How much a family in Croatia needs for basic food and hygiene today revealed

The cost of basic food and hygiene items for a four-member family in Croatia reached an average of €484.08 in July 2025, according to a monthly analysis by price comparison portal Koliko.HR in cooperation with the Croatian Consumer Protection Association (HUZP).

The “consumer basket” contains essential groceries and hygiene products in quantities sufficient for modest but balanced monthly needs — without luxuries or surplus.

Regional differences

Prices varied significantly across the country, with the gap between the cheapest and most expensive counties amounting to several dozen euros.

Four-member family

The most expensive county in July was Istria, where a family of four needed €497.77 to get through the month. Zagreb (€489.91) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar (€489.86) followed closely.

The lowest costs were recorded in Virovitica-Podravina (€471.82), Koprivnica-Križevci (€474.46), and Sisak-Moslavina (€477.36). The difference between the highest and lowest was €25.95.

Three-member family

Again, Istria topped the list at €396.46, followed by Primorje-Gorski Kotar (€390.24) and Zagreb (€390.07).

The most affordable baskets were in Virovitica-Podravina (€376.15), Koprivnica-Križevci (€377.82), and Sisak-Moslavina (€380.93), with a price gap of €20.31.

Single household

Living alone was priciest in Lika-Senj (€257.86), with Istria (€254.03) and Primorje-Gorski Kotar (€253.87) close behind.

The cheapest option for singles was in Koprivnica-Križevci (€232.49), followed by Bjelovar-Bilogora (€234.36) and Virovitica-Podravina (€234.64). The difference between the highest and lowest baskets was €25.37.

Rising costs and concerns

Food and beverage prices have been rising continuously since early 2022, says Ana Knežević, president of HUZP.

“These consumer baskets show how much people in Croatia must pay for their most basic needs and how much of their income goes towards them. Considering the low pensions and modest salaries, both the Government and Parliament should be more concerned with citizens’ living standards, rather than their own benefits,” Knežević said.

She highlighted that more than 300,000 pensioners receive €300 or less per month. “If a single person’s basket costs €247, and many pensioners live alone, how much can they afford after paying utility bills? We hope the Government will start monitoring these baskets more seriously — and that their conscience will be stirred.”

What’s in the basket?

The basket covers essential items such as bread, flour, pasta, rice, potatoes, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, and basic seasonings. Hygiene items include soap, shampoo, detergent, and toilet paper. Whenever possible, products from Croatian producers are given priority.

How prices are calculated

Three household models are used:

• Four-member family – mother, father, 14-year-old son, 10-year-old daughter

• Three-member family – mother, father, 10-year-old daughter

• Single household – 40-year-old woman

Prices are based on continuous tracking of selected products throughout the month, using official retail price lists that stores are required to publish under a Government decision from 2 May 2025.

The national average is calculated as the mean of all county averages.

According to recent data, the average monthly rental costs for a family ranged from between €500-€800.