Which place is cheaper, Zagreb or Plovdiv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Plovdiv or Zagreb?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Plovdiv and Zagreb can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Plovdiv or Zagreb?
Plovdiv
Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlovdiv $80Zagreb $82
The average daily cost (per person) in Plovdiv is $80, while the average daily cost in Zagreb is $82. 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 Plovdiv and Zagreb in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlovdiv $44Zagreb $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlovdiv $88Zagreb $102
Compare Hotels in Plovdiv and Zagreb
Looking for a hotel in Plovdiv or Zagreb? 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: Plovdiv Hotel Prices and Zagreb Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Plovdiv $22Zagreb $9.69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $262
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia / vice versa: $147
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $354
- Private One-way Transfer Plovdiv Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $42
- Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $160
- Sofia: Private Transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv OR vice versa: $147
- Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98
- Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $98
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Bansko: $134
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $190
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $103
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Stara Zagora: $87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- private transfer from Trogir/Split to Zagreb via Plitvice: $1,747
- Private Walking Tour with Funicular Ride & Transfers: $53
- Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport: $27
- Bus transfer from/to Rijeka: $6.93
- Zagreb- Ljubljana. Private transfer: $194
- Zagreb to Split Group Transfer with Plitvice Lakes guided Tour: $151
- Zagreb to Rovinj private transfer or vice versa: $271
- Zagreb to Budapest Private Transfer by Minivan: $532
- Zagreb city to Zagreb Airport private transfer: $87
- Zagreb Arrival Private Transfers from Zagreb Airport ZAG to Zagreb City: $62
- Zagreb Airport: One-Way Private transfer To/From Airport: $41
- Zagreb Airport(ZAG) to Moravske Toplice- Arrival Private Transfer: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Plovdiv or Zagreb?
Prices for flights to both Zagreb and Plovdiv 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 dayPlovdiv $21Zagreb $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $74
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $75
- Croatian cuisine cooking class with Dolac market tour: $136
- Private Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $144
- Private Food Tour with Tastings: $173
- Wine & Food tour of Plešivica near Zagreb: $948
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Plovdiv $15Zagreb $13
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Plovdiv Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Pokémon GO Private Tour of Plovdiv: $17
- Plovdiv Communist Walking Tour Soviet Landmarks: $20
- Plovdiv Communist Walking Tour Soviet Landmarks: $20
- Plovdiv Private City Walking Tour Old Town & Ancient Stadium: $21
- Guided Walking Tour: $21
- Plovdiv guided walking tour: $22
- Local Adventures in the Rhodope Mountains: $32
- Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
- Plovdiv - Private walking tour: $41
- Walking tour of Plovdiv's top attractions: $54
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private eclectic experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes National Park: $163
- Zagreb History Walking Tour: $31
- (180min) Zagreb Leisure Tour-more ride up to the Mirogoj cemetery: $106
- 2-Hour Private Walking Tour in Zagreb City with Guide (up to 10): $152
- 2-Hour Unveiling A Captivating History Tour: $107
- 4 Day Touristic Adventure from Zagreb: $2,441
- 4-hour Private Zagreb & the Mountain Tour in a Yugo car: $114
- All-Inclusive Day Tour Zagreb-Rastoke-Plitvice Lakes-Split: $1,064
- Back to Yugoslavia Private City Tour in Old-Timer Yugo Car: $92
- Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour: $190
- Beautiful Christmas in Zagreb - Walking Tour: $198
- Beautiful Christmas in Zagreb - Walking Tour: $430
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlovdiv $9.57Zagreb $9.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
- Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
- Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
- Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $91
- Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $108
- From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $133
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Zagreb Pub Crawl: $16
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $32
- Zagreb Wine Tasting & Jarun Lake Tour: $75
- Plesivica countryside Wine Tasting: $197
- Private Wine Tasting Tour from Zagreb: $206
- Plesivica Region Wine Tasting Half-day Tour : $271
When comparing the travel costs between Plovdiv and Zagreb, we can see that Zagreb 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 Plovdiv Expensive? and Is Zagreb Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Plovdiv or Zagreb?
Zagreb has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Plovdiv. When comparing the sizes of Plovdiv and Zagreb, 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.