Croatian holiday home owners reveal how much cleaning costs them now 

The cost of preparing holiday homes for new guests in Croatia has become a growing concern for many property owners, with some reporting that a single guest changeover can cost as much as €500.

As Jutarnji list writes, a discussion among holiday rental owners and cleaners in a popular Croatian Facebook group has highlighted not only rising cleaning costs but also an ongoing shortage of reliable workers during the peak tourist season.

Many owners said that finding trustworthy cleaners is an even bigger challenge than paying higher rates, particularly on Saturdays when properties must be prepared within a few hours before new guests arrive.

The work often extends well beyond cleaning the interior of a property. Fresh bed linen, laundry, garden maintenance and swimming pool servicing are usually charged separately, significantly increasing the final bill.

According to comments shared by owners and cleaning professionals from across Croatia, hourly cleaning rates generally range between €20 and €30.

However, for larger holiday homes accommodating eight to ten guests, total costs for cleaning, laundry and outdoor maintenance can commonly reach €300 to €500.

Some businesses charge differently, with one registered cleaning company saying it charges €3 per square metre instead of billing by the hour.

Others said they would not accept work for less than €25 per hour.

Prices also vary by region. Contributors from Makarska said cleaning teams typically charge between €20 and €25 per hour, while separate fees apply for laundry and pool maintenance. Laundry services were reported to cost around €3 per kilogram, while regular pool maintenance averages around €50 per visit.

In Pula, hourly rates of €25 to €30 were commonly reported, while one contributor from Labin said some providers now also charge travel costs.

Several property owners shared examples of their own expenses.

One said they pay an agency €625 to maintain a holiday home for six guests, including cleaning, linen, towels and terrace maintenance, with pool cleaning and lawn mowing charged separately.

Others said they reduce costs by maintaining swimming pools, terraces and gardens themselves, while several argued that cleaning holiday homes is physically demanding work that deserves fair pay.

Croatia

Despite differing opinions over whether current rates are justified, participants broadly agreed on one issue: experienced and reliable cleaners remain in short supply.

As a result, many Croatian holiday rental owners continue to carry out part of the work themselves to ensure properties are ready for arriving guests during the busiest weeks of the tourist season.