Updated: July 2010

Useful information on accommodation facilities in Croatia (to buy or to rent) can be found on the following web site.

Renting an apartment is a process that needs to be started at least 1 month prior to arrival to Croatia. One can go through real estate agencies, a comprehensive list of which is collected here.

For longer stays a search through newspaper listings is also advisable. However, it is necessary to consult a person who speaks Croatian in order to translate the advertisements. The main newspaper for advertising accommodation is “Plavi oglasnik” (in Croatian). It can be bought nation-wide in Croatia or accessed online (in Croatian).

The monthly rate for a single-bed furnished apartment in cities varies from EUR 200-400 per month, depending on quality and location. In most cases, it is necessary to pay a deposit in the amount of one month’s rent, which is returned when moving out. There is a possibility of finding a roommate, and this is quite common in cities with lots of students. You can also use “Plavi oglasnik” to find a roommate.

A further possibility is living in student dormitories. The student dormitories in Zagreb are managed by Studentski Centar, and have a certain quota of spaces which they reserve for the University. Then it is the University's responsibility to contact Studentski Centar and recommend a foreigner to them – if there are rooms available for the requisite time, the foreign researcher/student can get a room in the dormitory.

Buying real estate has been made very easy for EU citizens since February 2009, i.e. their rights in buying and selling real estate are now equal to those of Croatian citizens. Other foreigners may encounter problems, as their rights will be subject to the reciprocity rule (i.e. what the rights are of Croatian citizens in the real estate market of their home country) and an agreement from the Ministry of Justice may be needed.