The best city to live in Croatia: How to choose according to yourself

The question "which is the best city to live in Croatia" is one of those that seems simple but actually doesn't have a straightforward answer. Various indexes and rankings rate cities according to quality of life, but the "best" city largely depends on who is asking: what makes a city ideal for a young family differs from what a single person at the start of their career, a retiree seeking peace, or someone working from home and freely choosing a location is looking for. That's why a universal ranking list, however appealing, rarely answers an individual's actual question.

A more useful approach is to understand what quality of life actually consists of and how individual Croatian cities stand according to these criteria, and then arrange those criteria according to one's own priorities. In this guide, therefore, we do not offer a ready-made list of the "best" cities, but rather a framework: we go through the key dimensions of quality of life — job opportunities, housing prices and availability, healthcare and education, transport and connectivity, safety, and nature and amenities — and show how cities differ. The goal is for you to be able to assess which city is best for you personally.

Why there isn't one "best city"

The idea of a single best city to live in is appealing but misleading because it assumes that all people want the same thing. In reality, quality of life is the sum of very different criteria to which people assign different weights. For a young family, schools, kindergartens, safety, and an affordable larger apartment matter most; for a young professional, job opportunities, amenities, and the city's vibrancy; for a retiree, peace, accessible healthcare, and affordable living costs; for someone working from home, perhaps the beauty of the surroundings and cost, along with a good internet connection. The same city can hardly be the first choice for all these profiles simultaneously.

Because of this, "best city" ranking lists, however interesting, should be read with caution. They usually measure an average of a series of criteria, but an average does not perfectly suit any specific person. A city that is "best on average" might be mediocre for your specific profile, and a lower-ranked city might be ideal for you. That's why it's smarter to use rankings as a starting framework, not a final answer, and always filter them through your own priorities — and when cited, check what exactly they refer to, because indexes of safety, cost of living, and resident satisfaction measure completely different things.

Professional tip: Before you look at any ranking list, prioritize your needs (job, housing, schools, peace, amenities) — because the "best city" is the one that is best according to your criteria, not according to an average that doesn't perfectly suit anyone.

Jobs and housing

For most people of working age, employment opportunities are a fundamental criterion, as they determine income, job choices, and long-term security. Croatian cities differ significantly in this regard. The largest centers, primarily Zagreb as the capital and largest economic hub, offer the widest range of jobs and the greatest diversity of sectors. Split, as the largest city in the south, and Rijeka in the west, are significant labor markets with their own specificities, while Osijek is the largest center in the eastern part of the country. Smaller towns and places generally offer a narrower range of jobs, often linked to the local economy, tourism, or specific industries — which doesn't mean they are without opportunities, but that the choice is more specialized. For someone who works independently of location, this criterion loses weight and opens up the freedom to choose a place based on other values.

Housing is the second criterion that often decisively shapes the decision, and it is closely related to employment. A clear pattern exists: cities with the most opportunities and amenities generally also have the highest real estate and rental prices. Zagreb and attractive coastal centers like Split and Zadar, where domestic and tourist demand overlap, are among the most expensive for buying and renting, while smaller towns and places in the interior offer significantly more affordable housing. This trade-off — opportunities and amenities versus housing prices — is one of the key factors in choosing a city. Furthermore, housing affordability should be viewed in relation to the income achievable in that city, not in isolation, because a high salary in an expensive city and a lower salary in a cheaper place can yield a similar standard of living.

Professional tip: Always look at housing prices in relation to the income achievable in that city, not in isolation — a larger city with more expensive apartments and higher salaries, and a smaller place with cheaper apartments and lower salaries, can yield a similar standard of living, so calculate the ratio, not just the price.

Public services, transport, and connectivity

The availability and quality of public services — healthcare, education, administration — are an important, and often underestimated, criterion, especially for families with children and for older people. Larger cities generally offer better availability: larger and more specialized hospitals, a wider choice of schools, kindergartens, and universities, and a more developed network of services. University centers like Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Osijek also offer higher education, making them attractive to families with children approaching university age. In smaller towns and places, these services are available but on a smaller scale — basic health and educational infrastructure exists, but for specialized care or a wider choice of schools, one sometimes has to travel to a larger city, which changes daily life.

Besides services, daily life is also strongly influenced by transport. Larger cities offer more developed public transport, but also greater traffic jams and longer travel times within the city; smaller places have fewer traffic jams, but also weaker public transport, so life often relies on a car. In addition to intra-city connectivity, external connectivity is also important — proximity to highways, railways, and airports — which facilitates work, travel, and maintaining connections with family elsewhere, while weaker connectivity, especially outside the tourist season, can mean isolation. A special criterion for an increasing number of people is the quality of the internet connection: for working from home, fast and reliable internet becomes as important as proximity to work once was, and its availability varies from location to location, so it's worth checking in advance.

Professional tip: Assess connectivity — transport and internet — according to how you actually live and work. A place that is quiet and beautiful, but poorly connected or with weak internet, can eventually feel isolated, especially if you work from home or travel frequently.

