Moving to Croatia from Japan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Japan to Croatia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Japan to Croatia, you would find that Croatia is 28.6% more expensive than Japan overall. A ¥11,948,175 salary in Japan would need to be roughly HRK588,374 in Croatia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Croatian. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Japan and Croatia.
What does your salary buy?
¥11,948,175 → HRK588,374
To maintain the same standard of living in Croatia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more
Groceries
pay 18.3% less
Transportation
pay 11.4% more
Housing
pay 22.8% more
Childcare
pay 21.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 8.0% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Croatia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Japan to Croatia.
Who's moving to Croatia?
Top countries of origin for Croatia's foreign-born residents.
- 381,100
- 48,170
- 31,783
- 18,432
- 9,462
- 5,815
- · · ·
-
52.50
Japan
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Croatia compared to Japan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Croatia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Croatia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan generally does better on environment, though Croatia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Croatia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Croatia leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Japan generally does better on family life, though Croatia leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Zagreb |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 44°/29°F (7°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 69°/48°F (21°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 50°/35°F (10°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Zagreb |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 38°/25°F (3.1°/-4.0°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 43°/28°F (6.1°/-2.5°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 52°/34°F (11.3°/0.9°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 62°/41°F (16.4°/4.9°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.2°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 76°/55°F (24.6°/12.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 80°/58°F (26.7°/14.2°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 79°/57°F (26.2°/13.7°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 72°/51°F (22.3°/10.4°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 61°/42°F (16.2°/5.8°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 49°/35°F (9.3°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 40°/29°F (4.4°/-1.9°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Croatia. To live, work, or study long-term in Croatia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Croatia's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Croatia
Visa Free
Croatia passport holder visiting Japan
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Croatia than Japan?
On average Croatia is around 21% pricier than Japan, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Croatia?
Budget about HRK147,094 for 3 months in Croatia (based on a ¥11,948,175 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Croatia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Croatia: 27.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Croatia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Croatia safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Croatia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Croatia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Croatia compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Croatia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Croatia, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Croatia scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Croatia compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Zagreb is 60°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Zagreb receives around 33.7 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Croatia?
The official language in Croatia is Croatian. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
