A comfortable retirement works out cheaper in Turkey — around £1,800/month for a couple, versus £2,150 in Croatia (about 16% more).
Cost of living, side by side
| Croatia | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Modest (couple/mo) | £1,550 | £1,150 |
| Comfortable (couple/mo) | £2,150 | £1,800 |
| Premium (couple/mo) | £3,100 | £2,900 |
Indicative monthly estimates for a couple — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
Croatia: EU/EEA and Swiss citizens buy on the same terms as Croatians. Non-EU nationals (including UK citizens) can usually buy an apartment or house but need Ministry of Justice consent under a reciprocity agreement, or can purchase through a Croatian company; farmland, forest and some protected coastal land remain off-limits.
Turkey: Foreigners from most countries can buy freehold property outright, registered in their own name on the tapu (title deed); individual foreign ownership is capped at 30 hectares nationwide and barred in military zones. No residence permit is needed to buy.
Croatia: Non-EU nationals can apply for temporary residence on the grounds of financial self-sufficiency — showing modest but stable income or savings, health insurance and accommodation — renewed annually.
Turkey: Turkey has no dedicated retirement visa; most retirees obtain a short-term residence permit (usually valid up to two years and renewable) by showing sufficient income or savings, valid health insurance and a local address.
Croatia: Croatia's public health fund (HZZO) is open to resident retirees for roughly EUR 90-100 a month, with an inexpensive top-up policy (dopunsko) covering most co-payments; UK state pensioners can instead use an S1 form. Private clinics are available for faster access.
Turkey: Turkey has modern, low-cost private hospitals, especially in Istanbul, Antalya and the coastal resorts. New residents must hold private health insurance, which is inexpensive, and after a year of residence under-65s can join the public SGK scheme for a modest annual premium.
Croatia: Croatia taxes residents on worldwide income, but under most double-tax treaties a foreign pension is taxed only in your country of residence; pension income also gets a personal allowance and a 50% reduction, so effective rates are modest. Confirm your treaty position.
Turkey: Once you are tax-resident, Turkey can tax worldwide income including foreign pensions, though the UK-Turkey double-tax treaty and generous allowances often keep the burden light; UK government-service pensions remain taxable in the UK. Take local advice on your position.
Croatia: A warm, dry Mediterranean summer along the Adriatic coast with mild winters, turning more continental and colder inland. May, June and September are the sweet spots. Croatia is very safe and easy-going; they drive on the right, English is widely spoken along the coast and by younger people, and daily life is comfortable for British retirees.
Turkey: A hot, dry Mediterranean and Aegean summer with warm, mild coastal winters makes for a long beach season, and spring and autumn are ideal. Inland winters, by contrast, are cold. The tourist coasts are safe and welcoming; they drive on the right, and English is widely spoken in expat and resort areas though far less so inland, where some Turkish goes a long way.
Croatia: Buyers pay a 3% real-estate transfer tax on resale homes (new-builds carry 25% VAT in the price instead), plus legal, notary and agency fees of a few percent. Non-EU citizens such as Britons need Ministry of Justice consent under a reciprocity rule, which can add two to six months to the process.
Turkey: The main one-off cost is the 4% title-deed (tapu) transfer fee, legally split with the seller but often paid in full by the buyer, plus modest notary, translator and agency fees; budget around 5-8% all in. A transfer can complete within a week or two once checks are done.
Croatia: Istria (Pula, Rovinj, Porec) for a gentle, Italian-flavoured peninsula close to Western Europe; the Dalmatian coast around Split and Zadar for island-hopping and sun; and Dubrovnik for beauty at a premium.
Turkey: Antalya and its suburbs for a warm coastal city; Fethiye and Calis for a relaxed resort feel; Bodrum for a smarter Aegean scene; and Altinkum/Didim for budget-friendly seaside living.
Thinking seriously about Croatia or Turkey?
Two honest Brits, a private call, and straight answers — see if a freehold home abroad is a fit for you.
See if you qualify →