Safety, nature, and amenities

The last group of criteria concerns the everyday experience of life — safety, proximity to nature, and availability of amenities. Safety and a sense of a peaceful environment are high on most people's lists, especially for families, and smaller places often offer a stronger sense of security and community. Proximity to nature — sea, mountains, greenery — is one of the main values of life in Croatia for many, and here coastal cities and smaller places in natural surroundings have an advantage over dense urban centers. It is worth, however, keeping in mind the seasonal nature of the coast when it comes to permanent living, not vacation: in summer, tourist crowds and higher prices, and out of season, quieter but sometimes desolate and less connected.

Amenities — culture, hospitality, sports, entertainment, shopping — on the other hand, are the domain of larger cities, which offer a richer and more diverse life outside of work and home. Here again, a trade-off arises: a larger city offers more amenities and vibrancy, a smaller place more peace and proximity to nature. For a young person who values going out, culture, and social life, a larger city is more attractive; for someone looking for a calm life in nature, a smaller place or a coastal town is more suitable. As with other criteria, "better" depends on what a good life means to the individual.

Professional tip: Honestly assess whether you need more amenities and vibrancy or more peace and nature — this is one of the most personal trade-offs in choosing a place, and a misjudgment of one's own preferences is a common reason why people later don't feel good in an otherwise "good" location.

Big city versus small town

If all the previous criteria are summarized, a fundamental trade-off emerges in choosing a place to live in Croatia: a large city versus a smaller place. Large cities — Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and their surroundings — offer more job opportunities, better availability of services, more developed transport, and richer amenities, but with higher housing prices, greater crowds, and, for some, less peace. This is a choice for those for whom opportunities, amenities, and dynamism are paramount.

Smaller towns and places offer the opposite set of values — more affordable housing, more peace, proximity to nature, and a stronger sense of community, with a narrower choice of jobs and amenities and greater reliance on a car. This is a choice for those who value a calmer life, space, and affordability over dynamism and choice. Between these poles, there is also a middle ground — smaller towns near large ones or suburban areas, such as the surroundings of Zagreb or cities like Zadar and Varaždin, which seek to combine affordability and peace with proximity to the opportunities of a larger center. Understanding this fundamental trade-off helps narrow down the choice before delving into the details of a particular place.

Professional tip: Before choosing a specific place, decide which side of the fundamental trade-off you are on — the opportunities and dynamism of a big city, or the peace and affordability of a smaller one. Suburban areas and smaller towns near large centers are often a good compromise if you are attracted to both sides.

How to choose a city according to your profile

Everything said so far boils down to one practical approach: instead of looking for an objectively "best" city, define your profile and priorities, and then evaluate cities based on them. For a young family, the starting point is schools, safety, affordable space, and proximity to services. For a young professional, job opportunities, amenities, and vibrancy. For a retiree, peace, accessible healthcare, and affordable costs. For someone working from home, freed from job location ties, the freedom to choose based on beauty, cost, and lifestyle opens up — with a good internet connection as a prerequisite.

Once priorities are clear, the criteria from this guide are filtered through them, narrowing the choice to a few cities that best fit. Only then does it make sense to go into details — specific neighborhoods, prices, real estate offerings — because the search is within a framework that truly suits the person. This approach, from profile to place, is more reliable than relying on other people's ranking lists, as it leads to the city that is best for you, not for the average resident. Once you choose a city, you enter your new home with practical steps such as transferring utilities, and we write about the process of buying in the guide how the real estate purchase process works.

Professional tip: Start with the question "what kind of life do I want", and only then "which city offers that" — this order leads to the place that suits you, while the reverse approach (first a city from a list, then adapting your life) often ends in a compromise that doesn't satisfy.

How Regent can help you

Choosing a city and location to live is a personal decision that ultimately comes down to a specific property. Once you determine what kind of life and what criteria you are looking for, we help you find a property and location that match — from large centers like Zagreb, Split, and Rijeka to smaller towns and coastal locations. Our knowledge of local markets and neighborhoods helps you choose not only the right city but also the right part of the city; and we guide you through property valuation and legal checks.

For advice tailored to your priorities, see what buying with Regent looks like or contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which is the best city to live in Croatia?
There is no single answer because the "best" city depends on the person's profile. What makes a city ideal for a young family differs from the needs of a single person, a retiree, or someone working from home. Instead of a universal ranking list, it is more useful to evaluate cities according to your own priorities — job, housing, services, peace, or amenities.

Do large cities offer a better quality of life than smaller towns?
Not necessarily — they offer a different one. Large cities like Zagreb, Split, and Rijeka provide more job opportunities, better availability of services, and richer amenities, but with higher housing prices and greater crowds. Smaller towns and places offer peace, affordability, and proximity to nature, with a narrower choice of jobs and amenities. Which is "better" depends on personal priorities.

Which cities are most affordable for housing?
As a rule, smaller towns and places in the interior are more affordable for buying and renting than large centers and attractive coastal cities, where prices are highest. However, housing prices should be viewed in relation to the income achievable in that city, as a higher salary in a more expensive city and a lower one in a cheaper city can yield a similar standard of living.

What should I pay most attention to when choosing a city to live in?
To the criteria that are most important to you, organized according to your own profile: job opportunities, housing prices and availability, healthcare and education, transport and connectivity, safety, and nature and amenities. The key is to start by asking what kind of life you want, and then evaluate cities accordingly, instead of relying on general ranking lists.

Recommended

• Vacation home: how to choose a location according to lifestyle
• First property: rent or buy
• How the real estate purchase process works in Croatia — step by step
• Property valuation: market, mortgage, tax