Which place is cheaper, Split or Plovdiv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Plovdiv or Split?
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 Split can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Plovdiv or Split?
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.
Split
Spit is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.
Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.
Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Walking Tours in Croatia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia.
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Plovdiv Prices
Bulgaria PricesSplit Prices
Croatia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlovdiv $105Split $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Plovdiv is $105, while the average daily cost in Split is $148. 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 Split in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlovdiv $48Split $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlovdiv $96Split $172
Compare Hotels in Plovdiv and Split
Looking for a hotel in Plovdiv or Split? 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 Split Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Plovdiv $24Split $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Stara Zagora: $95
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $113
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Pamporovo: $98
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $208
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Borovets: $113
- Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $107
- Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $107
- Private One-way Transfer Plovdiv Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zagreb to Private Transfer with Plitvice Lakes: $1,112
- Transfer from Split Airport to Split City Center: $70
- Transfer from Split Airport: $468
- Transfer Split airport to Split: $94
- Transfer Airport Split-Split: $53
- Transfer to Zagreb with Plitvice Lakes Entry Tickets: $198
- Private Transfer to Zagreb with Plitvice Lakes Stop: $1,078
- Private Transfer to Krka with Driver & Optional Guide: $467
- Private Transfer to Dubrovnik w/ Winery & Ston Visit: $796
- Private Boat Transfer to Hvar Island: $550
- Airport to Hvar Town Speedboat Transfer: $585
- Split/Trogir to Zagreb: Private Transfer with Plitvice Lakes: $1,112
Is it cheaper to fly into Plovdiv or Split?
Prices for flights to both Split 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 $40Split $48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split
For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small Group Food Tour with Private Option: $53
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time: $140
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time: $143
- A Vineyard Feast: A Group Dinner and Wine Tasting: $199
- Split Cooking Class: $209
- Cooking class on island Brac: $251
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Plovdiv $17Split $4.36
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Private Superb Buggy Adventure: $213
- 3-Day Monastery Tour: Rila, Bachkovo & Rozhen from Sofia: $351
- Audio Guide for All Haskovo & Kardjali Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $23
- Audio Guide for All Rhodope Mountain Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $46
- Bachkovo Monastery & Asen's Fortress - day tour from Plovdiv: $95
- Communist Heritage Tour- Buzludzha and The Might of the East Block Aviation: $107
- Day Tour from PLOVDIV - Thracian civilization & wine traditions: $184
- Day Tour from Nature & forgotten village experiences: $158
- E-Motorcycle Tour in Rhodope Mountains to a Beautiful Canyon View: $119
- Exclusive Private Tour in the Thracian Valley from Sofia: $102
- Food Walk Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour: $42
- Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $42
Tours and Activities in Split
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Blue cave and Hvar - 5 Islands speedboat tour from Split: $185
- Private Foodie Tour: Wine & Seafood with a Local Chef: $239
- Šolta Island from 5-Hour Olive Oil Tour with Lunch: $257
- Šolta Island from Private E-Bike Tour: $328
- Šolta Island: Self-Guided Bike Tour: $94
- "Not Today" - Game of Thrones and History of Split Private Guided Walking Tour: $93
- 2 Hours Split Walking tour with free food tasting: $191
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise Split: $94
- 3-Island Split Boat Tour (Šolta Drvenik Mali, Drvenik Veli): $87
- 4 Hours Blue Lagoon and Island Tour: $96
- 4-Island Split Boat Tour (Brač, Pakleni, Hvar, Šolta): $149
- 5 islands Private Boat Tour:Blue Cave,Hvar&Pakleni islands: $1,272
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlovdiv $11Split $9.35
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
- Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $23
- Bulgarian Wine Tasting Experience in the Center of Plovdiv : $27
- Food and Wine Tour: $60
- Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $107
- Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $118
- Half-Day of Horseback Adventure with Wine Tasting: $183
Sample the Local Flavors in Split
Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $44
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $45
- Split/Trogir: Krka National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $49
- From Krka Waterfalls day tour & wine tasting: $49
- Dalmatian wine tasting by Bottiglia wine & deli: $54
- Wine Tasting at Seafront Tasting Room in Kastela: $54
- Split&Sip: Educational wine tasting: $56
- Wine Tasting in the Diocletian's Palace: $59
- Blue Lagoon & Wine tasting - 3 islands tour: $108
- Private History and Wine Tour in Trogir and Klis: $173
- From Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting: $176
- Zinfandel Wine Tasting & Storytelling with Dalmatian Food: $178
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Plovdiv and Split, we can see that Split is more expensive. And not only is Plovdiv much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Plovdiv would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Plovdiv 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 Split would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Split than you might in Plovdiv.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Plovdiv Expensive? and Is Split Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Plovdiv or Split?
Plovdiv has a larger population, and is about 93% larger than the population of Split. When comparing the sizes of Plovdiv and Split, 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.