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

Should you visit Krakow or Budva?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Krakow 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: Krakow or Budva?

Krakow

Krakow is Poland's second largest city. It sits on both sides of the Wisla River at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. There are more than 1.4 million residents in the metropolitan area. Krakow is known as a historical and beautiful city that is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tourism makes up a large part of the city's economy, but there is also a university and several local colleges which are major employers as well. Technology has grown in recent years and the city has some notable employees including Google, IBM and Motorola. Other important industries include steel, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.

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 Budget Tours to Poland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Budva or Krakow?

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 Krakow is $82, while the average daily cost in Budva is $133. 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 Krakow and Budva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Krakow $46
    Budva $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Krakow $92
    Budva $86
Compare Hotels in Krakow and Budva

Looking for a hotel in Krakow 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 Krakow


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: Krakow Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Krakow $7.10
    Budva $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krakow

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Krakow:

  • Krakow to Auschwitz Birkenau Guided Tour with Private Transfer: $179
  • 1 Day Trip Auschwitz Birkenau and Salt Mines with Hotel Transfer: $70
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Krakow Airport KRK to Krakow City: $53
  • Auschwitz Birkenau Round Transfer, Private Driver from Krakow: $155
  • Auschwitz Birkenau Tour from Private Transfer + Ticket: $213
  • Auschwitz Birkenau Transfer and Guide with Salt Mine Combo Option: $82
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour from Krakow with Ticket & Transfer: $62
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum with Private Transfers from Krakow: $238
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour from Katowice with Private Transfers: $227
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour with Transfer: $118
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau guided tour from Krakow with Ticket & Transfer: $33
  • Balice KRK airport OneWay PRIVATE TRANSFER to/from Krakow’s hotel: $35

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:


  • Daily Car Rental
    $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budva

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Budva:

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Krakow or Budva?

Prices for flights to both Budva and Krakow 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
    Krakow $25
    Budva $63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krakow

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Krakow.

  • Small-Group Online Cooking Class Polish Pierogi : $30
  • Krakow Tipsy Polish Food Tour with History Pierogi and Shots: $39
  • Pierogi Cooking Class with Market Shopping and Local Snacks: $82
  • Eat Like a Local in Krakow - Food Tour with BeMyGuest: $99
  • Krakow Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting and Dinner: $105
  • Krakow Bites and Sights Food Tour: $114
  • Polish Pierogi Cooking Class with Farmer's Market Shopping: $114
  • Deluxe Polish Food Tour Experience in Krakow: $121
  • Private Food Tour in Krakow Poland: $198
  • Go Karting Experience with Pizza and Drinks in Krakow: $299

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Krakow $22
    Budva $26

Tours and Activities in Krakow

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

  • Krakow Unveiled: Self-Guided Heritage Tour: $3.57
  • Krakow Stories: Self Guided Audio Guide Tour: $3.57
  • A Walk With the Dead Krakow Ghost Tour: $3.57
  • Archdiocesan Museum in Krakow – Entry Ticket: $3.95
  • Archeological Museum - Skip The Line Ticket : $4.52
  • The Best of A Walking Tour Through the Heart of the City: $4.78
  • Krakow Old Town Mysteries: Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
  • Home Army Museum in Krakow - Skip The Line Ticket: $6.67
  • Wawel Hill Audio-Guided Tour: $8.36
  • Krakow Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
  • Krakow Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self Guided Tour: $9.55
  • Art Documentation Centre CRICOTEKA in Krakow - Entrance Ticket: $11

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: $19
  • Tour Cetinje, Lovćen & Mausoleum: $24
  • Kayak & Hike Experience on Sveti Nikola Island: $53
  • 3-Hour Paddle Board or Kayak Tour to Coastal Caves: $53
  • Night Lights Kayaking Tour: $53
  • Budva Bay: Kayak & SUP Tour to Coastal Caves: $54
  • 2-Hour «Night Lights» Kayak Tour: $54
  • Small group kayaking tour from Budva to Sveti Nikola island caves: $60
  • Boka Bay: Kotor, Cave, Herceg Novi, & Lady of the Rocks Tour: $69
  • Full-Day Boka Bay Cruise Tour from Budva with Guide: $70
  • Great tour of coastal monasteries in Budva - Walking on the path of history!: $72
  • Budva Diving - Scuba Diving Experience: $74

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Krakow $7.49
    Budva $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krakow

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Krakow:


  • Vodka
    $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Krakow

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Krakow:

  • 1 Hour of Open Bar Pub Crawl + Karaoke + VIP Entry to Best Clubs : $28
  • Pub Crawl Krawl Through Krakow: $28
  • Krakow Pub Crawl with 1 Hr of unlimited alcohol & 4 clubs/pubs: $29
  • Pub Crawl 1hr Unlimited Beer + Vodka then Clubs in Katowice: $31
  • Tyskie Brewery Tour from Katowice: $131


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krakow and Budva, we can see that Budva is more expensive. And not only is Krakow much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krakow would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krakow 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 Krakow.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krakow Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Krakow or Budva?

Krakow has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Krakow 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.