クロアチアの物価 Prices in Croatia

クロアチアに旅行するにも生活するにもやっぱり気になるのは物価じゃないでしょうか。その前にクロアチアには十分に物が手に入るの、なんて思っている人も少なからずいるかもしれませんね。聞いた話によると、ザグレブでは戦争中もスーパーで十分に食べ物を手に入れることができていたようです。

  ザグレブと東京の物価を比較するのに便利なサイトがこちら。大体この通りで正しいかな、と思います。生活必需品で挙げてみると、ミルク１Lは6Kn（2012年2月の時点で1Kn=13.5円)、バター250gは14Kn、リンゴ1Kgあたり12Kn、みかんは1kgあたり12Kn、ジュース2Lで16Kn、コーラ2Lで12.5Knくらい、と食品は日本に比べてだいぶ安いかな。もちろん、果物などは季節によって値段の変動はありますが・・・。ちなみに、こちらでナシも売っていました！１ｋｇあたり14Knだったかな。見た目がどうみても洋ナシで、日本のナシには程遠い感じですが、食感と味はナシでした。あと、クロアチアでは塩入バターを探すのがものすごい大変。売られているバターの95％は無塩バターなんです。たま～に塩入バターを見つけるとうれしくなる。

After New Year Party

  ちなみにザグレブの平均月収は税引き後で大体7万円。 日本の平均年収を約300万とすると、日本の平均月収の半分以下です。クロアチアの所得分布は、いわゆる中産階級が一番少なく、高所得者と低所得者がほとんど、ちょっと特殊な構造です。

 　クロアチアはガソリンが高く、1Lあたり10Kn（約135円）と日本とあまり変わらない値段です。クロアチアの平均月収からしたらかなり高い。でも、みんな運転するのを控えたりはしないみたい。

 　ザグレブ中心でアパートを探そうとしたら、最低でも4万円くらい。そんな状況でザグレブで生活していくには、夫婦共働きでないとやっていけません。なので、女性の社会進出という点では日本よりもものすごく進んでいます。

 　そしてもう一つ、クロアチアで驚いたことは、結構みんないい車、比較的新しいに乗っているということ。レクサスのディーラーを見つけた時はものすごい驚きました。こんなところでも、そんなに高い車を買える人がいるのか、と・・・。あと、意外にルイ・ヴィトンとかブランド物のバッグを持っている人も、ザグレブでは見かけます。クロアチア人は意外と見栄っ張りなところがあるのかも・・・。

Everyone left food for us

 Comparing prices (especially, food at a supermarket) in Zagreb with Japan, I think prices of most food here is almost half of Japan. I think this website shows relatively accurate data about prices in Zagreb and Tokyo. I would say, vegetables and fruits are much much cheaper than in Japan. But, I found that petrol here is extremely expensive. I've heard that the average monthly salary in Zagreb is about 700 euros after tax, whereas, the average monthly salary in Japan is about 1,700 euros after tax. It's hard to get the average monthly salary in Japan, because it largely varies depending on cities. Of course, people in Tokyo have higher monthly income, on the contrary, people in Okinawa and Aomori have nearly half salary of people in Tokyo. But, let's say, average monthly salary in Japan as broad is 1,700 euros after tax, which is calculated from an official data saying that the average yearly salary in Japan is about 29,000 euros.

  Anyway, petrol..., here in Zagreb, petrol is 10Kn (about 1.32 euro) per liter, whereas in Japan, petrol is 140 yen (about 1.35 euro) per liter. So, almost the same price! But, people in Croatia tend not to cut spending on petrol, and still enjoy driving their cars. It's like Japanese people pay 3 euro per liter or more for petrol from their income. I think if that would ever happened, many Japanese would give up their car and use alternate transportation such as trains and buses.

  Also, I found that renting a decent apartment in the centre of Zagreb is quite pricey. I think one bed room apartment in the centre of Zagreb costs at least 400 euros. So, I think it is very hard for an average salary person to rent an apartment, own a car and buy groceries. Therefore, most of families in Croatia are double-income households. I think this is one of the reasons why so many women participate in society.

Nashi (Japanese pear)

  On the contrary, in Japan, it's very hard for women to pursue her career. Many women quit their jobs when they get married or when they have babies. Of course, we do have maternity leave, but still, many women find it is very difficult to balance their career and parenthood and decide to leave their companies. I think many women in Japan wish to return to work when their children start going to school, but finding a company who employs them. Even if they do find a job, it's not something they can establish a career.

  Anyway, I was also very surprised by Croatian people's buying power (or better to say, willingness to buy). I didn't expect to see the Lexus dealer in Croatia. And I didn't expect to see some women holding brand-name bags such as Louis Vuitton. I was wondering, to be honest, how come they can afford those luxury things. Well, I know it sounds a bit rude for people in Croatia, but still many Japanese people think Croatia is a poor country and had a bad economy, and people in Croatia live in a poor living condition as in a Soviet Union... So, yeah, I hope I can change their wrong image of Croatia through my blog :)