Which place is cheaper, Budva or Split?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Split or Budva?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Split and Budva. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Split or Budva?
Split
Spit is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.
Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.
Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.
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 Walking Tours in Croatia, The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia, 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 daySplit $116Budva $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Split is $116, while the average daily cost in Budva is $98. 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 Split and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSplit $78Budva $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSplit $156Budva $80
Compare Hotels in Split and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Split 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: Split Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Split $15Budva $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Split Airport (SPU) to Cruise Port of Split - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Airport Private Transfer from Split: $38
- Airport Private Transfer to Split : $38
- Airport Transfer from Split: $42
- Airport Transfer to Split: $42
- Airport transfers - round trip: $146
- Airport transfers, Locco transfers, Port transfers: $76
- Be transferred in style! Every day Airport Transfer of Split: $86
- Cruise Port of Private Transfer to Split hotels: $132
- From Split or Trogir: Cetina River Rafting with Transfer: $75
- From Split to Baska Voda Private Transfer: $109
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Zagreb: $668
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
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Daily Car Rental$70
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
- Private transfer from Budva to Dubrovnik City: $98
- Private transfer Tivat/Kotor/Budva-Podgorica: $125
- Private Transfer from Sveti Stefan to Tivat airport: $71
- Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $81
- Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat Airport (TIV): $87
- 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: $239
Is it cheaper to fly into Split or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Split 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 daySplit $25Budva $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split
For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small Group Food Tour: $37
- Food Tour in Split ( Small Group): $96
- Split Food Tour (Small Group): $98
- Vegan Food tour of Split with local gastronomy: $102
- Old Town Food Tour: $107
- Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time: $131
- Split Cooking Class - Afternoon Edition Shared Activity: $191
- Private Authentic Wine & Food tour from Split: $240
- Culinary Experience – Cooking Class & Walking Tour Split: $251
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.Split $3.96Budva $24
Tours and Activities in Split
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Emanuel Vidović Gallery Entrance Ticket: $6.42
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Entry Ticket to the Cellars of Diocletian's Palace: $8.56
- Roman Ruins Sightseeing Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Split's Old Town and Marjan Hill: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Split's Old Town and Marjan Hill: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $9.36
- Split's Legacy: In-App Audio Tour of Serene Seas & Stones: $11
- Klis Fortress GOT and Olive Museum Entry Tickets: $11
- Split Guided Walking Tour-From Roman Times to Modern Times: $13
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: $81
- 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: $43
- 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 daySplit $8.49Budva $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Split
Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Krka Waterfalls & Swimming & Wine tasting: $24
- From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $26
- Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting tour from Split: $31
- Split/Trogir: Krka National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $38
- Krka National Park Tour with tour Guide & Wine tasting from Split & Trogir: $46
- Split&Sip: Educational wine tasting: $51
- Wine Tasting in the Diocletian's Palace: $53
- Diocletian's Palace Walking and Wine Tasting Tour: $71
- Split/Trogir: Mostar and Medjugorje Tour with Wine Tasting: $75
- "The Eye Of The Earth" with wine tasting: $109
- Beer Tasting Split - visit to the local brewery: $120
- Split wine tour-indigenous sorts of Kastela region: $120
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Split and Budva, we can see that Split 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 Split would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Split 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 Split Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Split or Budva?
Split has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Split 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.