Which place is cheaper, Budva or Dubrovnik?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubrovnik or Budva?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Dubrovnik or Budva? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Dubrovnik or Budva?
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
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 Croatia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia, The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro, and The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubrovnik $104Budva $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubrovnik is $104, while the average daily cost in Budva is $99. 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 Dubrovnik and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubrovnik $54Budva $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubrovnik $108Budva $80
Compare Hotels in Dubrovnik and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Dubrovnik 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.
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: Dubrovnik Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubrovnik $13Budva $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
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Bus Around Town$1.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dubrovnik Airport Transfers - to/from Orebić (Semi Private) : $89
- Dubrovnik City Private Departure Transfer to Dubrovnik Airport : $33
- Airport Private Transfer Dubrovnik: $28
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik Town to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $255
- Airport Transfer Dubrovnik to Herceg Novi / Portonovi: $266
- Arrival Private Transfer Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Business Car: $42
- Arrival Private Transfer from Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik City by Minivan: $60
- Arrival Private Transfers: Dubrovnik Airport DBV to Dubrovnik in Luxury Van: $54
- Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $321
- Bus transfer between Dubrovnik and Herceg Novi: $26
- Departure Private Transfer from Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Minivan: $56
- Departure Private Transfer: Dubrovnik City to Dubrovnik Airport by Business Car: $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
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Daily Car Rental$71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:
- Private One Way Transfer from Dubrovnik to Budva: $321
- Private Transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik: $278
- Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport: $244
- Private Transfer from Ulcinj to Tivat Airport (TIV): $178
- Herceg Novi to Budva one way transfer: $147
- Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Kotor: $141
- Kotor to Budva one way transfer: $103
- Tivat to Budva one way transfer: $103
- Private transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik City: $100
- Reliable Montenegro Airport Transfer: $72
- Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Tivat airport: $72
- Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Tivat airport: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubrovnik or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Dubrovnik 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 dayDubrovnik $35Budva $34
Typical Food Prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dubrovnik and Konavle gastro&food tour: $1.09
- Sunset Dinner Cruise around the Old Town: $78
- Gastro Cruise | Dinner and Boat ride around Dubrovnik Old Town: $83
- Flavours of Dubrovnik - Food Tour: $128
- Secrets of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with a cooking class: $130
- Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson: $133
- Old Town Food Tour: $146
- Dubrovnik Old Town Food Tour: Small-Group Experience: $155
- Private Old Town Highlights & Food Tour: $160
- Private Guided Food Tour in Old Town Dubrovnik: $163
- Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region: $182
- Konavle Wine& History&food Tour: $197
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 : $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubrovnik $21Budva $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)$14
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)$57
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)$48
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.26
- Selfguided tour of the old town of Dubrovnik: $5.44
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.53
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.53
- Dubrovnik Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.66
- Medieval Adventure City Game: $7.06
- Game Of Thrones Self-guided tour with mobile app: $7.17
- Time Travel Adventure Quest Experience in Dubrovnik: $7.20
- Cavtat Old Town Quest Experience: $7.20
- Historic Center Self-Guided Audio Tour (ENG): $7.70
- Dubrovnik in a Nutshell a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.98
- Old Town Highlights Tour with Audio Guide: $8.71
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: $17
- 3.5-Hour Kayak Tour from Beсiсi to Sveti Stefan Island: $44
- Bay of Kotor Guided Mountain Bike Tour: $190
- Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $68
- Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves: $44
- Budva Bay: Boat Tour with Snorkeling and Sightseeing: $71
- Budva private day tour from Kotor: $316
- 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $44
- City Private Tour: $128
- Exploring Caves & Private Boat Tour: $71
- Hidden paradise tour with snorkeling and lunch: $218
- Night Lights Kayak and SUP Adventure: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubrovnik $15Budva $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
- Konavle wine tasting tour from Dubrovnik with 2 vinery's: $54
- Columbo Pub Crawl Dubrovnik: $56
- Brewery Tour with Food included: $61
- Sunset Wine Tasting At Panorama Point: $69
- Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $71
- From Korcula Island Tour with Wine Tasting: $75
- Ston and Korcula Island Day Trip from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting: $77
- Half-Day Wine Tasting with Snacks and Ston Place Visit: $77
- Interactive Wine Tour: $82
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting: $85
- Sunset wine tasting in vineyard: $85
- Day trip to Korčula and Pelješac with Wine Tasting from Koločep: $94
When comparing the travel costs between Dubrovnik and Budva, we can see that Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubrovnik or Budva?
Dubrovnik has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Dubrovnik 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.
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.