A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Carcassonne vs. Budva for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne 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: Carcassonne or Budva?

Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a hilltop town in southern France. Inhabited since the Neolithic period, Carcassonne is located in the Aude plain between historic trade routes, linking the Atlantic to the Mediterranean sea and the Massif Central to the Pyrenees. The Romans recognized its strategic importance and occupied its hilltop until the demise of the Western Roman Empire and was later taken over in the fifth century by the Visigoths who founded the city. Its desirable location led successive rulers to expand its fortifications until the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. It is famous for its medieval citadel, La Cite, which has numerous watchtowers and double-walled fortifications. The first walls were built in Gallo-Roman times, with major additions made in the 13th and 14th centuries. With its position on a rocky hilltop, zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. It attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or even better in spring or fall) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in France, The Best Historical Tours in France, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Budva or Carcassonne?

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 Carcassonne is €135, 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 Carcassonne and Budva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Carcassonne 61
    Budva 37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Carcassonne 122
    Budva 74
Compare Hotels in Carcassonne and Budva

Looking for a hotel in Carcassonne 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.

Hotels in Carcassonne


Hotels in Budva


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: Carcassonne Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Carcassonne 7.14
    Budva 20

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:

  • Tivat to Budva private one way transfer: $107
  • Private transfer Tivat/Kotor/Budva-Podgorica: $149
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat airport: $131
  • Private Transfer from Petrovac to Tivat Airport (TIV): $111
  • Private Transfer from Budva to Podgorica Airport and city: $46
  • Private Transfer from Bar to Tivat Airport (TIV): $168
  • Kotor to Budva one way transfer: $111
  • AIRPORT TRANSFER Montenegro Budva Tivat Podgorica Kotor Perast: $68

Is it cheaper to fly into Carcassonne or Budva?

Prices for flights to both Budva and Carcassonne 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
    Carcassonne 67
    Budva 53

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Carcassonne 14
    Budva 22

Tours and Activities in Carcassonne

For Carcassonne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Ghosts of Self-Guided Tour and Exploration Game: $4.77
  • Carcassonne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.70
  • Secrets of the Castle's Defense Self-Guided Tour: $6.93
  • Carcassonne Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $8.36
  • Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $15
  • 1h30 Walking Tour of the Medieval City: $18
  • A Self-Guided Tour of Carcassonne’s Ancient Basilica: $20
  • Medieval Builder-Themed City Tour with a Guide: $24
  • Unusual guided tour of Carcassonne at the time of the Builders: $24
  • Languedoc: Tour and Tasting at Domaine de Baronarques: $25
  • Carcassonne 's Medieval Walls: A Self-Guided Tour: $25
  • Carcassonne Castle and Ramparts Entry Ticket: $30

Tours and Activities in Budva

Here are a few actual costs in Budva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private Swimming and Boat Tour Trsteno Beach Budva: $179
  • 1-Hour Guided Lipa Cave Adventure in Montenegro: $19
  • Adrenaline Speedboat Tours through the Bay of Kotor: $118
  • Boka Bay: Kotor, Cave, Herceg Novi, & Lady of the Rocks Tour: $69
  • Budva 1 hour Private walking tour: $85
  • Budva Bay: Boat Tour with Snorkeling and Sightseeing: $76
  • Budva Bay: Kayak & SUP Tour to Coastal Caves: $54
  • Budva Diving - Scuba Diving Experience: $74
  • Budva old town private tour: $236
  • 2-Hour «Night Lights» Kayak Tour: $54
  • 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $53
  • City Private Tour: $138

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Carcassonne 13
    Budva 14

Sample the Local Flavors in Carcassonne

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Carcassonne:

  • Wine Tasting of the Languedoc Roussillon: $88
  • Solex tour with guide and wine tasting: $93


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Carcassonne and Budva, we can see that Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Carcassonne 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 Carcassonne Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Carcassonne or Budva?

Carcassonne has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Carcassonne 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.