Should you visit Bari or Zadar?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Bari and Zadar. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Bari
Off the lustrous, aquamarine waters of the Adriatic Sea, a bustling city hums to life as the sun sets. Though an ancient city, Bari still attains its youthful air, with a thriving nightlife and breathtaking boulevards. The capital city of Apulia region, Bari is the second most important economic center of mainland Southern Italy, as well as a significant port and university city. Despite this, Bari is on the list of Southern Italy's best off the beaten path locations, and is a must-see for everyone - even though it doesn't get as many visitors as Italy's more popular destinations.
Zadar
You'll find Zadar in northern Dalmatia, Croatia. It is located on the Adriatic Sea and is the center of Zadar County. It is both the historic center for the region and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Zadar. There are a handful of sights around town, most of which can be explored on foot.
The climate for the city is a mix between humid subtropical and a Mediterranean climate. The winters are usually mild and wet, and the summers are humid and warm. The hottest months are July and August when temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius. Average yearly rainfall usually exceeds 917 mm. Fall months often remain warm and temperatures are often around 30 degrees Celsius as well. In general, the temperatures rarely drop below freezing, even during the coldest month of January. The rainiest months are October and November, although winter is considered the wet season. July is usually the driest month. Water temperatures are around 25 degrees Celsius in July and August and it may be possible to swim any time between May and October.
Which city is cheaper, Zadar or Bari?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bari is €91, while the average daily cost in Zadar is €71. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bari and Zadar in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Bari, €118 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Bari, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €59, such as in a hostel.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €41. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Zadar the cost is €82 on average.
Food
Food in Bari costs travelers about €26 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
On average, meal and food prices in Zadar cost around €23 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €9.20.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bari €26
Zadar €23
Typical Food prices in Bari
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bari:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bari
For Bari, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Private Bari Street Food Tour by Rickshaw:
$70
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Bari Rickshaw and Street Food Tour:
$70
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Puglia Plates - Bari Food Tour:
$76
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Traditional Italian pasta Hands-on cooking class:
$86
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Hands on home made Panzerotti cooking class in Bari:
$97
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Dining experience at a Cesarina's home in Bari with show cooking:
$106
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Small-group Street food tour in Bari:
$111
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Private Cooking class in a Local Apulian Masseria:
$135
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Private Tour: Pane and Pomodoro Beach Excursion plus Cooking Class with Lunch:
$160
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Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Bari:
$162
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Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Bari:
$180
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Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Bari:
$180
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zadar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zadar.
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Traditional Dalmatian dinner:
$61
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Zadar Market Tour and Cooking Class:
$75
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Zadar - Private Market Tour & Cooking Class:
$167
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From Taste Dalmatian Peka - Countryside Cooking Class:
$253
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Dalmatian dinner in rented holiday home:
$773
Local Transportation
Bari's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €9.18 per person, per day on transportation in Bari.
The average price of local transportation around Zadar is €7.66 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bari
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Bari:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bari
Also for Bari, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Bari Private Transfer: Cruise Port or central rail station to Hotel:
$37
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Bari Private Transfer: City to Cruise Port or central rail station:
$37
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Private Departure Transfer: Hotel in Bari city to Bari Airport:
$45
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Private Arrival Transfer: Bari Airport to Bari city Hotel:
$45
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Departure Private Transfer Bari City to Bari BRI Airport by Business Car or Van:
$52
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Private Transfer to and from Bari - Bari Area:
$56
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Private Airport to Matera Transfer:
$68
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Private transfer from Bari to Polignano or vice versa:
$76
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Private Transfer to and from Bari - Brindisi Area:
$82
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Private transfer from Bari to Matera or vice versa:
$82
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Private transfer from Bari to Alberobello or vice versa:
$87
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Private Transfer to and from Bari - Matera:
$100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zadar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zadar:
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Private Transfer from Zadar to Tuzla Airport (TZL):
$1,327
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Transfer from Zadar to Belgrade:
$995
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Zrmanja Rafting Private Tour & FREE transfer from or to the airport included:
$945
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Private Transfer from Zadar to Sarajevo Airport (SJJ):
$862
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Zadar to Pula Private One-Way Transfer:
$672
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Dubrovnik Full Day Private Tour & FREE transfer from or to the airport included:
$664
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Zadar to Dubrovnik Private One-Way Transfer:
$597
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Zadar - Budapest Transfer:
$551
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Zadar to Zagreb - Private One-Way Transfer:
$523
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Private transfer from Zadar to Ljubljana:
$509
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Zadar to Medugorje Private One-Way Transfer:
$485
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Private Transfer from Zadar to Zagreb Flat rate up to 6 people:
$473
Is it cheaper to fly into Bari or Zadar?
Prices for flights to both Zadar and Bari change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Bari can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €6.89 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Zadar's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Bari
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bari.
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Bari Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
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Bari Walking City Tour:
$19
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BARI special city tour:
$25
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Bari Walking tour:
$28
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Bari Bike Tour:
$32
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Bari Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$38
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1 Hour Bari Electric Scooter Guided Tour:
$40
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Private Bari Shopping and Sightseeing Tour:
$41
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Bari Segway Tour:
$50
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Walking tour Bari with Focaccia tasting:
$50
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Secret Bar Breakfast Experience:
$50
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Bari Walking Tour with Pasta Experience:
$54
Tours and Activities in Zadar
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zadar are as follows:
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4 day Zadar highlights tour:
$473
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BEST OF LONG ISLAND - DUGI OTOK TOUR, Small Group–max 12 ppl, 7 Stops, Full Day:
$95
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Croatia Islands Speedboat Experience:
$459
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Croatian Homeland War Walking Tour:
$30
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Daysailing & SUP experience:
$144
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Dugi Otok - half day kayak adventure:
$87
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Dugi otok Self-Guided Bike Tour:
$100
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Explore Zadar Bike Tour:
$54
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From Zadar - National Park Plitvice Lakes transport and Skip the line:
$40
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From Zadar to Plitvice Lakes with drop off in Zagreb - Private tour:
$338
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From Boskinac Gourmet Tour and Visit to the City of Pag:
$324
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From Full Day Public Saharun Beach Tour:
$70
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Bari, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €10.
The average person spends about €9.34 on alcoholic beverages in Zadar per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Bari
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Bari:
Sample the Local Flavors in Bari
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bari:
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Private guide Altamura with a visit to the wine museum and wine tasting:
$106
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Private Tour: Trulli of Alberobello plus Wine Tasting:
$253
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Trani, Wine Tasting, and Castel Del Monte tour from Bari or Ostuni:
$325
Sample the Local Flavors in Zadar
Also in Zadar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bari and Zadar, we can see that Bari is more expensive. And not only is Zadar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zadar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zadar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bari would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bari than you might in Zadar.
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