal residents of Croatia have the right to use a universal healthcare system under the national insurance coverage. Obtaining healthcare insurance is obligatorily required by law in Croatia. HZZO is a state healthcare service which grants basic health insurance coverage. Everyone who is employed has to make monthly contributions for this basic health insurance. Some expats opt to purchase private healthcare insurance additionally because it has a range of privileges.
In Croatia, similar to other EU countries, both nationals and legal residents have to register with a general practitioner (GP) first. All further referrals and appointments, including diagnostics and analysis, are approved by the family doctor. Some expats complain that there are long waiting queues in Croatia, which is sometimes unbearable. This makes them consider purchasing private healthcare insurance to obtain access to medical services and emergency care immediately.
The education system in Croatia is very similar to the one common in the post-socialist republics. Children start attending primary school at the age of 6 and then study for consecutive 8 years. Afterwards, they opt whether to enrol in secondary school or start working right away. Currently, most Croatian students proceed with secondary education onwards.
If you are moving to Croatia with your family and children of school age, then you need to take care of their education in advance. In case your child is a first-grader or at least your kid knows some other Slavic language, then choosing a public school for studies would be reasonable. Otherwise, consider some international school with British, French, or German curricula. Most of the private and international schools are located in Zagreb.
Tourism and agriculture are the industries which make up most of the country’s GDP. Expats who immigrate to Croatia for employment reasons need to consider that most job opportunities are in these sectors. At the same time, immigrants have to consider that the national unemployment rate is still too high, so there are quotas for hiring foreigners in Croatian-based enterprises. Anyway, you can search for any vacancies in the sphere of your expertise online. Experts with high qualification levels and the knowledge of Croatian have decent chances to be employed in Croatia. Take a chance and apply for a work visa in case you have signed an employment contract with a Croatian company.
There is no particular city in Croatia which foreigners like most of all. Expats moving to Croatia usually reside in different areas depending on their preferred style of life and job location. Moreover, they also usually tend to rent an apartment instead of purchasing it. Therefore, we have prepared a table with average monthly rental costs in major cities of Croatia.
| 1-bedroom apartment | a villa | |
|---|---|---|
| Zagreb | $500-700 | $1000 |
| Split | $500-800 | $1000-1200 |
| Rijeka | $350-500 | $1200 |
| Zadar | $400-700 | $900 |
Croatia is a small country, but it has diverse landscapes throughout the country ranging from white sandy beaches to crystal clear lakes in the mountains. That is why a car is the best way to explore the country and go for a weekend to a picturesque place or discover a distant authentic city hidden inland. Driving in coastal towns in summer can be really crazy because heavy traffic is everywhere due to a tourist season. Driving in Zagreb and other big cities is always hectic with typical rush hours in the morning and evening, the times when people go to and return from work.
Consider the following tips before driving in Croatia:
Relocation to Croatia means that you take a serious step in your life as you change the place of residence and need to get accustomed to the new environment. Before the relocation, you would like to know the cost of moving house to Croatia. Those who come from overseas are probably interested in how much is shipping from the USA to Croatia or what is the cheapest way to move furniture to Croatia. Here comes Eurosender offering lower than the average moving costs to Croatia along with fast booking process on our easy-to-use online platform.
International removals to Croatia with Eurosender offer the best experience for you as:
If you want to get more details and get to know the average moving costs to Croatia, contact our logistics experts who have helped hundreds of our clients with the relocation process.
Croatia is not the most popular destination for immigration among Canadians. However, there is a small expat community of Canadian citizens living in Croatia for years. If you are also moving to Croatia from Canada soon, then choosing the right services for international removals to Croatia is in priority for you. Using Eurosender platform allows you to save time as you do not have to compare the cost of moving house to Croatia of various removal companies. Our smart booking engine will do everything instead of you only in a few seconds.
There are many British people visiting Croatia each year for admiring the beauty of nature and tasting local food. After a short visit, some of them decide to immigrate to Croatia either for several months or forever. Anyway, those who are moving to Croatia from the United Kingdom need to ship their personal belongings, musical instruments, or even furniture. Eurosender will grant you the most affordable cost of moving house to Croatia.
Disclaimer: The materials provided in this article were collected from other credible resources to be used for general information purposes only. Given that the legislative basis of the country and its economic development have a changing nature, the information provided in the article could be subject to change. Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up-to-date and correct, Eurosender will not be liable for any inappropriate, incomplete, or inaccurate information. Certain links will lead to websites which are not under control of Eurosender. Thus, Eurosender accepts no liability in respect of materials, products or services being not under control of Eurosender.