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

Should you visit Budapest or Podgorica?

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 Podgorica can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Budapest or Podgorica?

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.

Podgorica

Podgorica is Montenegro's capital city, and also its largest. Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, World War II destroyed much of this history, but there are a few Turkish remnants worth visiting. Podgorica's central location often makes the city a good starting point for day trips to coastal cities or mountain resorts.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Podgorica or Budapest?

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 Budapest is $100, while the average daily cost in Podgorica is $141. 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 Podgorica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Budapest $46
    Podgorica $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Budapest $92
    Podgorica $96
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Podgorica

Looking for a hotel in Budapest or Podgorica? 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 Podgorica


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 Podgorica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Budapest $9.81
    Podgorica $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $6.48
  • Metro Pass
    $3.56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest

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

  • Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $12
  • Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
  • Budapest Private transfer Airport or Hotel to or from Cruise Port: $25
  • Budapest Private Departure Transfer: From hotels to Railway station: $25
  • Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $25
  • One way private transfer from Budapest hotels to Budapest cruise ports: $25
  • One way private transfer from Budapest cruise port to Budapest hotels: $25
  • Budapest Private Arrival Transfer: Railway station to hotels: $26
  • Private Airport Transfer Budapest: $26
  • Private Transfer from Budapest Airport to the city - arrival: $26
  • Budapest Airport Transfers: $26
  • Private Transfer from Budapest city to Budapest Airport - departure: $26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Podgorica

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Podgorica:

  • Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Dubrovnik: $273
  • Private Transfer from Podgorica to Herceg Novi : $258
  • Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Kotor Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $235
  • Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Herceg Novi: $216
  • Private Transfer from Podgorica Airport (TGD) to Lustica: $197
  • Podgorica Airport to Herceg Novi: Private Transfer: $181
  • Podgorica hotels to Kotor Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $171
  • Montenegro: Podgorica Airport to Kotor One-Way Transfer: $122
  • Transfer from Podgorica Airport and city to Tivat : $117
  • Private transfer from Airport Podgorica and city to Kotor: $117
  • Private transfer from Podgorica to Ostrog monastery (minivan): $114
  • Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Budva (and viceversa): $104

Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Podgorica?

Prices for flights to both Podgorica 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 $37
    Podgorica $73
Typical Food Prices in Budapest

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


  • Lunch
    $3.16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest

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

  • Central Market Hall Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $13
  • Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $36
  • Budapest Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included: $40
  • Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $51
  • Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $55
  • Food Tour with Wine tasting By Foodapest™ 2025: $61
  • Guided Food Tour with Wine, Beer, and Shots: $61
  • Budapest Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks: $61
  • Guided Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $62
  • From Szentendre Art and Food Tour with Tasting: $69
  • Tipsy Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $72
  • Guided Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $72

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Budapest $20
    Podgorica $22
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
    $6.35

Tours and Activities in Budapest

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

  • Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $1.57
  • Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $1.58
  • Gems of The Castle District Guided Walking Tour!: $2.07
  • Jewish Quarter of Budapest Walking Tour: $2.07
  • Castle District Walking Tour: $3.11
  • Gems of the Budapest Castle District Walking Tour: $3.17
  • Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.17
  • Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.17
  • Mika Tivadar Secret Museum Entry Ticket: $4.66
  • Doboz Ruin Pub and Club Entry & Drink Ticket: $5.70
  • Budapest Ghost Hunt Exploration Game and Tour: $6.85
  • Museum of Ethnography Entry Ticket: $7.25

Tours and Activities in Podgorica

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

  • Biogradska Gora National Park & Skadar Lake Boat Tour: $152
  • Skip the Line Tickets: National Park Biogradska Gora: $7.44
  • ALBANIA tour - Rozafa, Skadar lake, Niagara waterfalls, Shkodra: $74
  • Bjelasica – Troglava – Zekova glava - Hiking Tour: $252
  • Book Your Donkey Farm Tour: $55
  • Book Your Tour Podgorica by walk: $35
  • Durmitor - Black Lake & Tara River Canyon - North Montenegro tour: $229
  • Durmitor National Park, Northern Fairy Tail -private tour from Podgorica: $195
  • Durmitor mountain - Glacial lakes - Montenegro hiking tours: $202
  • Explore Skadar Lake in Private 2 hour Boat Cruise: $106
  • Family Adventures in A Journey of Discovery: $102
  • Fantastic ATV Quad Adventure in mountain ofKolašin : $85

