Dubrovnik
Croatia · Europe · 42K people
Walled Adriatic city whose Old Town became globally famous well beyond its size.
Ranked #163 of 303 overall · 42.65, 18.09
Overview
Dubrovnik, Croatia, is home to about 42,000 residents and has built a reputation that goes beyond its size. Dubrovnik is coastal, with the sea shaping daily life and the local economy. It's known for warm, sun-heavy weather for most of the year. People who choose to settle in Dubrovnik tend to point to a strong sense of safety, a climate most people find easy to live with, and solid infrastructure for remote work as the deciding factors. Within the 103 cities we track in Europe, the regional average sits at 6.9/10, which puts Dubrovnik's 6.6/10 a little behind the regional norm. On CityMatch, Dubrovnik scores 6.6/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #163 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is safety at 8/10, while cost of living is its softest spot at 5/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
Costs add up faster than average.
Low crime, easy to feel at ease.
Air quality is acceptable most of the year.
A car helps for anything off the main routes.
Pleasant weather most of the year.
Solid, unremarkable healthcare access.
Solid enough for day-to-day remote work.
Is Dubrovnik right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
A 8/10 safety score puts Dubrovnik among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Climate scores 8/10 — genuinely pleasant weather is one of the clearer reasons people choose Dubrovnik.
Air quality and environment score 7/10 here — outdoor time doesn't come with a mental asterisk.
Trade-offs
Cost of living is the toughest line item, at 5/10 — budget accordingly, especially on rent.
Transport is the soft spot at 5/10 — plan on a car or regular rideshares rather than relying on public transit alone.
Is Dubrovnik safe?
Safety is a genuine strength of Dubrovnik, at 8/10. It's the kind of city where petty crime and serious crime alike are less of a daily concern than in most of the 303 cities we track.
At night
Walking at night is generally low-stress here, though sticking to lit, populated streets is always sensible advice anywhere.
For tourists
Tourists rarely report serious issues beyond the ordinary pickpocket risk that exists in any well-visited city — normal vigilance in crowded areas is enough.
For families
Safety, healthcare (6/10) and environment (7/10) together suggest a reasonable, if not exceptional, environment for families.
For solo travelers
Cities scoring this well on safety (8/10) are generally considered comfortable for solo travelers, though — as anywhere — checking current, specific local advice before a trip is always worth the ten minutes it takes.
On public transport
Transport is reasonably safe day-to-day; late-night service quality and crowd levels are worth checking if you'll rely on it after dark.
Practical tips
- →Standard city awareness is genuinely enough here — no need for unusual precautions.
- →Keep half an eye on belongings in busy tourist spots, the same as anywhere.
What's the climate like in Dubrovnik?
Climate is one of Dubrovnik's clearer strengths at 8/10 — the kind of weather that makes outdoor plans a default rather than a gamble.
Seasonal character
Tagged as a warm-climate city in our data — expect mild winters and a long stretch of pleasant, sun-heavy weather rather than a sharp seasonal divide.
Comfort level
Comfort level is high enough that climate rarely dictates day-to-day plans — a rare trait among the cities we track.
Best time to live here
With a climate this consistent, there isn't a single "best" window — most of the year works.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Dubrovnik
Put together, quality of life in Dubrovnik is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: dubrovnik doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's generally favorable and transport that's worth planning around.
Pace & lifestyle
Dubrovnik doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place.
Nature & outdoors
Between an environment score of 7/10 and a climate score of 8/10, spending time outdoors is genuinely easy here, helped further by its coastal or warm-climate setting.
Getting around
Transport (5/10) has real gaps — plan on a mix of public options, walking and rideshares depending on where you end up living.
Culture & leisure
Dubrovnik is specifically known for its cultural and historical scene — museums, architecture and a dense calendar of things to do are part of its identity, not an afterthought.
Based on its actual score profile, Dubrovnik tends to suit people who prioritize safety and climate over cost of living — see "Who Dubrovnik suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik scores 7/10 on environment — decent air quality most of the year, without being a specific standout.
