After 28 years, the kuna has been officially replaced as the national currency. Here’s what you should know about the euro in Croatia.
In December 2011, after six years of negotiations, an agreement was signed that corroborated Croatia’s accession to the European Union. In July 2013, Croatia officially became the 28th member of the European Union. As part of the requirements for all members Croatia had to adopt the euro as its official currency. Today, it is a reality.
After 28 years as the official currency in Croatia, the kuna was finally replaced by the euro on January 1st.
The currency migration plans began last year when certain measures were implemented to ensure a smooth transition. For example, prices began to be displayed in both kunas and euros, so that those residing in Croatia become familiar with the price of the most common products. The Croatian government also made sure to monitor price increases more closely.
Here are five things to keep in mind about the euro in Croatia:
Can I still use kuna as a payment method?
Until a few days ago, it was still possible to use kunas in coins or banknotes for most payments. After all, what to do with all the kuna we had left in cash? Part of the government’s plan is to collect all those kunas to stop their circulation. We remind you that all cash payments must be made in euros.
What if I still have kuna coins?
Don’t worry! You can still go to the nearest post office (Hrvatska pošta) to exchange those kunas for euros. Usually, you can exchange up to 100 coins or 100 bills per day. In some post offices the limit can be up to 50 coins and for a limit value. Remember, those post offices still need euros in cash for their daily services!
Are there still exchange offices?
If you bring dollars or pounds with you, of course you can change them at exchange offices. These will continue to operate throughout the year, especially in most tourist destinations. You can also withdraw cash (in euros) from most ATMs. The exchange rate of the euro against other world currencies is yet not fixed, but changes almost every day depending on the market conditions.
Are prices now shown only in euros?
After so many years using the kuna, it is understandable that it is still difficult to fully familiarize yourself with the currency exchange. For this reason, most of the prices that you see in both physical and online stores will be shown in both euros and kunas throughout this year.
What about inflation?
Inflation was already a topic of conversation before transitioning to the euro. In October 2022, it reached an all-time high of 14.20%. In recent weeks, the general rise in prices has generated a lot of discontent among the population, with the Croatian government pointing fingers at many companies for their disloyalty. Some of them, like Hrvatski Telekom, have sent communications to their users to explain in detail the price increase on their bills, and guaranteeing that these will not exceed 10% while they try to adjust. We recommend that you carefully review all your bills at the end of the month and, if necessary, contact the respective companies or institutions to obtain more detailed answers.
If you have more questions, contact us on our social networks or send us an email to community@dnacroatia.com
