What if you were born in Croatia?

If you had grown up in Croatia instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Zagreb could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Old Town of Dubrovnik and Bokar Fortress. Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Croatia

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in EUR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Croatia: EUR 1,770Rs 541,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 511
Transport (public transport): EUR 90
Food: EUR 255
Saved: EUR 265

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Croatia: EUR 4,060Rs 1,240,000
Rent (suburbs): EUR 1,040
Transport (public transport): EUR 207
Food: EUR 690
Saved: EUR 609

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Croatia: EUR 6,580Rs 2,010,000
Rent (city centre): EUR 1,610
Transport (car): EUR 616
Food: EUR 806
Saved: EUR 1,840

Try it with my own income

A day in Zagreb

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Zagreb, a city of snowy winters around -1°C and warm summers around 23°C.
Commute
You take a bus and a train: about 40 minutes, a bit longer in bad weather.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Croatian at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be peka: meat and vegetables slow-cooked under a bell-shaped iron lid.
Evening
You get home with EUR 609 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains, and skiing in winter.

Croatia compared with Pakistan

	Croatia	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	2.6× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	79 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	16 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	5.0%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	11°C	26°C
Languages	Croatian	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	EUR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Croatia, living in Croatia and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Croatia?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around EUR 4,060 a month at the same level in Croatia (about Rs 1,240,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Croatia more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 2.6 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Croatia?

Mainly Croatian. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Croatia?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Croatia page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.