Which place is cheaper, Novalja or Podgorica?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Podgorica or Novalja?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Podgorica or Novalja, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Podgorica or Novalja?
Podgorica
Podgorica is Montenegro's capital city, and also its largest. Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, World War II destroyed much of this history, but there are a few Turkish remnants worth visiting. Podgorica's central location often makes the city a good starting point for day trips to coastal cities or mountain resorts.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Montenegro, 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 dayPodgorica €105Novalja €58
The average daily cost (per person) in Podgorica is €105, while the average daily cost in Novalja is €58. 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 Podgorica and Novalja in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPodgorica €46Novalja €31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPodgorica €92Novalja €62
Compare Hotels in Podgorica and Novalja
Looking for a hotel in Podgorica or Novalja? 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: Podgorica Hotel Prices and Novalja Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Podgorica €20Novalja €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Podgorica
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Podgorica:
- Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Kotor Cruise Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Kotor Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $94
- Budva to Podgorica one way transfer: $118
- From One-Way Private Transfer to/from Virpazar: $57
- Podgorica airport: Private Transfer to/from Budva: $75
- Private Transfer to Budva: $39
- Private transfer to Kotor: $53
- Private transfer to Tivat: $53
- Private Airport Transfer from Podgorica airport to Budva: $68
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Lustica: $262
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Petrovac : $58
- Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Tivat downtown: $117
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Podgorica or Novalja?
Prices for flights to both Novalja and Podgorica 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 dayPodgorica €41Novalja €20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Podgorica €21Novalja €6.07
Tours and Activities in Podgorica
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Podgorica are as follows:
- Skip The Line: National Park Skadar Lake - Tickets: $8.17
- Skadar lake - Falcon kayak tour: $13
- Lake Skadar: Guided Sightseeing Boat Tour with Refreshments: $16
- Two Hours Sightseeing Lake Cruise at Montenegro National Park: $16
- Podgorica City Walking Tour: $22
- Lake Skadar: Guided Panoramic Boat Tour to Kom Monastery : $22
- Lake Skadar: Early-morning Birdwatching and Photography Tour: $27
- From Virpazar: Guided Lake Skadar cruise and Crnojevića River: $33
- Book Your Tour Podgorica by walk: $36
- Book Your Donkey Farm Tour: $57
- Book Your Tour Ostrog Monastery: $65
- Cultural Bike Tour of Podgorica;Discovering the Ancient Treasures: $71
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPodgorica €20Novalja €7.27
Sample the Local Flavors in Podgorica
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Podgorica:
- Private Wine Tasting Activity at Lipovac Winery: $27
- Book Your Wine Tour: $77
- Podgorica Car Trip - Architecture, History, Wine tasting, Churches, Doclea city: $93
- Podgorica Car Trip, Doclea city, Wine tasting, Niagara falls: $106
- Wine tasting in the family winery, feel the spirit: $120
- Montenegro: Nature, Locals & Wine Tour: $128
- Skadar lake boat ride through "Montenegrin Amazon", wine tasting & Niagara falls: $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Podgorica and Novalja, we can see that Podgorica is more expensive. And not only is Novalja much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Novalja would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Novalja 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 Podgorica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Podgorica than you might in Novalja.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Podgorica Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Podgorica or Novalja?
Podgorica has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Podgorica and Novalja, 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.