Public spaces
Public space quality isn't separately measured in our data; the environment score above is the closest proxy we have, and it points to an unremarkable, workable baseline.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Dubrovnik suits
Retiree
Retirees — retirees prioritizing healthcare, climate and a calm environment over nightlife or internet speed (fit score 6.6/10 here).
Digital nomad
Digital nomads — remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base (fit score 6.6/10 here).
Safety-first mover
Safety-first movers — people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (fit score 6.8/10 here).
Expat
Expats — expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected (fit score 6.7/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
Affordability is a real consideration here: Dubrovnik scores 5/10 on cost of living, meaning a comfortable lifestyle requires a proper budget.
Safety
Safety is one of Dubrovnik's clearest strengths, scoring 8/10 — the kind of place where walking home at night or letting kids out alone doesn't require much second-guessing.
Climate
The climate is a major selling point: Dubrovnik scores 8/10, with the kind of mild, sunny conditions that make outdoor life a year-round option rather than a summer-only one.
Quality of life
Dubrovnik's overall quality of life (6.6/10) comes from consistency rather than any single standout: every criterion sits within a few points of the others, with safety edging out as the strongest and cost of living the softest spot. The average across all seven criteria is 6.6/10.
Transport
Getting around Dubrovnik takes some planning: transport scores 5/10, and a car or rideshare budget is worth factoring in for anything off the main routes.
Internet & remote work
Connectivity in Dubrovnik scores 7/10 — solid enough for remote work day-to-day, without being a headline reason to move here.
Why choose Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik makes the most sense if safety matters more to you than cost of living — at 6.6/10 overall, it's a solid rather than perfect pick, and the trade-offs above are worth weighing against your own priorities rather than the headline score alone.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Dubrovnik safe?
Yes — Dubrovnik scores 8/10 on safety, among the higher end of the 303 cities we track. Normal city awareness is enough for most visitors and residents.
What budget do I need to live in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik scores 5/10 on affordability, on the pricier side of our database. Plan a proper budget, particularly for rent.
Is Dubrovnik good for families?
Dubrovnik is a reasonable family option — safety (8/10) and healthcare (6/10) are solid enough, without being standout strengths.
Is Dubrovnik a good city for students?
Dubrovnik isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (5/10) and transport (5/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Dubrovnik suitable for digital nomads?
Remote work is possible in Dubrovnik, but it's not an obvious pick — internet (7/10) and cost of living (5/10) are less favorable than our dedicated digital-nomad cities.
What's the climate like in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik scores 8/10 on climate — mild, pleasant conditions for most of the year, one of the better climate scores in our database.
Is Dubrovnik pleasant to live in year-round?
Largely yes — with a climate score of 8/10 and an environment (air quality) score of 7/10, Dubrovnik holds up well across seasons.
Is Dubrovnik a good choice for a first move abroad?
It's a reasonable choice for a first move: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to 6.5/10 here, a fairly forgiving combination for someone settling in for the first time.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Dubrovnik?
Dubrovnik scores 7/10 on internet — generally fine for remote work, without being a standout choice for it.
Is Dubrovnik a good place to retire?
It has real appeal for retirees: healthcare, climate and safety average out to 7.3/10 here — the three criteria that tend to matter most for that stage of life.
What are good alternatives to Dubrovnik?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Valletta and Venice are the closest matches to Dubrovnik in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Dubrovnik worth living in?
Reasonably — Dubrovnik scores 6.6/10 overall, a solid if unremarkable all-round profile. Whether it's "worth it" depends more on which specific criteria matter most to you than on the average alone.
Who should move to Dubrovnik?
Based on its score profile, Dubrovnik suits people who value safety and climate more than the average mover — see the "Who Dubrovnik suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Dubrovnik walkable, and is public transport good?
Not especially — Dubrovnik scores just 5/10 on transport, so expect to lean on a car, bike or rideshares more than public transit alone.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Dubrovnik?
Safety is Dubrovnik's standout strength, scoring 8/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Dubrovnik?
Cost of living is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 5/10 — the lowest of Dubrovnik's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.