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Budapest $17
    Podgorica $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest

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

  • 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
  • The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $21
  • Guided Bar Crawl through the Party District: $22
  • Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $22
  • Budapest Pub Crawl +6 free Shots +VIP Access +Drinking Games : $24
  • Bingo Bar Crawl: $24
  • Private, Personalized Pub Crawl, 3 drinks included: $26
  • Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $29
  • Budapest Wine Tasting and Heritage Experience at Goldcentral: $30
  • Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $31
  • Hungarian pálinka distillery visit and tasting: $32
  • Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $35

Sample the Local Flavors in Podgorica

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Podgorica:

  • Book Your Wine Tour: $75
  • Podgorica Car Trip - Architecture, History, Wine tasting, Churches, Doclea city: $95
  • Podgorica Car Trip, Doclea city, Wine tasting, Niagara falls: $103
  • Montenegro: Nature, Locals & Wine Tour: $124
  • National parks and wine tasting (NP Lovcen, NP Skadar lake, Cetinje, Njegusi): $180
  • Skadar lake boat ride through "Montenegrin Amazon", wine tasting & Niagara falls: $197
  • SOUL HEALING Wine Tour Montenegro - BEST PRIVATE TOUR : $207


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

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


Which is Bigger, Budapest or Podgorica?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Podgorica. When comparing the sizes of Budapest and Podgorica, 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.


When is the best time to visit Budapest or Podgorica?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Budapest or Podgorica in the Summer?

Both Podgorica and Budapest during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.

In July, Budapest is generally cooler than Podgorica. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around 21°C (70°F), and Podgorica fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).

In Podgorica, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Budapest. In the summer, Budapest often gets less sunshine than Podgorica. Budapest gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Podgorica receives 341 hours of full sun.

Budapest usually gets more rain in July than Podgorica. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Budapest 21°C (70°F) 
    Podgorica 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit Budapest or Podgorica in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Podgorica. Many travelers come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Budapest is cooler than Podgorica in the autumn. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Podgorica fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Podgorica this time of the year. Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Podgorica during autumn. Budapest gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Podgorica receives 203 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Podgorica receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Budapest usually receives less rain than Podgorica. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Budapest 12°C (53°F) 
    Podgorica 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Budapest or Podgorica in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Podgorica. Many visitors come to Budapest in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Budapest can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Budapest is much colder than Podgorica. Typically, the winter temperatures in Budapest in January average around -1°C (31°F), and Podgorica averages at about 6°C (42°F).

In the winter, Budapest often gets less sunshine than Podgorica. Budapest gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Podgorica receives 121 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Podgorica. Budapest usually gets less rain in January than Podgorica. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Budapest -1°C (31°F) 
    Podgorica 6°C (42°F)

Should I visit Budapest or Podgorica in the Spring?

Both Podgorica and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, Budapest is generally cooler than Podgorica. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around 12°C (53°F), and Podgorica fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

Budapest usually receives less sunshine than Podgorica during spring. Budapest gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Podgorica receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Podgorica. In April, Budapest usually receives less rain than Podgorica. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Podgorica receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Budapest 12°C (53°F) 
    Podgorica 14°C (58°F)

Typical Weather for Podgorica and Budapest

Budapest Podgorica
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -1°C (31°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 6°C (42°F) 192 mm (7.6 in)
Feb 2°C (35°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 8°C (46°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Mar 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 159 mm (6.3 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 14°C (58°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
May 16°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Jun 20°C (67°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 23°C (73°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 26°C (80°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Aug 21°C (69°F) 56 mm (2.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Sep 17°C (63°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 22°C (72°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Oct 12°C (53°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
Nov 6°C (42°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 11°C (53°F) 239 mm (9.4 in)
Dec 1°C (34°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (45°F) 217 mm (8.5 in)