Data Centers in Zagreb

Zagreb – Strategic Gateway to the Adriatic and Balkans

Executive Summary

Zagreb serves as the primary interconnection bridge connecting Central European networks to the Balkan Peninsula. For enterprises targeting the Adriatic region, it provides a stable, low-latency environment with a power grid heavily reliant on renewables. This market represents a strategic site for achieving regional digital dominance and infrastructure security.

Zagreb: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Zagreb is the definitive networking core for Croatia, providing essential transit routes between the Mediterranean and Central Europe.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: Carrier count: over 15 as of September 2025. The market hosts between 15 and 20 carriers, offering competitive local loop and long-haul transport. Neutrality is a standard feature among the leading facilities in the city, ensuring flexible provider selection.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: Over 0, enabling access to 0 cloud regions as of September 2025. There are currently no direct on-ramps for major clouds within the city limits. Connectivity to AWS, Google Cloud (GCP), and Microsoft Azure is typically managed through private extensions or network service providers reaching hubs in Vienna.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): The Croatian Internet eXchange (CIX) is the primary peering point for the region. It ensures local traffic remains within national borders to minimize latency and transit costs.

Bare Metal: General availability for high-performance hardware is provided by various managed service entities. Global providers like Hivelocity and Latitude.sh represent the typical options available for supporting regional compute requirements.

Power Analysis

Energy availability in Zagreb is defined by a strong commitment to sustainable sources and a modernized urban grid.

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity is priced at €0.28/kWh as of December 2023. This price reflects a grid where 68% of the mix comes from renewables, making it a competitive choice for carbon-conscious operators. This pricing remains stable compared to other European capitals with similar renewable ratios.

Power Grid Reliability: The grid in major data center corridors is well-engineered and utilizes multi-substation support. Reliability is high, with infrastructure purpose-built to handle the specific demands of industrial and telecommunications loads in the metro core.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Zagreb provides a centralized base for digital operations serving the Western Balkans and the Adriatic coast.

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers are located near the Buzin business zone and the Selska area. This proximity is vital for the financial and tech sectors that require rapid physical access for maintenance and low latency for local operations.

Regional Market Reach: Zagreb serves as the primary gateway for the Croatian population. It also acts as a strategic starting point for digital services reaching into Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: There are no specific tax incentives for the data center industry. Businesses operate under the standard corporate tax framework which provides a predictable fiscal environment for long-term planning.

Natural Disaster Risk

Zagreb is classified as Low risk with a score of 2.5/10 as of December 2023. The risk profile is manageable for mission-critical infrastructure when standard mitigation strategies are applied.

• River Flood (6.8): This is the primary natural hazard, requiring specific site selection and elevation measures.
• Tsunami (5.8): This is an indirect regional risk affecting the coastline and does not materially impact the inland Zagreb metro area.
• Earthquake (5.6): A moderate risk that demands seismic structural standards in facility construction.
• Coastal Flood (5.0): This is a regional risk for the Adriatic coast and is not a direct threat to inland infrastructure.
• Drought (3.3): A minor risk with limited impact on modern data center cooling technologies.