Should you visit Kotor 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 Kotor and Budva can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Kotor or Budva?
Kotor
A coastal town of Montenegro, Kotor is also a beautifully-preserved fortified, medieval town, featuring a labyrinth of cobbled streets, lively piazzas, historic churches, and a spread of bars and restaurants throughout its historic Old Town.
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 Luxury Tours to Montenegro, The Best Budget Tours to Montenegro, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Montenegro, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro.
Which place is cheaper, Budva or Kotor?
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 Kotor is €131, while the average daily cost in Budva is €113. 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 Kotor and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Kotor 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:
Kotor Hotel Prices and
Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kotor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kotor:
-
Kotor Cruise Port to Podgorica hotels - Arrival Private Transfer:
$66
-
Airport Tivat transfer to Kotor:
$38
-
Airport Transfer Tivat / Porto Montenegro to Lustica Bay:
$165
-
Enjoy Private Transfers by Car or Van from Tivat Airport to Kotor or Budva:
$47
-
Kotor Cruise Port to Podgorica hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$132
-
Kotor Cruise Port to Tivat hotels - Arrival Private Transfer:
$39
-
Kotor to Herceg Novi one way transfer:
$123
-
Kotor to Tivat one way transfer:
$78
-
Old Town Budva and Kotor Guided Tour with Transfers:
$171
-
Montenegro: Podgorica Airport to One&Only One-Way Transfer:
$161
-
Private Transfer from Dubrovnik to Kotor:
$354
-
Private Transfer from Kotor Cruise Port to Podgorica Hotels:
$66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:
-
AIRPORT TRANSFER Montenegro Budva Tivat Podgorica Kotor Perast:
$66
-
Kotor to Budva one way transfer:
$108
-
Private Transfer from Bar to Tivat Airport (TIV):
$163
-
Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport:
$289
-
Private Transfer from Budva to Podgorica Airport and city:
$44
-
Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat Airport (TIV):
$107
-
Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport:
$104
-
Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Tivat airport:
$87
-
Private Transfer from Ulcinj to Tivat Airport (TIV):
$195
-
Private transfer Tivat/Kotor/Budva-Podgorica:
$135
-
Tivat to Budva private one way transfer:
$104
-
Transfer from Podgorica Airport to Kotor:
$171
Is it cheaper to fly into Kotor or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Kotor 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
Kotor €74
Budva €53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kotor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kotor.
-
3 Hour Kotor Food Tour - Rick Steves' Recommended:
$165
-
3H Food Tour:
$171
-
Kotor City Tour and Cooking Class :
$219
-
Kotor private cooking class with lunch and Old town guided tour:
$243
-
Kotor and Perast Private Tour with Cooking Class and Boat Ride:
$282
-
Cooking class in a local home & old town walking tour:
$325
-
Private City Tour and Cooking Class:
$353
-
Culinary Chronicles and Cooking Class:
$368
-
City, Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and Cooking Class:
$374
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Kotor
Here are a few actual costs in Kotor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Kotor’s Old Town:
$12
-
Montenegro: Kotor,Budva Guided Tour:
$13
-
From Perast & Lady of the Rock's boat tour - 2h:
$21
-
Tour Kotor - Perast Old Town - Island Our Lady of the Rocks - Every 2 hours:
$23
-
Perast Blue Cave and Lady of Rocks Group Tour from Kotor Bay:
$27
-
★From Relaxing Boat Tour to Perast & Lady of the Rock:
$27
-
Old Town Walking Tour:
$28
-
Perast and Lady of the Rocks Tour by Speedboat:
$28
-
Panorama and Semi-Submarine Underwater Experience:
$28
-
Speedboat Tour to Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks:
$28
-
Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks Group Boat Tour:
$29
-
Boat Tour to Perast Old Town & Our Lady of the Rocks:
$29
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:
$18
-
2-Hour «Night Lights» Kayak Tour:
$45
-
3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves:
$45
-
Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves:
$46
-
2-Hour «Night Lights» Kayak Tour:
$46
-
From Day Cruise to Boka Bay:
$68
-
Kotor, Herceg Novi, Cave, and Lady of the Rocks Tour:
$68
-
Private Boat Tour Adventure In Budva - Sightseeing & Snorkeling :
$69
-
Full-Day Boka Bay Cruise Tour from Budva with Guide:
$69
-
Budva Bay: Boat Tour with Snorkeling and Sightseeing:
$74
-
Great tour of coastal monasteries in Budva - Walking on the path of history!:
$75
-
Budva 1 hour Private walking tour:
$82
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Kotor
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kotor:
-
Private Olive Oil and Wine Tasting in Kurilo, Montenegro:
$71
-
Kotor : Old Town Food & Wine Tasting Tour:
$114
-
Private tour: Homemade food and wine tasting at my family home:
$188
-
Montenegro wine tasting (Private tour):
$286
-
Wine tasting and magical tour from Kotor, Budva, Tivat (Lovcen,Skadar lake):
$295
-
Skadar Lake National Park with Wine Tasting:
$455
When comparing the travel costs between Kotor and Budva, we can see that Kotor 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 Kotor Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kotor or Budva?
Kotor has a larger population, and is about 14% larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Kotor 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.
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