Which place is cheaper, Mostar or Novalja?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Novalja or Mostar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Novalja or Mostar? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Novalja or Mostar?
Novalja
Novalja is a Croatian town in the north of the island of Pag in the Adriatic Sea. Novalja is known internationally as party central because of the infamous party beach, Zrce, which boasts 4 clubs open around the clock. The pumping house/techno music and dance parties typically start at around 4 pm and continue well past 2 in the morning. During the summer, many well-known DJs and groups from around the world, including Benni Benassi, Jamie Jones, and Swanky Tunes, host concerts in these nightclubs. Zrce is not just for party-goers though. Many families lay out their towels for a day at the beautiful stone beach. This Novalja beach has cafe-bars and restaurants so you can easily grab a bite to eat or quick drink at your convenience. In addition to Zrce, Novalja offers tourists a number of other gorgeous beaches. Cista and Babe and both are perfect if you're looking for a calmer location. Both of these beaches have a lot less activity than Zrce, making for a relaxing afternoon, and their waters tend to be a bit warmer too.
Mostar
Mostar has historically been a culturally and ethnically diverse city. It was heavily bombed during the country's civil war and many of the city's most important buildings and structures were destroyed. Most significantly, the city's Old Bridge, Stari Most, was destoryed. The bridge was rebuilt through an international effort just eleven years after the war. It was completed in 2004 and included pieces of the original bridge. Today, much of the city has been rebuilt and the city is a beautiful and impressive travel destination. The old town still has much of its original charm and it is a great place to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best Budget Tours to Bosnia and Herzegowina, and The Best Cultural Tours in Bosnia and Herzegowina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNovalja $62Mostar $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Novalja is $62, while the average daily cost in Mostar is $70. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Novalja and Mostar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNovalja $34Mostar $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNovalja $68Mostar $72
Compare Hotels in Novalja and Mostar
Looking for a hotel in Novalja or Mostar? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Novalja Hotel Prices and Mostar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Novalja $12Mostar $8.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Novalja
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novalja:
- Private Transfer from Crikvenica to Rijeka Airport (RJK): $74
- Zrce, Private Transfer to/from Zadar Airport: $170
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mostar
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mostar:
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Taxi To & From Blagaj (hiking)$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mostar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mostar:
- From Scenic Private Transfer to Dubrovnik: $267
- Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Bugojno: $291
- Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Grude: $117
- Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Jablanica: $135
- Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Konjic: $174
- Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Medugorje: $291
- Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Tomislav grad: $214
- Private Transfer from Mostar to Sarajevo Airport (SJJ): $291
- Split to Dubrovnik via Mostar Private Transfer: $524
- Transfer Mostar to Dubrovnik with Kravice Waterfalls, Blagaj and Počitelj tour: $122
- Transfer Sarajevo ⇄ Dubrovnik + Herzegovina Tour: $196
- Transfer from Sarajevo to Mostar: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Novalja or Mostar?
Prices for flights to both Mostar and Novalja 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNovalja $21Mostar $26
Typical Food Prices in Mostar
Some typical examples of dining costs in Mostar are as follows:
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A Casual Dinner Out (for 2)$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mostar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mostar.
- Mostar street food tour: $57
- Traditional Bosnian Cooking Class in Mostar: $80
- Tastes and Tales of Traditional Bosnian Cooking Class: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Novalja $6.48Mostar $9.37
Tours and Activities in Novalja
Here are a few actual costs in Novalja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bungee Tower Ticket with Zrce Beach Panoramic Views: $32
- From Svetojanj Bike Tour: $47
- Standup Paddleboard Guided Tour: $47
- From Kolan Bike Tour: $47
- From Metajna/Pag Bay Guided Sea Kayaking Tour: $49
- Zrce Booze Cruise - Novalja Boat Party: $52
- Glowing Standup Paddleboard Guided Night Tour: $58
- Pag Island Light-Up Kayak Night Tour: $62
- Kayak and Via Ferrata Adventure: $71
- Zrce Beach Bungee Jumping Experience: $74
Tours and Activities in Mostar
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Mostar are as follows:
- Museum of War and Genocide Victims 1992-1995 Entrance Ticket: $5.94
- Walking tour in Old Town Mostar: $18
- Walking Tour in Old Town Mostar: $20
- Mostar city Tour: $22
- Mostar Walking Tour: Orient in the West: $22
- Mostar in War: Historical Walking Tour: $22
- Street Art Guided Tour in Mostar: $22
- Mostar Private Walking Tour - where East meets West: $32
- Mostar Shelters tour in Mostar: $37
- The Ottoman Experience Tour in Mostar: $37
- The Death of Yugoslavia Tour in Mostar: $38
- Private Half-Day Oriental Tour of Mostar with Food Tasting: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNovalja $7.76Mostar $3.71
Typical Alcohol Prices in Mostar
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Mostar:
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A Few Drinks (for 2)$6.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Mostar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mostar:
- 1-Hour Wine Tasting Tour in Medjugorje: $16
- Wine Tour & Tasting (Herzegovina): $91
When comparing the travel costs between Novalja and Mostar, we can see that Mostar is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Novalja Expensive? and Is Mostar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Novalja or Mostar?
Mostar has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Novalja and Mostar, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.