- by croatiaweek
- April 6, 2026
- in
(Illustration)
While many Croatians continue to struggle with the rising cost of housing, another urban challenge is quietly intensifying, the growing shortage of parking spaces.
Across the country’s major cities, garages and parking spaces have become highly sought-after assets, with prices rising sharply due to limited supply and increasing demand.
In Zagreb, one seller is currently asking €115,000 for a 43-square-metre garage in the Siget neighbourhood.
Similar garages capable of accommodating two or more vehicles in the capital are commonly priced above €100,000. Even smaller garages are commanding extraordinary sums, with a 10-square-metre unit in the city centre advertised for €55,000.
Real estate agent Branko Papeš tells tportal.hr the surge has been dramatic. Just five years ago, garages in Zagreb, Rijeka and Split could be purchased for €15,000 to €17,000. Today, prices rarely fall below €40,000.
Demand is being driven by a chronic lack of parking spaces, particularly in older residential areas built decades ago when car ownership was far lower. In Zagreb’s Jarun neighbourhood, for example, housing was originally planned with roughly one car per three households.
Even Croatia’s largest residential building, Mamutica, with 1,169 flats, has only 256 garages, leaving thousands of vehicles competing for surrounding parking spaces.
Limited supply is also pushing prices higher. New developments usually include underground garages, but building standards often require only one space per smaller apartment. Many households now own two or more cars, creating additional pressure.
Garages are also increasingly viewed as an investment. In cities like Rijeka, they can be rented out for €200–€250 per month with minimal maintenance costs.
Public garages could ease the pressure, but such projects are rare due to limited urban space and lengthy planning procedures.
The result is a striking property reality: in some cases, the price of a single garage in Zagreb is now comparable to a small apartment elsewhere in Croatia.