Should you visit Dubrovnik or Reykjavik?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Reykjavik? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
Which city is cheaper, Reykjavik or Dubrovnik?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $93, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $227. 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 Dubrovnik and Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $96 in Dubrovnik For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Reykjavik can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $129, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $258.
Food
Dubrovnik food costs typically run travelers around $31 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
On average, meal and food prices in Reykjavik cost around $28 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 $11.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dubrovnik $31
Reykjavik $28
Typical Food prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
-
Seafood Dinner (for 2)
$35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Unique Sunset and Dinner Cruise in the Magnificent Traditional Karaka boat:
$96
-
Old Town Food Tour:
$130
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Flavours of Dubrovnik - Food Tour:
$131
-
Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson:
$149
-
Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside:
$164
-
Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region:
$166
-
Dubrovnik Food Tour with Friendly Local Guide:
$167
-
E-Bike Tour + Farm To Table Cooking Class:
$184
-
Dubrovnik Food Tour by Vidokrug:
$192
-
Rural Side of Cooking Class in Local Household:
$281
-
Croatian Cooking Class in a Local's Home in Rural Konavle:
$1,753
Typical Food prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)
$205
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Exclusive dinner with a local family:
$112
-
Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market:
$123
-
Dinner with an Icelandic Artist in Reykjavik Home:
$151
-
Secret Lagoon, Buffet Dinner, and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik:
$159
-
South Coast: Volcanoes, waterfalls & Viking dinner at the Viking house:
$179
-
Private Reykjavik Food Tour:
$198
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South Coast: Small group glacier hike, fire & ice with dinner at Viking lodge:
$199
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Cook and Dine Icelandic Cooking Class Gourmet Lunch or Dinner:
$204
-
Kopar Fine Dining Dinner and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik:
$229
-
West Iceland Private Food Tour from Reykjavik:
$723
Local Transportation
Dubrovnik'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 $12 per person, per day on transportation in Dubrovnik.
To get around in Reykjavik, the average visitor spends $42 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Port to Cavtat:
$9.41
-
Transfers up to 3 persons to or from Dubrovnik airport to Dubrovnik:
$41
-
Transfers to/from Dubrovnik:
$87
-
Transfers to and from Ston area to and from Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik airport:
$139
-
Transfers:
$68
-
Transfer to or from Dubrovnik airport or Dubrovnik to or from Kotor and Tivat:
$226
-
Transfer to from Slano up to 7 persons to or from Dubrovnik or Dubrovnik APT:
$89
-
Transfer from airport to Dubrovnik:
$66
-
Transfer from Dubrovnik to Split:
$423
-
Transfer from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes:
$1,173
-
Transfer from Dubrovnik to Krka waterfalls:
$200
-
Transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Kolašin (Montenegro) ski resorts:
$597
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Luxurious Private Airport Transfer and Blue Lagoon | Included Premium Admission:
$1,354
-
Private airport transfer with Blue lagoon stopover and lunar landscapes:
$804
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Luxury Private Transfers Reykjavik - Blue Lagoon - Keflavik Airport:
$683
-
Private Blue Lagoon & Airport Transfer:
$646
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Luxury Private Transfers Keflavik Airport - Blue Lagoon - Reykjavik:
$641
-
Private Transfer Blue Lagoon - Reykjavik city (with waiting time):
$560
-
Airport transfer to or from Reykjavik with up to 3 hours stop in Blue Lagoon:
$485
-
Golden Circle Private Tour & Blue Lagoon Private Transfer:
$438
-
Private Reykjavík Round Trip Airport Transfer:
$429
-
Private One-Way Airport Transfer To or From Keflavik Airport:
$352
-
Luxury Private Transfers Reykjavik to Keflavik airport:
$343
-
PrivateTransfer to Reykjavik KEF in Lux Van with 2 hour stop at Blue Lagoon:
$314
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dubrovnik can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In Reykjavik, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $67 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)
$16
-
Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)
$65
-
Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)
$55
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
-
'Up with the Chickens' or "Sunset chasing" Old Town Tour:
$16
-
2 hours Elafiti Islands Private Tour by Barracuda 545:
$284
-
4 Days Montenegro-Albania-Kosovo Tour from Dubrovnik or Kotor:
$918
-
4 days hiking tour Valbona Valley National Park from Dubrovnik:
$762
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4 hours Private Speedboat Tour to Elaphite Islands by RANIERI SUN CRUISER 23:
$477
-
4-Hours Dubrovnik Elaphiti Islands & Blue Cave Snorkeling Tour:
$75
-
4-Night Three Countries Tour from Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina:
$954
-
5 Days Deluxe Cruise from Dubrovnik to Split All Inclusive:
$1,534
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6-Night Independent Tour of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korcula and Split:
$952
-
7 Days Small-Group Tour from Dubrovnik to Athens via Albania:
$1,757
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8 h Private Speedboat Tour to Elaphite Islands by QUICKSILVER activ 675 open:
$584
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8 hours Dubrovnik Blue Cave Private Tour with boat:
$498
Typical Entertainment prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum
$12
-
Wine and Spa
$34
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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'Game of Thrones' Filming Locations Tour From Reykjavik:
$126
-
(Private tour) 4 Days South Coast, Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes:
$3,388
-
1.5 Hour Midnight Sun Buggy Tour From Reykjavik:
$160
-
10-day Private tour of Iceland: Geysers & Glaciers:
$13,561
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1hr ATV & Golden Circle Adventure from Reykjavik:
$276
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Caving from Reykjavik:
$254
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Helicopter Adventure Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$403
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Rafting Tour from Reykjavik:
$287
-
1hr ATV Adventure & Whale Watching Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$248
-
1hr ATV Reykjavik Peak Adventure:
$143
-
1hr ATV adventure & Northern lights Hunt from Reykjavik:
$238
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1hr Buggy & Lava Caving Combination Tour from Reykjavik:
$283
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 Dubrovnik, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $14.
Typically, people visiting Reykjavik spend on average $26 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
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Sunset Sea Kayaking and Wine Tasting Tour Dubrovnik:
$44
-
Wine tasting and visit to Ston- Group Tour:
$60
-
Peljesac Peninsula Wine Tour from Dubrovnik:
$61
-
Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting:
$63
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FAMOUS LEGENDS OF PELJESAC and KORCULA with WINE TASTING:
$65
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Island of Korcula with Wine Tasting Day Trip from Dubrovnik:
$69
-
Korčula tour with wine tasting from Dubrovnik:
$69
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Wine tasting and visit to Ston:
$72
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Wine Tasting Pelješac and a visit to Ston:
$72
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Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik with Train Ride and Wine Tasting:
$75
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Smiley wine tasting on peninsula Peljesac:
$76
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Smiley Hercegovina wine tour:
$77
Typical Alcohol prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
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Private Reykjavik Pub Crawl:
$181
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Reykjavik Food & Wine Tour:
$249
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubrovnik and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Dubrovnik much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dubrovnik would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dubrovnik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik than you might in Dubrovnik.
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