Living in Split
In Split, unemployment is 7.9% (2024).
Annual PM2.5 was 8.67 µg/m³ at the end of 2024.
Which Croatia-wide rules apply when you move to Split?
National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.
Housing and cost
Practical estimates in June 2026 placed a monthly transport pass at €100 per month.
How much does it cost to rent in Split?
Average net cold rent is 12.9 EUR/m² per month (2025), excluding heating and operating charges.
Published average over existing tenancies; a specific flat can sit either side of it. Asking-rent series, where present, are separate rows in the table.
- Average net rent (nettokalt): 12.9 EUR/m²/month · MPGI/EIZ — Review of the Croatian real-estate market 20258
Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness club membership, monthly | 53 EUR/month | 1 Jul 2026 | Numbeo cost of living — Split12Commercial estimate · Supplemental context |
| Col Groceries Index Basket Eur Month | 69.15 EUR/month | 3 Aug 2026 | Numbeo11Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context |
| Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited | 37.48 EUR/month | 1 Jul 2026 | Numbeo cost of living — Split12Commercial estimate · Supplemental context |
| Private kindergarten, monthly | 550.7 EUR/month | 1 Jul 2026 | Numbeo cost of living — Split12Commercial estimate · Supplemental context |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 15 EUR | 1 Jul 2026 | Numbeo cost of living — Split12Commercial estimate · Supplemental context |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB | 17.6 EUR/month | 1 Jul 2026 | Numbeo cost of living — Split12Commercial estimate · Supplemental context |
| Monthly transport pass | 100 EUR/month | 30 Jun 2026 | Glavni cjenik od 01.06.265Official |
| Basic utilities, 85 m² home | 194 EUR/month | 1 Jul 2026 | Numbeo cost of living — Split12Commercial estimate · Supplemental context |
| Average net rent (nettokalt) | 12.9 EUR/m²/month | 31 Dec 2025 | MPGI/EIZ — Review of the Croatian real-estate market 20258Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context |
Cost of living
Fixed monthly costs for one person in an 85 m² flat were about €1,446 in the latest published figures. From a median gross salary of €2,046, that leaves €600 before income tax and social contributions.
€600 left of €2,046
- Net rent, 85 m² · 76%€1,097
- Utilities, 85 m² · 13%€194
- Transport pass · 7%€100
- Internet and mobile · 4%€55
One person, 85 m² flat; the ring splits the €1,446 fixed basket before income tax and social contributions, latest published figures (checked 2026-08-27).
Is Split a good place to live?
There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Worked out from these numbers
What does a 60 m² flat cost?
About 774 EUR a month in cold rent at the published average of 12.9 EUR/m² per month, before heating and operating charges.
Heating, water and operating charges come on top, and a specific flat can sit either side of an average.
Work and income
What is the unemployment rate in Split?
The unemployment rate is about 7.9 % (2024).
- Unemployment rate: 7.87 % · Eurostat2
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross salary (regional) | 2,046 EUR/month | 27 Aug 2026 | podaci.dzs.hr9Official |
| Unemployment rate | 7.87 % | 31 Dec 2024 | Eurostat2Official |
Unemployment rate fell 55.5% between 2015 and 2024, from 17.7% to 7.9%.
Public employment service
No exact public employment office is currently linked to Split. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.
Croatian Employment Service — Public employment service
Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Split. Sources checked through 10 Aug 2026.
Mobility and administration
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public transport monthly pass | 60 EUR/month | 31 Dec 2024 | Eurostat3Official |
Language courses and integration in Split
2 exact course-location records are linked to this city. Check the linked source for dates, availability and enrolment.
The Centre for Croatian Studies Abroad
Poljička cesta 35, Split
View official recordCentar za kulturu i cjeloživotno obrazovanje Zlatna vrata
Dioklecijanova ul. 7, Split
View official recordClimate and air quality
Is the air quality good in Split?
The annual PM2.5 mean is about 8.7 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.
Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.
