A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zadar vs. Roatan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zadar or Roatan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Zadar or Roatan? 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: Zadar or Roatan?

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.

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Croatia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Croatia, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Zadar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Zadar is €110, while the average daily cost in Roatan is €36. 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 Zadar and Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zadar 51
    Roatan 8.95
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zadar 102
    Roatan 18
Compare Hotels in Zadar and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Zadar or Roatan? 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.

Hotels in Zadar


Hotels in Roatan


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: Zadar Hotel Prices and Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zadar 9.53
    Roatan 15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zadar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zadar:

  • Modern bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Zadar: $40
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Hotels to Zadar Airport: $55
  • Zrmanja River Kayaking, with optional transfer from Zadar: $66
  • Private Transfer from Borik Zadar to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $67
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Borik Zadar: $67
  • Private Transfer from Zadar City to Zadar Airport (ZAD): $67
  • Transfer From Zadar Airport to Town Zadar: $67
  • Transfer from Zadar airport to Vir: $69
  • Private Transfers to Airports & Top Destinations: $72
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Biograd Na Moru: $74
  • Zadar Private Transfers to or from any location: $80
  • Private Transfer from Zadar Airport (ZAD) to Zadar City: $95

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    3.41

Is it cheaper to fly into Zadar or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan and Zadar 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Zadar 49
    Roatan 13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zadar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zadar.

  • Morning Zadar Food Tour: $142
  • Preko Cooking Class and Shellfishing Experience with a Local: $190
  • Gourmet Sunset dinner on board: $239

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zadar 19
    Roatan 22

Tours and Activities in Zadar

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zadar are as follows:

  • Local Craft Beer Tasting Experience: $12
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Zadar's Medieval Heart: $12
  • Highlights and Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour: $18
  • Zadar Old Town Walking Tour: $18
  • Zadar Walking Tour sponsored by Gligora Cheese and deli.: $18
  • Look Around Zadar - Don't Look Up: Cinematic and Musical Sunset Walking Tour: $19
  • Islands Tour in Zadar by Speedboat: $23
  • Sunset boat Tour in Zadar: $24
  • Half Day Island Hopping Tour With Snorkeling : $24
  • The Ultimate Zadar Walking Tour: $24
  • 3 Island Tour Swim and Snorkel with Drinks on Traditional Boat: $24
  • Island half day tour : $25

Tours and Activities in Roatan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:

  • Monkeys and sloths, private tour , and beach: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zadar 12
    Roatan 5.65

Sample the Local Flavors in Zadar

Also in Zadar, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Brlog Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting : $30
  • Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting: $42
  • Craft Gin and exclusive brandies in unique distillery: $78
  • City Tour with Educational Beer Tour in Brlog Brewery: $94
  • City and Wine Tour in Zadar with Eco Tuk Tuk: $107


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zadar and Roatan, we can see that Zadar is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zadar is in Europe and Roatan is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Zadar would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zadar than you might in Roatan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zadar Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Zadar or Roatan?

Zadar has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Zadar and Roatan, 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.