Zagreb - Post Report Question and Answers
How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Groceries (mostly shopped at Super Konzum) were really affordable, and they had a wide range of items. We didn't really feel deprived grocery-wise (restaurant cuisine was a different matter). - Jan 2023
There is pretty good availability of items, although a few we have not easily obtained are: ranch dressing, PAM cooking spray, large jars of peanut butter, beef jerky, weed spray for the yard, heartworm medicine for the dogs, and Velveeta.
Vegetables and fruits are very seasonal here, which is nice because it makes you feel like you are eating healthy. When you just crave fresh green beans and cannot get them 10 months of the year, it does get a little frustrating.
Ordering through Amazon or Walmart is good and typically takes 10 days through DPO (although it could take longer). - Jul 2018
You really can buy almost anything you want here, or order it from Amazon via the APO or pouch. There is not a huge need to stock up unless you like specific brands. Many people also make regular trips to the military bases in Italy (4 hours away) to shop at the commissary. The things I would recommend are US brand over the counter medications, both for kids and adults. There are very few 24 hour pharmacies here, and much of the medicine is not labeled in English. Common name-brands of US meds aren't available here (Tylenol, Bendryl, Sudafed)---you can find the generics under a different manufacturer and label. I regularly order breakfast cereal for our family, as local options are usually limited to corn flakes, chocolate cereal and muesli. Many people order cake mixes and icing, as well as brownie mixes. There are new little organic food stores popping up every week downtown, as well as more and more "ethnic" products too. - Apr 2016
Groceries were a little cheaper than in the U.S. Household supplies were significantly more expensive to buy in Croatia but the higher prices could generally be offset by shopping online or at Aviano Air Force Base (3 hours away in Italy). - Aug 2014
A little cheaper than the USA if you stay away from lots of prepackaged foods. There is a great farmers markets downtown every day. - Jun 2014
The fresh food in the grocery stores is pretty good and reasonably priced. They lack some of the staples of the American diet (items that come to mind are peanut butter, cheddar cheese, and sliced/good bread). The local stores lack high quality goods and offer products that are similar to what you'd find in an American dollar store, but not at dollar store prices. We thought that this would get better once the country joined the EU but change for the better has been extremely slow moving. - Feb 2014
Pretty expensive, but it won't break the bank. Most things are available, but it'll take some searching to get a lot of items that are readily available at stores in the US (e.g., cheddar cheese, peanut butter and cake mixes). - Jan 2012
Relatively cheap. - Dec 2011
Somewhat expensive, but it is what it is. - Oct 2010
Cheap. Locals like to say it's expensive to live in Zagreb, but our grocery bill is very low!American products aren't in abundance, but it's also not like going to an Asian grocery store and not recognizing anything on the shelves. - Mar 2009
Good availability and choice. Cost is, in my opinion, slightly lower than in European cities. - Mar 2009
