A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Budapest vs. Budva for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Budapest or Budva?

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 Budapest and Budva can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Budapest or Budva?

Budapest

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.

Budva

A coastal resort in Montenegro, Budva is probably the country's most popular tourist destination. Not only does it host a number of great beaches, but it is also home to a picturesque old town center located on a small peninsula. Some of its best features include narrow winding lanes, historic buildings, churches, and small squares.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Budva or Budapest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $89, while the average daily cost in Budva is $98. 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 Budapest and Budva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Budapest $49
    Budva $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Budapest $98
    Budva $80
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Budva

Looking for a hotel in Budapest or Budva? 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 Budapest


Hotels in Budva


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: Budapest Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Budapest $10
    Budva $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $6.91
  • Metro Pass
    $3.79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest

Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,178
  • Budapest - Bük Transfer: $153
  • Budapest - Bratislava Transfer: $199
  • Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $168
  • Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,285
  • Budapest - Pécs Transfer: $149
  • Budapest - Szeged Transfer: $134
  • Budapest Airport BUD Arrival Private Transfer to Budapest City: $89
  • Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
  • Budapest Airport Private Luxury Transfer by a Mercedes Benz S Class: $120
  • Budapest Airport Transfer: $54
  • Budapest Airport Transfer - Round trip to and from Liszt Ferenc Airport: $78

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva

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


  • Daily Car Rental
    $70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:

  • Private Transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik: $272
  • Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport: $239
  • Herceg Novi to Budva one way transfer: $144
  • Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Kotor: $139
  • Budva to Podgorica one way transfer: $113
  • Private transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik City: $98
  • Private Transfer from Bar to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $97
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat Airport (TIV): $87
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $81
  • Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Tivat airport: $71
  • Tivat to Budva private one way transfer: $58
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $58

Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Budva?

Prices for flights to both Budva and Budapest 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
    Budapest $23
    Budva $33
Typical Food Prices in Budapest

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:


  • Lunch
    $3.37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest

For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
  • Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
  • Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
  • Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
  • Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $52
  • Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
  • Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
  • Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $85
  • Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
  • Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
  • Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
  • Hungarian Cooking Class - Foodapest: $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budva

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

  • Cooking Class with dinner/lunch in Ulcinj Montenegro : $49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Budapest $22
    Budva $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest

For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entrance to the Baths for Two
    $6.77

Tours and Activities in Budapest

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
  • Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
  • Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.27
  • Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.27
  • Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.27
  • Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.27
  • Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.27
  • Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.45
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.86
  • Escape Game and Tour: $5.86
  • Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00

Tours and Activities in Budva

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

  • 1-Hour Guided Lipa Cave Adventure in Montenegro: $15
  • Blue Cave Tour on Kayaks in Montenegro: $81
  • Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $66
  • Budva Bay Boat Tour - Exploring Budva With A Local: $69
  • Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves: $43
  • Budva old town private tour: $172
  • Budva private day tour from Kotor: $309
  • Budva/Petrovac: Premium Paragliding Experience: $106
  • 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $43
  • City Private Tour: $126
  • Exploring Caves & Private Boat Tour: $69
  • Hidden paradise tour with snorkeling and lunch: $213

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Budapest $18
    Budva $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest

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

  • The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
  • 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
  • Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
  • Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
  • Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
  • Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
  • Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
  • Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
  • Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
  • Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
  • Budapest - Opera Gin Distillery Tour: $51

Sample the Local Flavors in Budva

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Budva:

  • Full Day Private Skadar Lake Wine Tour Experience from Budva: $177


When comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Budva, we can see that Budva 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 Budapest Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Budapest or Budva?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Budapest and Budva, 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.