Which place is cheaper, Budva or Kos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kos or Budva?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Budva can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kos or Budva?
Kos
Kos is a Greek island and third largest island of the Dodecanese group, located near the Turkish coast in the southeast Aegean Sea. It is best known for its beautiful sandy beaches, which make it a popular tourist destination, as well as its ancient Greek and Roman landmarks.
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 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, 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 dayKos €134Budva €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Kos is €134, 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 Kos and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKos €62Budva €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKos €124Budva €74
Compare Hotels in Kos and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Kos 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: Kos Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kos €37Budva €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kos
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Artemis Hamam and Spa with Hotel Transfers Kos Island: $59
- Departure transfer to Kos Airport : $68
- From Kalymnos Self-Guided Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $59
- Kalymnos, Pserimos & Plati Island Cruise with Hotel Transfer: $59
- Kos - Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Kos Airport to Kos Hotels Private One–Way Transfer: $64
- Kos Hotels to Kos Airport Private One–Way Transfer: $59
- Kos Private Transfer Services: $52
- Kos Town: Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise & Optional Transfer: $30
- Kos transfer services, Kos - Airport - Kos: $107
- Paradise Beach Return Transfer: $25
- Roundtrip Bus Transfer to Mount Zia for Sunset Viewing: $27
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:
- 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 Kos or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Kos 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 dayKos €43Budva €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kos
For Kos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Greek Dinner with Music, Dancing, and Unlimited Wine: $43
- Kefalos Sunset Cruise from Kos with Dinner: $61
- Sunset Cruise with Swimming and BBQ Dinner: $62
- Tavern Dinner Experience with Greek Dancing and Wine: $65
- Kos Cooking Classes by Mama Contessa: $86
- Private Greek Cooking Class in Kos with Lunch: $90
- Sunset Safari Tour with Dinner: $95
- Private Cooking Class in Kos, Local Recipes: $97
- Half Day Wine Tasting with Dinner in Kos: $117
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.Kos €33Budva €22
Tours and Activities in Kos
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Kos Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $8.02
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.02
- Kos Town: Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise with Swimming Stops: $21
- From Zia Sunset Tour: $27
- Dory's Glass Bottom Boat Adventure in Pserimos and Pserimos Beach: $29
- From Kalymnos, Pserimos and Plati Day Cruise: $32
- From the Port of Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands: $32
- Kos Island: 3-Island Wooden Ship Cruise w/ Lunch: $32
- 3-Island Cruise with Greek BBQ Lunch and Swimming: $32
- Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands with optional pickup: $33
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKos €19Budva €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Kos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kos:
- Wineries Tour w/ Wine Tastings, Lunch & Transportation: $59
- From Tour of 2 Wineries with Wine Tasting & Small Bites: $63
- Kos Island: Wine Tasting & Zia Village Visit for Sunset: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kos and Budva, we can see that Kos 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 Kos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kos 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 Kos Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kos or Budva?
Kos has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Kos 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.