Which place is cheaper, Budva or Novalja?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Novalja 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.
Novalja is a Croatian town in the north of the island of Pag in the Adriatic Sea. Novalja is known internationally as party central because of the infamous party beach, Zrce, which boasts 4 clubs open around the clock. The pumping house/techno music and dance parties typically start at around 4 pm and continue well past 2 in the morning. During the summer, many well-known DJs and groups from around the world, including Benni Benassi, Jamie Jones, and Swanky Tunes, host concerts in these nightclubs. Zrce is not just for party-goers though. Many families lay out their towels for a day at the beautiful stone beach. This Novalja beach has cafe-bars and restaurants so you can easily grab a bite to eat or quick drink at your convenience. In addition to Zrce, Novalja offers tourists a number of other gorgeous beaches. Cista and Babe and both are perfect if you're looking for a calmer location. Both of these beaches have a lot less activity than Zrce, making for a relaxing afternoon, and their waters tend to be a bit warmer too.
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 Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Novalja is $62, while the average daily cost in Budva is $97. 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 Novalja and Budva in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Novalja 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novalja:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:
Prices for flights to both Budva and Novalja 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Budva.
Here are a few actual costs in Novalja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few actual costs in Budva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Novalja and Budva, we can see that Budva is more expensive. And not only is Novalja much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Novalja would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Novalja 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 Budva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Budva than you might in Novalja.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Novalja Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Budva has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Novalja 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.