A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zagreb vs. Valparaiso for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Zagreb or Valparaiso?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zagreb and Valparaiso. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Zagreb or Valparaiso?

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.

Valparaiso

Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.

Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.

Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso or Zagreb?

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

  • Zagreb Prices
    Croatia Prices
    Valparaiso Prices
    Chile Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Zagreb 89
    Valparaiso 70

The average daily cost (per person) in Zagreb is €89, while the average daily cost in Valparaiso 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 Zagreb and Valparaiso in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Zagreb 48
    Valparaiso 30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Zagreb 96
    Valparaiso 60
Compare Hotels in Zagreb and Valparaiso

Looking for a hotel in Zagreb or Valparaiso? 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 Zagreb


Hotels in Valparaiso


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: Zagreb Hotel Prices and Valparaiso Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Zagreb 9.11
    Valparaiso 4.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:

  • Airport Transfer: Zagreb to Zagreb Airport ZAG by Luxury Car: $118
  • Airport Zagreb Transfer and Shuttle : $107
  • Bratislava: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to BTS: $332
  • Budapest: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to Budapest: $423
  • CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer from Zagreb Airport ZAG / Zagreb City: $51
  • CO2-Offset Departure Transfer from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport: $72
  • From Sarajevo: 1-Way Transfer to Zagreb or opposite: $410
  • From Split: Transfer to Zagreb with Stop at Plitvice Lakes: $163
  • From Plitvice Lakes Round-Trip Comfort Bus Transfer: $17
  • From Transfer to Split & Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $163
  • Guided transfer from Zagreb to Split with Plitvice Lakes stop: $165
  • Krka National Park Private Tour from Zagreb with transfer to Sibenik: $296

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso

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


  • Taxi Ride
    2.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:

  • Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago Hotels: $208
  • Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $110
  • Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
  • Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $260
  • Private Valparaiso Visit William Cole Winery & Transfer to Hotel: $270
  • Private transfer from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to San Antonio : $133
  • Small group transfer from Valparaiso/S.Antonio+Tour in Santiago: $140
  • Transfers from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to Santiago: $120
  • Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $142

Is it cheaper to fly into Zagreb or Valparaiso?

Prices for flights to both Valparaiso and Zagreb 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
    Zagreb 29
    Valparaiso 33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb

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

  • Food Tour with Tastings: $104
  • Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $106
  • Bite Back in Time: Zagreb's Food Tour Spiced with History : $131
  • Zagreb Food Tour: Bite into Traditional Dishes and Flavors: $140
  • Croatian cuisine cooking class with Dolac market tour: $155
  • Zagreb Walking Food Tour - Sightseeing - Dolac market visit: $161
  • Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $184
  • PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $201

Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:


  • Empanada
    1.60

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso

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

  • Cooking Classes in Viña del Mar Learn to Make Tapas and Desserts: $65
  • Learn to Cook Like a Local: Private Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $102

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Zagreb 12
    Valparaiso 15

Tours and Activities in Zagreb

Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Searching for Love in Romantic Exploration Game and Tour: $5.95
  • Nikola Tesla Technical Museum Ticket: $7.02
  • Skip-the-Ticket-Line Museum of Broken Relationships: $8.19
  • Monuments to Modernism: An Audio Tour of the Zagreb Trade Fair: $8.99
  • Cravaticum - Museum of The Cravat Entry Ticket: $9.36
  • Chocolate Museum Entry Ticket: $12
  • Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
  • VR 3D Immersive Film Experience - Voucher: $14
  • City and WWII Tunnels Walking Tour: $18
  • Zagreb Time Travel – Discover Zagreb with a fun interactive tablet city tour!: $18
  • City & History Walking Tour & WW2 Tunnels: $18
  • Jump into Walking Tour with local guide: $21

Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso

Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Boat Tour
    3.56

Tours and Activities in Valparaiso

Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • The Tour of Valparaiso in French on foot and in a small group: $18
  • Shared Tour in Street Art, Funiculars and Port: $30
  • Valparaiso Private Walking Tour with a Local: $32
  • 2 Hour Walking Tour in Valparaiso: $35
  • Valparaiso : Private Custom Tour with A Guide (Private Tour): $36
  • Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
  • Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
  • Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
  • Walking Tour Valparaiso, History & Art - Private Optional: $42
  • Explore Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Tour: $58
  • Private Gastronomic Tour Valparaiso: $70
  • Valpo in 1 day: Authentic + Famous! Semi-private walking tour & public transport: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Zagreb 8.92
    Valparaiso 6.62

Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb

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

  • Pub Crawl, 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks, & Club Entry: $34
  • Zagreb Pub Crawl 1Hour of Unlimited Drinks Club Entry: $35
  • Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $35
  • Taste Zagreb Heritage Wine Tasting with Traditional Lunch: $106
  • Hrastje Plešivičko Wine Tasting Day Trip: $176
  • From Samobor Highlights & Wine Tasting in Plešivica: $183
  • Castle & Wine Tasting - Private Day Trip from Zagreb: $274
  • Private Wine Tour from Two Local Wineries & Samobor : $285
  • Fairytale Castle & Wine Tasting & Lunch: $286

Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:


  • Beer
    0.85

Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:

  • A Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tour Service from Casablanca : $75
  • Private Wine Tour in Valparaiso: $250
  • Santiago: Valparaíso Walking Tour & Casablanca Wine Tasting: $320


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zagreb and Valparaiso, we can see that Zagreb is more expensive. And not only is Valparaiso much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zagreb is in Europe and Valparaiso is in South 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 Valparaiso would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valparaiso 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 Zagreb would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zagreb than you might in Valparaiso.

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


Which is Bigger, Zagreb or Valparaiso?

Zagreb has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Valparaiso. When comparing the sizes of Zagreb and Valparaiso, 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.