Split is a seaside city built around a Roman emperor’s palace on the Adriatic, with clear water, island ferries, Marjan Hill for hiking and a relaxed cafe culture along the Riva. Croatia’s digital nomad permit lets non-EU remote workers stay for up to 18 months with no Croatian income tax on their foreign earnings, which makes Split one of the most attractive long-stay bases in southern Europe.
Summers are hot and packed with tourists, and the city is quiet in winter. This guide covers what you need to set up for a month or more. For sights as a visitor, see the Split travel guide.
Split for Digital Nomads at a Glance#
Why Split Works for Remote Workers#
- The Adriatic. Swimming, kayaking and sailing from spring to autumn.
- The islands. Ferries to Brač, Hvar, Vis and Šolta for weekends.
- A tax-free permit. Croatia’s nomad permit does not tax foreign remote income.
- Safety. Croatia is one of Europe’s safest countries.
- Time zone. Central European Time, overlapping the US East Coast’s morning in your afternoon.
Who It Suits (and Who It Doesn't)#
Split suits people who love the sea and the outdoors and want a long, legal stay in the EU. It suits you less in July and August, when crowds and prices peak, or if you want a big city with year-round nightlife: from November to March, many places close.
Visas#
Croatia is in the Schengen Area, so most non-EU visitors can stay 90 days in any 180. The temporary stay for digital nomads lasts up to 18 months for non-EU citizens working for foreign employers or clients, with about €3,620 a month in income or about €65,200 in savings. Foreign remote income is not taxed in Croatia. You must wait six months after the permit ends before applying again.
Croatia: Temporary Stay for Digital Nomads
- Stay
- Up to 18 months
- Valid for
- Up to 18 months
- Renewal
- Not straight away: you must wait 6 months after the permit ends before applying again
- Money required
- About €3,620 a month, or about €65,200 in savings for 18 months (updated each March)
- Fee
- About €70 to €100 in fees
- Who qualifies
- Non-EU remote workers employed by or running a company outside Croatia.
- Family
- Each family member adds 10% of the average salary
- Tax
- Foreign income from remote work is exempt from Croatian income tax
- How to apply
- Online through the Ministry of Interior, at a consulate, or at a police station in Croatia if you entered visa-free. Official site
The tax exemption makes it one of the best deals in Europe, but the 6-month gap means it is not a route to long-term residence.
Croatia for digital nomads · Rules checked October 2026. Confirm with the official source before applying.
What It Costs#
These are monthly costs for one person renting a furnished one-bed outside the summer peak, in US dollars. Many flats switch to holiday rentals from June to September, when prices double or triple.
| Monthly cost | Typical range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished 1-bed apartment, monthly | $700 - $1,400 | Cheap from October to May; summer holiday-rental prices are much higher |
| Bills | $50 - $120 | Air-con in summer, heating in winter |
| Home internet | Fibre in parts of the city; ask for a speed test | |
| Coworking | $170 - $260 | Day passes about €15-25; monthly about €170-240 |
| Food (groceries plus eating out often) | $350 - $600 | Konobas, the fish market and the green market |
| Transport | $20 - $60 | Promet Split buses; ferries to the islands |
| Phone plan with data | $10 - $25 | A1, Telemach or Hrvatski Telekom; EU roaming included |
| Gym and activities | $30 - $100 | Kayaking, sailing and hiking Marjan Hill |
| Social life and extras | $150 - $350 | Coffee culture on the Riva; island day trips |
These are ballpark estimates, not quotes. Real costs vary hugely with your lifestyle, which neighbourhood you live in, how often you eat out or take taxis, the season and the exchange rate. Use them to compare places, then check current prices before you commit.
Ways to save: sign a long rental from October to May (the landlord’s off season), shop at the green market (pazar) and fish market, and drink coffee on the Riva like a local, slowly.
Where to Live#
Most nomads live in Varoš, near the old town, or by the beaches of Bačvice and Firule.
| Neighbourhood | Vibe | 1-bed / month | Best for | Getting around |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varoš | Stone houses and narrow lanes on the slope of Marjan, just west of the old town | $800-1,400 | Character and walking | Walk everywhere |
| Old town (Diocletian's Palace) | Living inside a Roman palace, surrounded by cafes and history | $800-1,500 | Off-season stays | Walk; very busy in summer |
| Bačvice and Firule | Residential streets by the city's sandy beach east of the centre | $750-1,300 | Beach living | Walk to the centre in 10-20 minutes |
| Meje and Spinut | Quiet, green streets near Marjan Hill and the sea | $800-1,400 | Calm and nature | Buses; walk to the centre |
| Žnjan | Modern flats by a long beach promenade in the east | $650-1,200 | Modern flats and sea views | Buses; 15-20 minutes to the centre |
Long-term rentals are listed on Njuškalo (the main Croatian site), Airbnb and in Split expat and rental Facebook groups. Agree whether the lease runs through summer: many landlords want their flat back for holiday renting.
Coworking Spaces#
Day passes cost about €15 to €25 and monthly desks about €170 to €240. Prices below are as published or recently reported.
TinkTank Coworking
A small, friendly coworking office with 14 desks, gigabit fibre, a free meeting room and unlimited coffee and tea, with daily, weekly and monthly prices.
Best for: A quiet desk at a fair price
Split has a strong cafe culture, but many cafes are built for long coffees, not laptops, and some lack outlets. Smaller coworking spaces open and close often, especially seasonally.
Internet and SIM Cards#
Fibre is available in parts of the city, typically 100 to 500 Mbps, but older buildings may have slower connections. Prepaid SIMs from A1, Telemach and Hrvatski Telekom are cheap, and EU roaming rules apply.
Getting Around#
The centre is compact and walkable. Promet Split buses cover the city and nearby towns. Ferries and catamarans from the harbour reach the islands; book ahead in summer. The airport is about 30 minutes west, and buses run to Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Bosnia.
Weather and When to Go#
May, June, September and October are the best months: warm, sunny and good for swimming, with fewer crowds. July and August are hot and very busy. Winter is mild but wet and windy, and the city is quiet.
Community and Meeting People#
The community is smaller than in Lisbon or Las Palmas, and seasonal. Coworking events, hiking on Marjan, sailing and kayaking groups, and Split and Croatia digital nomad Facebook groups are the easiest ways in.
Health and Safety#
Split is very safe. Watch your belongings in summer crowds. Healthcare is good; non-EU visitors need health insurance, which the nomad permit requires.
Split Digital Nomad FAQs#
Is Split good for digital nomads?
Yes, especially in spring and autumn. It has the sea, islands, safety and Croatia’s tax-free nomad permit. Summer is crowded and expensive, and winter is quiet.
How much does it cost to live in Split as a nomad?
About $2,300 a month for a comfortable life with your own flat outside summer, from about $1,600 on a budget. These are ballpark figures, and summer rents are much higher.
What is Croatia's digital nomad visa?
A temporary stay permit of up to 18 months for non-EU remote workers, with no Croatian income tax on foreign earnings. It needs about €3,620 a month in income or savings to match.
When is the best time to live in Split?
May to June and September to October, when the sea is warm and the crowds are smaller. Long rentals are easiest to find from October to May.
Last reviewed October 2026. Prices and venues change: check before you commit to a month.