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

Should you visit Caen or Budva?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Caen and Budva. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Caen or Budva?

Caen

Caen is a city in France on the coast in the Calvados department of Lower Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there. The town was destroyed almost completely in 1944 during WWII and it is a remarkable achievement that Caen has kept so many of its historical monuments given the terrible battle that besieged the town following the Normandy beach landings. After the war the town passed through 15 years of reconstruction, and continued to improve afterwards. In recent years the town has made further significant efforts and Caen now has an attractive, carefully restored, historic center. The city has also preserved the memory of its past by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Memorial de Caen. The city is often considered the archetype of Normandy.

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 in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Budva or Caen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Caen is €123, while the average daily cost in Budva is €91. 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 Caen and Budva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Caen 61
    Budva 37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Caen 122
    Budva 74
Compare Hotels in Caen and Budva

Looking for a hotel in Caen 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 Caen


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: Caen Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Caen 35
    Budva 20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Caen

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

  • Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) to Caen - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
  • Caen to Caen Carpiquet Airport (CFR) - Departure Private Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer Round-Trip from Caen Airport (CFR) to Caen: $63

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva

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


  • Daily Car Rental
    65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:

  • Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Kotor: $139
  • Tivat to Budva private one way transfer: $58
  • Tivat to Budva one way transfer: $102
  • Taxi Transfer Budva to Tirana: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Dubrovnik airport: $218
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $82
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $58
  • Private Transfer from Budva to Podgorica Airport and city: $38
  • Private Transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik: $272
  • Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport: $240
  • Private Transfer from Bar to Tivat Airport (TIV): $117
  • Private Transfer from Bar to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $97

Is it cheaper to fly into Caen or Budva?

Prices for flights to both Budva and Caen 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
    Caen 40
    Budva 31

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.
    Caen 19
    Budva 22

Tours and Activities in Caen

For Caen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Memorial Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
  • Caen Like a Local: Customized Guided Walking Tour: $51
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $59
  • Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Caen: $60
  • Private Guided Bike Tour of Cabourg and Dives in French: $74
  • Guided Tour in an Old Convertible Car on the Côte de Nacre: $93
  • Guided D-Day Sites Tour & Caen Memorial Museum Ticket: $127
  • Mémorial de Caen Museum Admission and Guided Tour of D-Day Sites: $133
  • Private Guided Walking Tour: $160
  • Guided Tour of the Landing Sites and the Memorial of Caen: $191
  • Small Group Guided D-Day Tour and Mémorial de Caen Museum: $201
  • D-Day private tour Juno Beach departing Caen with audio guide. 2Pers. minimum: $268

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: $82
  • Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $66
  • Budva Bay Boat Tour - Exploring Budva With A Local: $70
  • Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves: $44
  • Budva old town private tour: $172
  • Budva private day tour from Kotor: $310
  • Budva/Petrovac: Premium Paragliding Experience: $107
  • 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $43
  • City Private Tour: $126
  • Exploring Caves & Private Boat Tour: $70
  • Hidden paradise tour with snorkeling and lunch: $214

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Caen 17
    Budva 14


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

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


Which is Bigger, Caen or Budva?

Caen has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Caen 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.