Travel Prices in Croatia for Food, Alcohol, Hotels & More (2024 Update)

Today, we’re going to talk about the prices in Croatia in 2024, covering everything you are probably interested in if you’re planning to visit the country this year.

Therefore, this article will cover all the travel costs and prices for the following categories:

  • food prices, including restaurants and street food for tourists
  • how much is a beer in Croatia & other prices for alcoholic drinks
  • hotel prices during the season (and off season)
  • all in all, you will be able to decide if Croatia is expensive or cheap for your budget

Note: This article focuses on prices in Croatia for travelers/tourists. If you want to relocate and live here, you should check my Croatia cost of living article instead, as it paints a clearer picture of long-term living here.

beautiful Rovinj view in Croatia
Beautiful Rovinj – a glimpse into what Croatia can offer

To start with a summary – expect prices in Croatia to be at all time highs in 2024, even higher than last year when they were already pretty high due to inflation, mainly.

However, if you plan ahead, you can score some really sweet deals – including for one of the top all inclusive resorts in the country. Even though Croatia is more expensive overall, it still remains a cheap (and extremely beautiful) destination in Europe.

With these in mind, let’s check out the various categories of prices to better plan out your vacation costs.

Food prices in Croatia

Croatian stuffed bell peppers

Food costs are generally low in Croatia, even during the high season. There are plenty of fast food kiosks offering a quick meal for a low price, but also nice restaurants nearby as well, if you want something a bit more substantial.

Here are some examples of prices for various foods and meals, from budget oriented to more expensive:

Burek – (baked pastries filled with cheese or meat) starting from €1 – €1.5, these are hearty and delicious. You MUST try one of these traditional Croatian foods while visiting the country (and most likely more afterwards!) You will fall in love with them – I sure did!

Soparnik – these cost around 1.5 Euro a piece. Soparnik is a thin double-crust pizza filled with spinach or blitva (chard) that is tasty and always leaves you buying a second.

Pizza – prices range from €1.5 for a slice to €7 and more for an entire pizza. Prices vary depending on the type you choose, more expensive options being available. There are also really good ones to be had at the Italian pizzerias.

Viska pogaca, a type of pie from the island of Vis with anchovies, onion and tomato for approx €2. Another must try Croatian delicacy!

Cevapi or Cevapcici – these end up costing around €1.5 per piece, although you will usually buy around 5 per portion.

Mouth watering and really cheap, these are actually grilled beef and pork rolls with onions served in a thin bun called lepinja, together with ajvar (a relish of red peppers, with garlic).

Here’s what you can expect to get (this cevapi sandwich costing around €6).

Croatian Cevapi

Burgers and sandwiches are available for around €5 and above.

Vegetarian / vegan food – Tofu, seitan sandwiches of whole grain, sushi vegan, stewed meal with vegetables, whole grains and legumes. Prices range from €5 to €8 per portion.

Gavuni – portion of smelts with chips/crisps for around €4.

Shrimp, Squid and Mackerel – portions on the go from around €4 to €7.5.

Burek in Croatia
The delicious Burek

Looking to cook like a Croatian? Make sure to check out my fritule recipe, as well as the krostule recipe to get started!

If you’re looking to dine in a restaurant, you can find something very affordable as well. Here are some guidelines on what you should expect to pay in Croatia for eating out:

Full course meal in local restaurant – around €8 for a single person, daily menu type of meal.
A full meal for two in a decent restaurant (main and dessert, drinks and tips) start from around €30 and can go up all the way to €50 (or even more if you splurge).

I still remember the first time I ate out in Rijeka during my first visit there. It was my wife, my son (2 years old at the time) and I who ate a TON of delicious food at a local restaurant (near the sea, so pretty touristy too) called Pizza Bracera.

I’m marking it on Google Maps here, because you must visit it if you’re in the area.

