HAPPY EURO, BUT YOU'LL MISS THE KUNA Zagreb overnight became one of the most expensive European cities

The new year brought Croats a new currency, and it seems that traders have adapted best to the transition to the euro. Prices have skyrocketed, so Croats spent the first evening of the new year mostly walking.

Because, besides most establishments being closed due to the holiday, exorbitant prices were not a reason to visit those that were open. 

For example, in an establishment reminiscent of McDonald’s, we mostly found teenagers, and the prices are too high even for Croatian standards. A burger, Coke, and fries cost 6 euros (about 13 BAM or 45 kuna). 

Zagreb residents spent the first New Year's night mostly walking and enjoying free entertainment (Photo: Patria) 

Although the center of Zagreb was teeming with people from the youngest to the oldest, the cafes we visited were quite empty. It was January 1st, and in an average pastry shop, a coffee with milk cost 2 euros, a pancake 3.50 euros, and a regular coffee with a pastry 4.70 euros. 

The exchange rate of the kuna that day was 7.53 to one euro. 

Given the holidays, the streets were full of vendors. Out of curiosity, we bought a medium-sized bag of popcorn from one elderly woman. That pleasure cost us 3 euros (6 BAM). The vendors were probably visibly stamping their feet because of the prices, as few people approached them. 

Although officials announced that both the kuna and the euro would be accepted in payments during the first days of the new year, that was not the case everywhere. We parked our car in an underground garage of a shopping center, and when we reached the payment machine, it returned our euros and displayed “invalid currency”. 

In small print on a printed paper, it said “the machine will only accept kuna in the first days of the year”. Three and a half hours of parking cost us about 50 kuna, which we secured thanks to kind Zagreb residents; otherwise, we would have had to spend the night in the garage. So, three and a half hours of parking is 7 euros. 

Although it seemed that Zagreb was enjoying the holiday night, it was evident that their first euro days were causing headaches. Today’s reaction from Croatia’s Minister of Economy, Davor Filipović, confirms what the Patria team saw on the first night of 2023. 

Inflation of 13.5 percent, profiteers taking advantage of the situation, made that first January night gloomy, but also foreshadowed difficult days for Croats. 

Happy euro to you, but you’ll miss the kuna!

(Filip Lobo)