Which place is cheaper, Budva or Hamburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hamburg 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 Hamburg and Budva can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Hamburg or Budva?
Hamburg
Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.
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 Berlin, The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHamburg €117Budva €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Hamburg is €117, 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 Hamburg and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHamburg €54Budva €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHamburg €108Budva €74
Compare Hotels in Hamburg and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Hamburg 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: Hamburg Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hamburg €29Budva €20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hamburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:
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Short Distance Ubahn Ticket€1.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hamburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:
- Hamburg hotels to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $118
- Arrival Private Transfer from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg: $41
- Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City: $108
- Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City: $86
- Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport XFW to Hamburg City: $76
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport HAM: $108
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport HAM: $86
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport XFW: $76
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport XFW: $92
- Fredericia Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Hamburg city: $585
- Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $235
- Hamburg Airport (HAM): Private Transfer to Hamburg hotels: $176
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
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Daily Car Rental€65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:
- Budva to Dubrovnik one way transfer: $179
- Herceg Novi to Budva one way transfer: $144
- Montenegro Airport Transfer: $65
- Private Transfer Service in Montenegro: $29
- Private Transfer from Bar to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $97
- Private Transfer from Bar to Tivat Airport (TIV): $117
- Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport: $240
- Private Transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik: $272
- Private Transfer from Budva to Podgorica Airport and city: $38
- Private Transfer from Petrovac to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $58
- Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $82
- Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Dubrovnik airport: $218
Is it cheaper to fly into Hamburg or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Hamburg 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 dayHamburg €35Budva €31
Typical Food Prices in Hamburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:
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Pink Thai Soup Dinner and Spring Rolls€15
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Currywurst and Pommes Frites€5.00
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Donner Kebab and Coke€6.00
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Traditional Hamburg Dinner w/ Beer€15
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Donner Kebab Lunch€4.00
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Sandwich and Coffee Break€6.00
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Fish Sandwich from Fish Market€3.50
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Coffee and Donut€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.
- St. Pauli kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Elphi Plaza und HafenCity kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $59
- Original Musical Dinner Cruise 2024: $117
- Hamburg Private Food Tours with a Local: 100% Personalized : $186
- St. Pauli: Guided Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $481
- Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $588
- Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $588
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hamburg €39Budva €22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hamburg
Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Tower at St. Michael's Church€3.50
Tours and Activities in Hamburg
Here are a few actual costs in Hamburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Selfguided Audiotour "Speicherstadt and HafenCity": $3.20
- Selfguided Audiotour "Old Town and City Center": $3.20
- Deutsche Hafen & St.Pauli Bezahl-Was-ihr-wollt Tour zu Fuß: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.21
- Harbor&St. Pauli Pay-What-You-Want 2-Hour Walking Tour: $3.21
- English Hamburg City Center Pay-What-You-Want Walking Tour: $3.21
- German Hamburg Historic City Center Pay-What-You-Want Tour: $3.21
- English Harbor&St.Pauli Pay-What-You-Want Walking Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- The Local Tour of Hamburg Historic Centre: $3.26
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.28
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour in St. Pauli: $4.60
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
- From Day Cruise to Boka Bay: $42
- Great Cruise From Budva to Boka Bay in a Day: $43
- 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $43
- Night Lights Kayak and SUP Adventure: $43
- Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves: $44
- Night Lights Kayak Adventure : $44
- Soul of Montenegro: Kotor, Lovcen and Cetinje Day Tour: $61
- Private Tour: Panoramic route around Skadar Lake: $65
- Great tour of coastal monasteries in Budva - Walking on the path of history!: $65
- Private Boat Tour Adventure In Budva - Sightseeing & Snorkeling : $65
- Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $66
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHamburg €17Budva €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Hamburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hamburg:
- Night Pub Crawl through The Repperbahn: $21
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through the Reeperbahn: $34
- Pub Crawl - Ultimate party pub crawl incl. One-hour drinks flat rate: $44
- Hamburg Pub Crawl including 1 hour flatrate for beer: $51
- Bachelor(ette) Premium Party with Pub Crawl: $401
- Private Pub Crawl Tour: $401
- Private Premium Pub Crawl: $513
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hamburg and Budva, we can see that Hamburg 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 Hamburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hamburg 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 Hamburg Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hamburg or Budva?
Hamburg has a larger population, and is about 370 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Hamburg 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.