But we were extremely surprised at how little we had to pay for all the food you can see below. Here’s what we had:

Bacon salad i n Croatia
Salad with bacon: around €2.5. Seems small, but all that bacon and white cheese make it surprisingly hearty.
Pork Ribs
Amazingly delicious pork ribs above with THREE side dishes below: €4!
Croatia restaurant side dishes
The side dishes

All in all, with drinks (sparkling water for us and natural juice for our son) and a good tip included, we paid around €13 for the meal. You really can’t beat that – and also in a touristy place!

It is true, we ate this meal a few years ago, so expect to pay for something similar around €20 today. Still an amazing deal!

Croatia alcohol prices & how much is a beer here

Croatian beer

For those visiting the pubs and the nightclubs, it’s good to know that alcoholic drinks are normally divided in two groups: the international brands (which are more expensive, naturally) and the local alternatives which are cheaper.

In this case, your drink will cost half the price, and some local brandies (like Rakije) are really strong drinks that all visitors love.

Prices range from 1 to 2,5 Euro for a small glass (0,3 to 0,5 dl) all the way to “sky’s the limit” for fancier drinks. Here are some other prices:

Drink Restaurants Market
Local beer (0,5 draught)2 EurosAround 1,5 Euro
Imported beer (bottle)3 to 5 EurosFrom 1,50 to 1,80 Euro
Bottle of wine15 to 30 Euros5 to 15 Euro
Water (0.33 bottle) 1.5 to 2 Euros0,5 to 1 Euro
Coke (0.33 bottle)2,00 to 3 Euros0,5 to 0,8 Euro

How much is a cup of coffee in Croatia?

Coffee is also usually cheap in Croatia and I have to say it that the Croats love their coffee!

Prices for a cup of coffee usually range from €2.5 to €5 in the more touristy places, depending on the place and type of coffee you order.

Usually, you can have great coffee here for around €2 per cup (espresso shot) although in less touristy cities like Osijek and such.

latte art in Croatian Coffee shop
Coffee lovers will be spoiled in Croatia

One thing is certain, though: once you drink your coffee in Croatia, you will instantly fall in love with it!

In Zagreb, on the popular Tkalciceva street, coffee prices hover around €3, while going towards the center will see a price increase, getting them closer to €5.

The prices of coffee on the Split Riva waterfront, which is one of the most popular places to go out and socialize in the city are also around €3 – €3.5 per cup.

But the most expensive coffee will definitely be found in Dubrovnik during the summer season. On the popular Stradun street, a simple coffee with milk goes up to €5.

So, as it is with most places you can visit nowadays, the golden rule of thumb is this: if you want to spend as little as possible, stay away from the most touristy areas and try to travel outside of the peak season when prices are sometimes double!

Hotel prices in Croatia

When deciding to book your stay in Croatia, you should expect prices to be pretty high, especially in the touristy areas and near the beaches.

Here is what you should expect to per room, for one night, based on the rating of the hotel and the time of visit:

CategoryLow SeasonHigh Season
2-star hotels€30 – €35€35 – €65
3-star hotels€30 – €50€65 – €100
4-star hotels€45 – €80€80 – €150
5-star hotels€80 to €120€100 to €250

You can check out the hotel prices for your dates on Booking.com to get the best deals (affiliate link – I will get a commission if you book your stay through it, but at no extra costs for you).

In recent years, hotel prices in Croatia have increased dramatically, mainly due to the increasing popularity of the country, but in 2024 everything seems to be more expensive than ever.

Hotel prices in Croatia sometimes exceed the amount of €250 per night if you want the best rooms and suites, refined designer furniture, paintings, silk sheets, branded cosmetics in the bathroom. But for luxury, you pay a premium everywhere!

Some of these amazing hotels are Vestibul palace in Split. To feel like an Emperor, you have to be ready to pay a regal price amount per night.

Another luxury hotel worth talking about is Lesic Dimitri Palace in Korcula town (Korcula island) that can host only a maximum of 18 guests. Premium quality, as you can imagine!

But fortunately, you can find very affordable deals in good hotels and you can get even better prices if you book well in advance.

Croatia vacation cost: how much to budget for a trip?

Croatia vacation costs
Are you ready for this?

So, taking all the costs I have shared above into account, how much should you expect to pay for a vacation in Croatia?

