Economic trends in Croatia and Slovenia

Economic indicators in Croatia and Slovenia show varying trends in wages and living costs during mid-2026. In Croatia, June 2026 data indicated an average monthly net salary of 1,555 EUR, a 7.7% nominal increase compared to the previous year. The average gross salary was 2,184 EUR, with a median net salary of 1,345 EUR. The air transport industry reported the highest average gross salary at 3,402 EUR, while clothing manufacturing recorded the lowest at 1,316 EUR. This net salary level approaches the government’s target of 1,600 EUR by the end of the current mandate. Sectoral disparities persist in Croatia; for instance, while construction wages saw an 11.4% annual increase, the June 2026 net wage of 1,294 EUR remained 16.8% below the national average. By July 2026, reports highlighted regional food price gaps, with a 48.57 EUR difference between Zadar and Sisak-Moslavina. Additionally, Croatian pensioners were scheduled for a 5.38% increase in monthly payments. Croatia’s GDP grew by 1.7% in the second quarter, marking 22 consecutive quarters of growth. While this is a slowdown from the 2.2% growth in the previous quarter, it remains higher than the EU average of 1.2% and the eurozone average of 1.0%. Growth was driven by a 3.0% increase in exports and a 2.0% rise in government consumption, though household consumption slowed to 0.5% due to rising energy prices. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković noted Croatia is one of only four EU nations—alongside Belgium, Bulgaria, and Cyprus—to maintain uninterrupted growth since early 2021. Minister of Economy Tomislav Ćorić expressed optimism that growth could exceed 2% by year-end, driven by the tourist season. However, Milivoj Špika, president of the Association of Retired Workers (BUZ), criticized the figures, stating that GDP growth does not reflect actual living standards and noting that over 700,000 retirees live in or near poverty.