- PM2.5 — annual mean: 8.67 µg/m³ · EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data1
Night-time low to daytime high
mm
hours
Within WHO 2021 guidelineAbove WHO, within EU limitAbove EU legal limitCity annual mean · µg/m³
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 8.67 µg/m³ | 31 Dec 2024 | EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data1Official |
| Average daytime high by month | Jan 10.7 · Feb 11.5 · Mar 14.5 · Apr 18.4 · May 23.4 · Jun 28.1 · Jul 31 · Aug 30.9 · Sep 25.4 · Oct 20.5 · Nov 15.6 · Dec 11.8 °C | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV10Official |
| Average night-time low by month | Jan 5.9 · Feb 6 · Mar 8.5 · Apr 11.8 · May 16.1 · Jun 20.2 · Jul 22.8 · Aug 22.9 · Sep 18.4 · Oct 14.7 · Nov 10.8 · Dec 7.2 °C | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV10Official |
| Average temperature by month | Jan 8.2 · Feb 8.7 · Mar 11.3 · Apr 14.9 · May 19.7 · Jun 24.2 · Jul 26.8 · Aug 26.8 · Sep 21.7 · Oct 17.4 · Nov 13.1 · Dec 9.4 °C | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV10Official |
| Average precipitation by month | Jan 72.7 · Feb 63.8 · Mar 58.4 · Apr 62 · May 57.8 · Jun 49.2 · Jul 24.6 · Aug 31.7 · Sep 82.3 · Oct 79.6 · Nov 119.8 · Dec 98.7 mm | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV10Official |
| Average sunshine by month | Jan 139.5 · Feb 151.7 · Mar 195.1 · Apr 221.5 · May 277.9 · Jun 317.8 · Jul 358.7 · Aug 335 · Sep 246.3 · Oct 197.8 · Nov 129.3 · Dec 127.9 hours | 1991–2020 | WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV10Official |
Population and city profile
Split had a population of 160,577 in August 2021. The city covers 79.16 km², with a population density of 2,028.6 people per km² in 2024.
How many people live in Split?
The published population was 160,577 people in August 2021. Source: HR official material for population_total7
Foreign residents and their share come from different publications that count different groups (for example citizens of another country, or people born abroad, or of foreign origin), so 962 is not 0.4% of the population. Each row names its source.
By nationality
National passport99.4%
Calculated from the population and foreign-resident facts on this page.
| Metric | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per 1,000 residents | 435.3 cars per 1000 people | 31 Dec 2024 | Eurostat3Official |
| City area | 79.16 km² | 2024 | HR official material for city_area_km26Official |
| Foreign-resident share | 0.4 % | 31 Dec 2021 | Eurostat4Official |
| Foreign residents | 962 people | 31 Aug 2021 | HR official material for population_total7Official |
| Population density | 2,029 people/km² | 2024 | HR official material for city_area_km26Official |
| Population | 160,577 people | 31 Aug 2021 | HR official material for population_total7Official |
Population rose 3.1% between 2001 and 2024, from 175,140 to 180,568.
Foreign residents rose 23.2% between 2013 and 2021, from 781 to 962.
International community in Split
Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.
Country of birth
Population in the Croatian 2021 Census; POPULATION BY PLACE OF BIRTH1) AND SEX, BY TOWNS/MUNICIPALITIES, 2021 CENSUS; situation as on 31 August 2021 · 2021 Census (situation as on 31 August 2021)
| Published group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 160,577 | 100.0% |
| Born in the Republic of Croatia | 145,221 | 90.4% |
| Born in the Republic of Croatia — In the place of residence | 94,154 | 58.6% |
| Born in the Republic of Croatia — In another town/ municipality of the same county | 31,185 | 19.4% |
| Born in the Republic of Croatia — In another county | 16,301 | 10.2% |
| Born abroad | 15,343 | 9.6% |
| Born abroad — Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9,222 | 5.7% |
| Born in the Republic of Croatia — In another settlement of the same town/ municipality2) | 3,575 | 2.2% |
| Born abroad — Other countries | 2,247 | 1.4% |
| Born abroad — Serbia | 1,644 | 1.0% |
| Born abroad — Germany | 1,159 | 0.7% |
Show 5 more groups
| Published group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Born abroad — Slovenia | 425 | 0.3% |
| Born abroad — Macedonia | 370 | 0.2% |
| Born abroad — Kosovo | 276 | 0.2% |
| Unknown place of birth — Source column 23 | 13 | 0.0% |
| Born in the Republic of Croatia — Unknown place in the Republic of Croatia | 6 | 0.0% |
Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7
Citizenship
Population in the Croatian 2021 Census; POPULATION BY CITIZENSHIP, BY TOWNS/MUNICIPALITIES, 2021 CENSUS; situation as on 31 August 2021 · 2021 Census (situation as on 31 August 2021)
| Published group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 160,577 | 100.0% |
| Croatian citizenship | 159,582 | 99.4% |
| Croatian citizenship — Out of that: Croatian and other | 4,287 | 2.7% |
| Foreign citizenship — Foreign | 962 | 0.6% |
| Stateless | 23 | 0.0% |
| Unknown citizenship — Unknown | 10 | 0.0% |
Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7
Ancestry or ethnicity
Population in the Croatian 2021 Census; POPULATION BY ETHNICITY, BY TOWNS/MUNICIPALITIES, 2021 CENSUS; situation as on 31 August 2021 · 2021 Census (situation as on 31 August 2021)
| Published group | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serbs | 1,495 | 0.9% |
| Bosniacs | 392 | 0.2% |
| Albanians | 266 | 0.2% |
| Montenegrins | 232 | 0.1% |
| Slovenians | 196 | 0.1% |
Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source7
Alternatives for people set on Split
Three places for the three reasons people leave a city on the shortlist: stay in the region, stay in the country, or keep the budget and change the country. A percentage appears only where both cities publish that metric from the same source, period and grain. Distances are straight lines — travel times are not collected yet.
