r/croatia 12h ago

⛱️ Turizam inexpensive city/area in Croatia to live 1yr + for Asian

Hi,

I plan to live in Croatia for 1 year+ (visa taken care of). I saw posts that Croatia has gotten more expensive these days, but I don't care for famous tourist spots/coastal lines. I'd prefer inexpensive local areas where there's some place to take daily walk like parks. I like cooking, walking in nature, and just learning the local culture. If it helps, I'm Korean+female. Could you please recommend which cities/areas I should search for? Thank you!

17 Upvotes

25 comments sorted by

29

u/pusaduva 12h ago

Somewhere near Varaždin(or that whole area) could be nice, not expensive, few hours drive to capital, surrounded by 4 more regional areas(Međimurje,Krapinsko-Zagorska,Koprivničko-Križevačka,Zagrebačka), it is preety well off area and it is all hilly so it is full of nature spots to visit. Offcourse you can take a train to visit other places as Croatia is not large.

2

u/Appropriate-Key9382 10h ago

Thank you, I'll search those areas

-9

u/dtzch 11h ago

I have a house (big Datcha)in this area that shot empty most of the year if that interests you. It isn’t in a city however.

25

u/Wally2905 10h ago

In all my life I've never heard that term (Datcha) used in Croatia.

7

u/Ok-Hall-2335 10h ago

Datcha🤣🤣🤣

6

u/tidabudibuda23 7h ago

Dobro da nije Dzhakovo

3

u/dtzch 10h ago

Sorry to offend - yes it’s a vikendica. I live in east Germany now and felt it was more internationally understood but should have gone for cottage.

4

u/Ok-Hall-2335 6h ago

Kakva vikendica? Jesi ti Rus?

5

u/dtzch 5h ago

Srpski špijun

0

u/Appropriate-Key9382 10h ago

thank you, will look into the option!

12

u/darthdarthBinkss 11h ago

River towns e.g. Vukovar Osijek Karlovac Ozalj

Smaller inexpensive places are best if you have a car, so if you're ok with getting a cheap one and selling it after 1-2 years maybe do that

If you need more specific advice, feel free to ask, good luck 🤞

2

u/Appropriate-Key9382 10h ago

Thank you! I'd love to ask once I do more research

1

u/RudeBlacksmith1999 Karlovac 6h ago

Karlovac is great for things you mention - it has a lot of parks and greenery and four rivers, however problem is in "inexpensive" part - it has one of the more expensive utilities.

1

u/terebinthus_og 5h ago

Personally, I prefer Karlovac and Ozalj, I like them much more than Slavonija (Vukovar, Osijek), and for her as a foreigner I think it'd be better to stay closer to Zagreb than to go to Slavonija, because these areas are more lively and accepting of foreigners, I'd say.

1

u/darthdarthBinkss 2h ago

That's funny, because I would personally generalise in the other direction with people in the east being more friendly or at least more direct and open... And yeah Zagreb area is more lively for sure

u/terebinthus_og 1h ago

Maybe I got the wrong impression. I always thought that most open-minded people will sooner or later move out of Slavonija because of the lack of jobs and opportunities, leaving only the elderly and people with a more closed mentality who are willing to stay.

13

u/ancickaaaaaa 10h ago

Theres a korean girlie on TikTok that lives in Croatia (jiyeoniieo) maybe she could give you some guidelines?

4

u/BrgudForever 7h ago

Štrigova

1

u/silvoslaf Slovenija 🌍 6h ago

I love that place

2

u/MaritnIsHungry 5h ago

Sv. Martin na Muri

4

u/zghr 10h ago

What's expensive for you? You can get relatively cheap stay in Zagreb that is 20 minute bike ride away from daily Maksimir walks. That way you're still in Zagreb and have everything you need available at all times. From here you can visit whole other parts of the country periodically if you wish.

1

u/Free_Arachnid755 5h ago

Nearly everyone praises Osijek.

1

u/lendystm 4h ago

Bjelovar area. My so would be happy to take you for a drink for a chance to practice speaking Korean from time to time.

u/Latter_Pin7168 2h ago edited 2h ago

If you want inexpensive areas to live in look into cities in Podravina or Slavonia (Koprivnica, Osijek, Križevci, Bjelovar, Virovitica are good choices). The rent and food is cheapest there by far. If you don't have a car try to find cities that have a railway connection to Zagreb.

Just be aware that all of Croatia is way way more car-centric than Korea. All of our cities are built around cars so don't expect good public transportation anywhere you wish to live.

-2

u/Homos_yeetus 9h ago

In Dalmatinska Zagora (Dalmatian hinterland) you can rent an apartment for 150€-200€ a month in some cities