PROPERTY PRICES IN ZAGREB 2026: WHAT WILL HAPPEN AND IS IT STILL WORTH BUYING?
Real estate prices in Zagreb in 2026: What will happen and is it still worth buying?
The real estate market in Zagreb continues to attract buyers, investors, and developers. However, the question increasingly arises not only how much a square meter of apartment costs today, but also what exactly is behind that price.
According to the latest data from the Central Statistical Office, the average price per square meter for newly sold apartments in Zagreb in the first half of 2026 was €3,518 . Compared to the same period in 2025, this represents an increase of 18.9 percent.
This is a meaningful indicator of the market, but the average value is not the answer to the question of how much a particular apartment is worth.
Why are property prices rising in Zagreb?
The price of an apartment is the result of a number of factors: location, construction quality, land price, construction costs, architectural design, energy efficiency, parking availability and, of course, supply and demand.
When setting prices for new apartments, the CBS separates the costs for building land, construction and the contractor's profit from other costs such as planning, permits, construction supervision, financing and taxes.
Therefore, two apartments of the same size do not necessarily have nearly the same value.
Zagreb is not a single market
One of the most common mistakes in real estate valuation is to consider the price per square meter for the entire city of Zagreb as if it were a single market.
Location is a major factor in determining the value of a property.
An apartment in a well-connected urban area, close to shopping facilities, green spaces, schools and public transport, can have a completely different potential than an equally sized apartment in a different location.
Therefore, when buying, it is not enough to simply ask:
"How much does a square meter cost?"
A better question would be:
"What will I get for this field?"
Is now a good time to buy an apartment?
There is no universally valid answer.
For a home buyer, it is more important to find a property that meets their needs, financial means and long-term plans than to get the lowest price on the market.
For investors, the situation is different. The potential of the location, the entry price, the development costs, the expected value after completion of the project, and the possibility of selling or renting are important factors.
In other words, a good property does not automatically become a bad investment just because the market is expensive – but a bad property that was bought at a high price rarely becomes a good investment.
New construction or high-quality renovated property?
The rise in prices for new buildings also raises the question of alternatives.
Existing buildings in attractive urban locations offer interesting development potential. Professional renovation can improve room layout, furnishings, energy efficiency, and the overall functionality of the premises.
This is precisely one of the areas in which Airflow develops projects – from the renovation of existing residential buildings to new construction.
What should you pay attention to before buying?
Before you decide to buy an apartment in Zagreb, you should check the following:
• Location and micro-location
• Price per m² compared to similar properties
• Quality of construction and finishing work
• Floor plan and functionality of the room
• Energy efficiency
• Parking and storage space
• Condition of the building
• Documentation and ownership rights
• potential future value of the property
• the total cost of the purchase, not just the advertised price
The future of value does not lie solely in squares.
Real estate is about more than just the number of square meters.
A well-designed apartment in a good location can be worth more than a larger but less well-organized apartment.
Therefore, in real estate development, it is not enough to simply create more living space. One must understand how people want to live, what the location allows, and which qualities of space will be valuable in ten or twenty years.
At Airflow, this approach underlies the development of projects – a combination of architecture, construction and long-term spatial planning.
Diploma
Property prices in Zagreb remain high, and the latest data shows that the market for new apartments continued to grow in the first half of 2026.
However, the price per square meter alone is not enough to make a decision.
When buying or investing, one must consider the overall picture: location, quality, potential, costs and long-term value.
Airflow develops and builds living spaces in Zagreb with the aim of creating long-term value – both for those who live in them and for those who invest in them.
Source: CBS, updated September 2026
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