Split’s property market is pricing out more locals every day

Split

In Split, the dream of owning a home is slipping further away for many as property prices continue to climb.

Just a few years ago, the average cost per square metre was around €3,000. Today, it’s surged to €4,500, meaning a modest 60-square-metre flat now carries a staggering price tag of €270,000, Net.hr writes.

For young families and first-time buyers, this makes homeownership feel like an impossible mission.

Two years ago, prices spiked sharply, and while they’ve since stabilised, the market remains out of reach for most.

In Split’s upscale neighbourhoods like Meje, Žnjan, Bačvice, and Pazdigrad, a square metre rarely sells for less than €5,000.

Some flats, particularly in Bačvice, can hit €6,000 per square metre despite needing complete renovations.

“We’re talking about flats in older buildings, often without lifts,” Andrea Alujević, a Split-based estate agent, told RTL Danas.

The situation is stark when compared to other European cities. In Venice, a fully renovated 85-square-metre flat can be snapped up for €420,000—roughly €4,900 per square metre.

In Spain’s Granada, city-centre flats go for as little as €2,500 per square metre, a price Split hasn’t seen in years. “It’s hard to buy a flat in Split with an average salary, even with a 30-year mortgage,” notes Paško Burnač from the University of Split’s Faculty of Economics.

Many young locals are turning to renting instead. “Buying is just not feasible for most young people,” says Split resident Robert Domazet.

Mirna Majić agrees, adding, “Prices have gone through the roof. I don’t know how young people can afford this.” Despite rising wages, inflation has eroded purchasing power, leaving homeownership a distant goal.

Who’s buying these pricey flats? According to agents, it’s mostly locals, though foreign buyers start enquiring after Easter, often combining holidays with property viewings.

For now, prices aren’t expected to rise significantly, but they’re already high enough to keep many Split residents stuck in the rental market, dreaming of a home they can call their own.