A Deep Dive into Croatia’s 2025 Salary Income Landscape

A Deep Dive into Croatia’s 2025 Salary Income Landscape

Understanding the geographical distribution of income is crucial for businesses, policymakers, and investors. By analyzing the Croatia Income Indicators dataset, which covers over 570 towns, municipalities, and Zagreb districts, we can uncover the distinct economic zones, emerging industrial powerhouses, and investment opportunities that define the country’s financial geography.

Regional Distribution of Income Levels

The data reveals a striking "Central-Coastal vs. Continental" divide in Croatia's income distribution.

  • The Wealthiest Core: The absolute highest income bands (18,000+ units) are concentrated almost exclusively in the City of Zagreb and its immediate "Zagreb Ring" county. Districts like Maksimir, Novi Zagreb, and Trešnjevka form the country's economic heart.
  • Coastal Prosperity: Regions such as Istria and Primorje-Gorski kotar consistently perform well, with averages often hovering in the high bands (16,001–18,000). The tourism and maritime industries are the likely drivers here.
  • Continental Challenges: In contrast, counties in Eastern Croatia (Slavonia), such as Virovitica-Podravina and Bjelovar-Bilogora, show a higher prevalence of lower income bands (14,001–16,000). This indicates a region where cost-sensitivity is a primary consumer driver.
Net Average Salary Income Map - Croatian Municipalities and Zagreb Districts

Industrial Hubs Driving Higher Income Levels

While major cities dominate the headlines, the data highlights specific smaller towns that punch above their weight, likely driven by strong industrial zones and entrepreneurship.

  • The "Golden Ring" of Zagreb: Towns like Sveta Nedelja, Samobor, and Zaprešić all fall into the top income tier (18,000+). Sveta Nedelja is particularly notable as a hub for high-tech innovation and manufacturing (home to Rimac Automobili), proving that targeted industrial development directly translates to top-tier resident income.
  • Regional Anchors: Towns like Varaždin and Koprivnica maintain solid middle-to-high income levels (16,001–17,000), reflecting their status as strong regional centers for food processing and manufacturing.

Income in the Largest Cities

When we examine Croatia’s most populous cities, a clear hierarchy emerges:

City / Region Income Band Key Driver
Zagreb 18,000+ units Capital city economy; corporate & financial center.
Split & Rijeka 17,001–18,000 units Tourism, maritime logistics, and regional trade.
Osijek 17,001–18,000 units Regional industrial hub; outperforms rural East.
  1. Zagreb: The capital is in a league of its own. Almost every district analyzed falls into the highest 18,000+ band.
  2. The Coastal Giants (Split & Rijeka): Both Split and Rijeka, along with Zadar, fall into the 17,001–18,000 band. They are wealthy, but on average slightly below the capital's peak zones.
  3. Osijek: As the largest city in the East, Osijek also sits in the 17,001–18,000 band, performing significantly better than its surrounding rural county and acting as a crucial economic anchor for Slavonia.

Income Data for Croatia

Our dataset covers all 572 towns and municipalities in Croatia (including Zagreb city districts), offering a comprehensive view of average personal income levels. The data is structured at the municipal level (LAU 2), allowing detailed analysis and comparison across regions such as Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, and beyond.

Each municipality record contains:

  • Total population
  • Total number of households
  • Total employed persons
  • Average net salary income (presented in income bands)

Income values are grouped into clearly defined ranges to simplify comparison and visualisation, for example:

  • 14,001–15,000
  • 15,001–16,000
  • 16,001–17,000

The dataset is based on information from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS). Geolocet further enhances and models these official statistics using proprietary data modelling techniques to ensure consistent coverage, comparability, and usability across all 572 administrative units.

Applications Across Industries

How can businesses use this map?

  • Retail & Luxury: Brands selling premium goods should focus their physical footprint on Zagreb’s city center and the Sveta Nedelja-Samobor axis, where disposable income is highest.
  • FMCG & Logistics: For mass-market products, the Osijek and Varaždin regions offer a stable consumer base with consistent middle-income levels.

    Combine with Other Datasets

    To maximize the value of this income data, it should be layered with:

    • Retail Location Data (Lidl & Kaufland): By overlaying existing store networks on top of income maps, we can identify coverage gaps or assortment mismatches.
    • Demographics: Identifying whether a high-income area is driven by young professionals (tech hubs) or retirees (coastal towns).

    Turn Data into Decisions

    Granular, reliable income data is essential for businesses and institutions seeking to understand Croatia’s diverse economic landscape. With Geolocet’s Croatia Income Indicators, you can move from assumptions to evidence-based strategies.

    Dataset coverage: 572 towns and municipalities (LAU 2) — municipal-level income bands, population and household counts, and employment statistics.

    Ready to explore?

    Explore our Income dataset or Request a tailored dataset.

    Prefer a demo or have specific requirements? Contact our team and we’ll tailor data to your region, industry, or project.

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