A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Novalja vs. Mostar for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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 Luxury Tours to Bosnia and Herzegowina.


Which place is cheaper, Mostar or Novalja?

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 Novalja is €73, while the average daily cost in Mostar is €83. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Novalja 32
    Mostar 34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Novalja 64
    Mostar 68
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.

Hotels in Novalja


Hotels in Mostar


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Novalja 12
    Mostar 8.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Novalja

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novalja:

  • Private Transfer from Crikvenica to Rijeka Airport (RJK): $130
  • Zrce, Private Transfer to/from Zadar Airport: $200

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Mostar

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mostar:


  • Taxi To & From Blagaj (hiking)
    20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mostar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mostar:

  • Airport transfer: Capljina - Mostar - Tuzla - Mostar - Capljina: $59
  • Dubrovnik to Mostar Direct Transfer: $351
  • Dubrovnik to Mostar Transfer with Kravice, Blagaj, Pocitelj: $211
  • Private Transfer from Jablanica to Mostar Airport (OMO): $148
  • Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Grude: $206
  • Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Konjic: $282
  • Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Medugorje: $118
  • Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Metkovic: $148
  • Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Siroki brijeg: $149
  • Private Transfer from Mostar Airport (OMO) to Tomislav grad: $248
  • Private Transfer from Mostar to Split, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver: $179
  • Private transfer Dubrovnik and Mostar: $226

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Novalja 34
    Mostar 42

Typical Food Prices in Mostar

Some typical examples of dining costs in Mostar are as follows:


  • A Casual Dinner Out (for 2)
    14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mostar

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

  • Medieval 3 course Dinner with Drinks: $34
  • Traditional Bosnian Cooking Class in Mostar: $76
  • Traditional Bosnian Cooking Class in Mostar with Lunch and Drinks: $77
  • Traditional Bosnian Cooking Class in a Medieval Restaurant: $88
  • Cooking Class of Mostar: $179
  • Sarajevo Old Town Tour With Traditional Bosnian Cooking Class: $262

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Novalja 6.09
    Mostar 8.78

Tours and Activities in Novalja

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

  • Adriatic Sea Diving Experience: $94

Tours and Activities in Mostar

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

  • Mostar city Tour: $23
  • War Photo Exhibition Tour in Mostar: $25
  • Mostar Street Art & Graffiti Tour : $30
  • Pocitelj City Tour: $30
  • City Tour: Mostar Medival Town: $31
  • Mostar Street Art & Graffiti Tour: $35
  • Drežnica Canyoning Adventure Tour in Mostar: $38
  • Mostar thru history -private tour: $40
  • The Death of Yugoslavia: Unique thematic Tour in Mostar: $41
  • Neretva City Rafting Tour: $41
  • Mostar Private Walking Tour: $45
  • Safari kayak adventure w BBQ & Beer: $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Novalja 7.29
    Mostar 3.47

Typical Alcohol Prices in Mostar

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Mostar:


  • A Few Drinks (for 2)
    6.14

Sample the Local Flavors in Mostar

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mostar:

  • Afternoon Guided Tour and Wine Tasting: $18
  • Wine Tasting: $18
  • Mostar Sunset Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $18
  • Grand City Tour with Old Bridge Wine Tasting and Hub of Fine Arts: $83
  • Wine Tour & Tasting (Herzegovina): $119
  • One Day Mostar Wine Tasting Tour: $220


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.