Which place is cheaper, Budva or Kotor?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKotor €100Budva €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Kotor is €100, 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 Kotor and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKotor €49Budva €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKotor €98Budva €74
Compare Hotels in Kotor and Budva
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kotor €9.26Budva €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kotor
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kotor:
- Kotor Cruise Port to Podgorica hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $47
- Airport Transfer Tivat / Porto Montenegro to Budva /Sveti Stefan: $217
- Airport Transfer Tivat / Porto Montenegro to Lustica Bay: $152
- Airport Transfer Tivat / Porto Montenegro to Podgorica City: $272
- Airport Transfer Tivat/Porto Montenegro to Portonovi /Herceg Novi: $141
- Enjoy Private Transfers by Car or Van from Tivat Airport to Kotor or Budva: $43
- Herceg Novi to Budva one way transfer: $103
- Herceg Novi to Kotor one way transfer: $144
- Herceg Novi to Kotor one way transfer: $78
- Kotor Cruise Port to Podgorica Airport (TGD) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Kotor Cruise Port to Podgorica hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $93
- Kotor Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Podgorica hotels: $296
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 Podgorica one way transfer: $113
- Herceg Novi to Budva one way transfer: $144
- Private Transfer from Bar to Podgorica Airport (TGD): $97
- Private Transfer from Budva or Becici to Dubrovnik airport: $239
- 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 (TIV): $87
- Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $81
- Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Tivat airport: $71
- Private transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik City: $98
- Tivat to Budva private one way transfer: $58
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
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Food Meals for one dayKotor €43Budva €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kotor
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kotor.
- Kotor private cooking class with lunch and Old town guided tour: $225
- Kotor and Perast Private Tour with Cooking Class and Boat Ride: $261
- Cooking class in a local home & old town walking tour: $304
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.Kotor €8.32Budva €22
Tours and Activities in Kotor
Here are a few actual costs in Kotor for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kotor Sunset Group Tour: Lady of the Rocks and Perast(1.5hr): $22
- Private Walking Tour in Kotor : $22
- Kotor Old Town - City Walking Tour: $23
- Kotor Old Town Walking Tour: $24
- Panorama and Semi-Submarine Underwater Experience: $24
- Boat Tour to Perast Old Town & Our Lady of the Rocks: $27
- Tour Kotor - Perast Old Town - Island Our Lady of the Rocks - Every 2 hours: $29
- Kotor Old Town Small-Group Walking Tour: $33
- Whole Boka Bay Cruise with Ship Knez Lipovac: $33
- Blue Cave and Lady of the Rocks Boat Tour: $33
- Shore Excursion - Handwoven Carpet Workshop, Local wine and Kotor Old Town tour : $33
- Blue Cave Speedboat Tour from Kotor: $35
Tours and Activities in Budva
Here are a few actual costs in Budva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skip The Line Tickets: Budva Citadela Fortress : $6.52
- 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: $42
- Night Lights Kayak and SUP Adventure: $43
- 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $43
- Budva Bay SUP & Kayaking Tours to Coastal Caves: $43
- Night Lights Kayak Adventure : $43
- Soul of Montenegro: Kotor, Lovcen and Cetinje Day Tour: $61
- Private Boat Tour Adventure In Budva - Sightseeing & Snorkeling : $65
- Great tour of coastal monasteries in Budva - Walking on the path of history!: $65
- Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $66
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKotor €8.51Budva €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Kotor
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kotor:
- Private tour: Homemade food and wine tasting at my family home: $125
- Private National Park Lovcen with food and wine tasting: $136
- Wine tasting and magical tour from Kotor, Budva, Tivat (Lovcen,Skadar lake): $250
- National Parks Skadar Lake and Lovcen+Wine tasting (Private tour): $259
- Skadar Lake National Park with Wine Tasting: $426
Sample the Local Flavors in Budva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Budva:
- Full Day Private Skadar Lake Wine Tour Experience from Budva: $177
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.
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.