ZAGREB, 9 Dec (Hina) – The basic basket for a family of four, covering food and essential hygiene items, cost an average of €486.07 nationally in November 2025, €2.51 more than in October, with Požega -Slavonia County the most expensive, according to the monthly survey by the price comparison portal koliko.hr.
The survey, published on Tuesday and carried out in cooperation with the Croatian Consumer Protection Association (HUZP), shows that after a slight easing in October, prices have returned to September levels.
For the second month running, the most expensive “survival basket” was in Požega -Slavonia County, where it cost €495.55. Meanwhile, the cheapest was in Sisak-Moslavina County at €477.39.
The second most expensive basket was in Dubrovnik-Neretva County at €494.58 and the third in the City of Zagreb at €491.06. On the other end of the scale, after Sisak-Moslavina, the cheapest basket for a family of four was in Koprivnica-Križevci County at €478.19, followed by Virovitica-Podravina County at €478.78.
The pattern is similar for families of three, with the national average basic basket amounting to €386.33, €2.04 more than in October. Požega -Slavonia County was again the most expensive at €393.95, while Sisak-Moslavina County remained the cheapest at €379.68.
Living alone the most expensive
Living alone remains the most expensive, with the basic basket for a single person costing €250.31 in November, up €1.61 month-on-month. Here too Požega -Slavonia County was the most expensive at €255.91, while the cheapest was in Koprivnica-KriЕѕevci County at €245.69.
The basic basket contains 51 items and covers a household’s modest but balanced monthly needs. It includes staple foods such as bread, flour, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, meat, cheaper fish, dairy products and spices, along with personal and household hygiene products including soap, shampoo, detergent and toilet paper. Quantities reflect actual minimum needs, with no frills or excess, which is why it is called a survival basket. Preference is given to domestic products available in most retail chains, the portal explains.
County-level prices are calculated as averages based on the continuous monitoring of retail price lists, which retail chains are required to publish daily under a government decision from 2 May this year. The national basket price represents the average of county values and provides the most accurate picture of food and hygiene costs in Croatia.
Single pensioners can afford only half a basket
The portal also calculated the price of a standard basket, which includes a wider selection of food and hygiene products — 77 in total — and reflects Croatian families’ actual consumption habits. In November, its price reached €721.34 for a family of four, €2.44 more than in October; €575.82 for a family of three, €2 more; and €326.59 for a single person, up €1.45 month-on-month.
According to Siniša Domislović of koliko.hr, compared with October, laundry detergent, processed ham, wafers and vegetables that are out of season have become significantly more expensive. On the other hand, onions, beans, pork and toilet paper have fallen in price.
The statement also carries a comment from HUZP president Ana Knežević, who stresses that single pensioners can afford to buy only half of the basket.
“The price drop was short-lived, and we now face the challenge of holiday prices. What saddens us most is that the most expensive baskets are those for single households, of which there are as many as 400,000 out of Croatia’s total 1.4 million households. People over 65 make up 60% of single households and have very low pensions. We see that the basic basket for one person costs €250.31, while the slightly broader one costs €326.59. This means that once they cover all utility bills, these fellow citizens are left with half-empty baskets. Those running this country should take more heed of that,” Knežević said.