Rijeka as a Split alternative in the same country
Better on 5 of 6 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0.
- Foreign residents: 1.0% Rijeka vs 0.4% Split+150%
- Rent: €10.90/m² Rijeka vs €12.90/m² Split−16%
- Residents: 107,964 Rijeka vs 160,577 Split−33%
- Median gross pay, region: €2,156 Rijeka vs €2,046 Split+5%
- Transport pass: €48 Rijeka vs €60 Split−20%
- Annual PM2.5: 8.0 µg/m³ Rijeka vs 8.7 µg/m³ Split−8%
Tallinn as a Split alternative in another country
Better on 2 of 2 metrics measured the same way, worse on 0. Rent and median gross pay, region cannot be compared like for like.
- Annual PM2.5: 3.0 µg/m³ Tallinn vs 8.7 µg/m³ Split−65%
- Rent: €7.33/m² (2008) Tallinn vs €12.90/m² (2025) Splitno percentage
- Median gross pay, region: €2,068 (2025) Tallinn vs €2,046 (2026) Splitno percentage
- Transport pass: €30 Tallinn vs €60 Split−50%
Alternatives with a better balance
Nearby is not always better: the greyed row leaves less than Split at the same fixed-cost basket. Every alternative publishes the same metric families, each with its own source and date.
Alternative cities in Croatia
Other cities in Croatia to compare with Split, nearest in population first.
How does Split compare?
Pick a city. The answer appears here and the address bar keeps it, so the comparison can be shared; the page stays Split's.
Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Split when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.
Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.
Open the official coverage guideSchool for children who move here. School is compulsory from age 6 to 15, and public school is free. Newly arrived pupils get support in the school language: Support programme for learning Croatian as L2 for pupils of asylum/protected categories (Ordinance on education of asylum seekers). How to enrol a child (mzo.gov.hr).
A country-wide rule for Croatia; Split's school authority applies it locally.
Sources: eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu · 2026.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
Is Split expensive?
Fixed monthly costs for one person in an 85 m² flat — net rent, utilities, a transport pass, internet and mobile — came to about €1,446 against a median gross salary of €2,046 (figures), leaving about €600 before income tax. Sources: the rent, recurring-cost and salary series published on this page, each with its own source and date.
How many people live in Split?
The published population was 160,577 people in August 2021. Source: HR official material for population_total.
How much does it cost to rent in Split?
Average net cold rent is 12.9 EUR/m² per month (2025), excluding heating and operating charges. For a 70 m² flat that is about 903 EUR a month before utilities. Source: MPGI/EIZ — Review of the Croatian real-estate market 2025.
Is the air quality good in Split?
The annual PM2.5 mean is about 8.7 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data.
What is the unemployment rate in Split?
The unemployment rate is about 7.9 % (2024). Source: Eurostat.
What is the typical salary around Split?
The median gross salary is 2,046 EUR/month. Source: podaci.dzs.hr.
How many foreign residents live in Split?
962 residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: HR official material for population_total.
Is Split a good place to live?
Split may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.
How many people born in Total population live in Split?
The official country of birth distribution records 160,577 people (100.0%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census (situation as on 31 August 2021). This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.
Cite this page
Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.
APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 29). Split, Croatia: population, cost of living, rent, salary [ImmigrationDB compilation; version c5cc9a7c5eb122fb367435e6c1c3ad75]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/hr/split/ Retrieved 2026-09-29. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_split-croatia-population-cost-of-living-rent-salary_0b1a0777c7dd,
author = {ImmigrationDB},
title = {Split, Croatia: population, cost of living, rent, salary},
publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-09-29},
version = {c5cc9a7c5eb122fb367435e6c1c3ad75},
url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/hr/split/},
note = {Retrieved 2026-09-29. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}Markdown citation
[Split, Croatia: population, cost of living, rent, salary](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/hr/split/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; version c5cc9a7c5eb122fb367435e6c1c3ad75; retrieved 2026-09-29; built 2026-09-29.This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.
Sources
- EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics — validated PM2.5 station data EEA Air Quality Annual Statistics · air.discomap.eea.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-26
- Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
- Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-03
- Eurostat ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-08-02
- Glavni cjenik od 01.06.26 promet-split.hr · checked 2026-07-26
- HR official material for city_area_km2 gisco-services.ec.europa.eu · checked 2026-07-18
- HR official material for population_total podaci.dzs.hr · checked 2026-07-18
- MPGI/EIZ — Review of the Croatian real-estate market 2025 MPGI/EIZ · mpgi.gov.hr · checked 2026-07-29
- podaci.dzs.hr podaci.dzs.hr · checked 2026-08-27
- WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 station CSV ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-29
Show 2 more sources
- Numbeo numbeo.com · checked 2026-08-03
- Numbeo cost of living — Split Numbeo cost of living · de.numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-29
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.