Here is my recommended daily budget and what you will get for the money:

Low Budget: €65 per dayMid Range: €65 – €150 per dayTop end: €150 and above
– Hostel / Shared accommodation (2-star hotel)
– Meals in local taverns and street food
– Public transportation and few attractions visited (mostly free beaches)
– You can still have plenty of fun!
    – Double room in a decent hotel (3-star, maybe better if you book in advance)
    – Meals in decent restaurants
    – A city tour
    – Short taxi trips to/from your destination
    – Overall, more freedom to splurge
      – Double room or suite in luxury hotel (4 stars and above)
      – Meals a the best restaurants in the area
      – Private boat tours and full day trips to remote beaches
      – Car Rental or taxi rides everywhere

        Croatia still has a status of a low-cost destination, but that is not really true anymore. Sure, comparing it with other summer destinations, it is cheaper… but not as cheap as it used to be before 2020.

        If you don’t know how much money to bring to Croatia and how to manage, then during your holiday, you should check out some useful budget tips before you get here.

        Renting a Car in Croatia

        A great way to get to your hotel or explore your surroundings is by renting a car from the airport.

        The best provider of cars to rent in Croatia is Discover Cars, which offers a wide range of vehicles at competitive prices.

        You can easily compare prices and filter your search with Discover Cars based on your preferred pickup location, rental duration, and other criteria. Discover Cars has something for everyone, whether you want an economy car or a luxury SUV.

        You can explore Croatia’s stunning coastline, historic cities, and picturesque countryside without breaking the bank by renting a car from Discover Cars.

        Wrapping up

        Croatia still remains cheaper than most of the other potential destinations in Western Europe, like Spain or Italy and even Greece, so your dollars or Euros will provide a bigger bang for sure.

        Travel Prices in Croatia Pinterest Pin
        Pin it for later

        Even more, if you travel outside the peak of the season (which is from June to August when prices skyrocket), you can really do it on a tighter budget and still enjoy good weather: Croatia in September & October is still really nice!

        In the end, it’s good to know that your trip to Croatia will be as expensive as you want it to be, as you have options for a vacation on a budget, but which is still enjoyable.

        If you have any other questions – or maybe price examples to add and share, don’t hesitate to write a comment below!

        Thanks for sharing this article!

        6 thoughts on “Travel Prices in Croatia for Food, Alcohol, Hotels & More (2024 Update)”

        1. Hey, thanks for these prices in Croatia. We are visiting the last week of September, really looking forward to it.
          Can I ask how much a bottle of whisky will cost in a supermarket, and what are the main supermarkets in Croatia.

          Reply
          • Happy to be helpful, Tobi! I hope you will enjoy Croatia when you get here.

            Regarding the supermarkets, the biggest chain in the country is Konzum and they’re easier to find in most cities. You could also get more for your money from larger supermarkets like Kaufland or Lidl, but there are fewer stores available. Finally, you can always go to a Tommy supermarket to do your shopping.

            Regarding the prices, a bottle of Jack for example will be around 22 Euros in a supermarket – and prices will be about the same for similar brands.

            Reply
        2. On average how much spending money for a two week holiday roughly cost, what activities are there in the area and what/where could you recommend for me and my friend to go or try please?

          Reply
          • I have listed a low budged / mid budget / all in budget in the article – you can use that to estimate your costs based on your spending habits. Regarding the “area” – this is really vague, as it depends where exactly in Croatia you will be 🙂 One thing is sure: you won’t get bored!

            Reply
        3. I will love to be Croatia, am a driver and tractor operator, but I don’t have money now to sponsor myself to be in Croatia, is a nice place to be and work, I have gone through everything about there money 1 euro is equal to 7.5 kuna, thanks

          Reply
        4. The prices for 2023 are in Rijeka – basic (pizza) meal for 2 people €25. Fish / meats meal for 2 €50+. Large beer non-tourist cafe €2.50. Coffee €1.30 -3.50. Prices in Opatija nearby are nearly double.

          Reply

        Leave a Comment

        This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.