Which place is cheaper, Budva or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Lisbon or Budva?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lisbon 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: Lisbon or Budva?
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon €131Budva €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, 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 Lisbon and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon €58Budva €37
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon €116Budva €74
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Lisbon 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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon €24Budva €20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
-
Taxi Ride€6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Private Transfer to Cascais | Sintra | Estoril: $29
- Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $23
- Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $60
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $95
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $66
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Luxury Van: $95
- Arrival Private Transfer from Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City by Luxury Van: $48
- Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $65
- Cascais transfer: Private Transfer to/from Cascais or Lisbon: $59
- Costa da Caparica Private Transfer from / to Lisbon: $33
- Departure Private Transfer from Lisbon City to Lisbon airport LIS by Luxury Van: $48
- Exclusive Luxury Transfers to/from Lisbon Airport: $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
-
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 Lisbon or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Lisbon 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 dayLisbon €42Budva €31
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Coffee€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
- Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
- Tapas Food Tour: $42
- Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
- Lisbon Food Tour: $53
- Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $53
- 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $53
- Legendary Beer Dinner: $53
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
- Original Morning Food Tour: $63
- Lisbon Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks and Food inlcuded: $70
- Tipsy Food Crawl Walking Tour with Dinner: $70
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lisbon €24Budva €22
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.07
- Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
- Belém Unveiled: A Free Tour Through the Age of Discoveries: $1.28
- Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.26
- Wonders of Lisbon Walking Tour: $3.93
- 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Lisbon: $4.36
- 2-Hour Walking Tour in the Marvels of Lisbon : $4.80
- Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.35
- Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.35
- Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.35
- Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.35
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon: $5.53
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
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLisbon €18Budva €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
- Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
- 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $21
- Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
- Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
- Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
- Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
- Wine Tasting at Quinta das Murgas: $38
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl in Lisbon with Local Guide: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Budva, we can see that Lisbon 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Budva?
Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon 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.