Which place is cheaper, Budva or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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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.
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Lisbon Prices
Portugal PricesBudva Prices
Montenegro Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLisbon €167Budva €113
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €167, 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 Lisbon and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLisbon €63Budva €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLisbon €126Budva €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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lisbon €25Budva €20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
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Taxi Ride€6.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $84
- Airport Private Transfer to Ericeira | Torres Vedras | Campo Real: $51
- Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $66
- Airport Transfer | Cruise Port - Estoril | Cascais | Sintra: $81
- Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS by Business Car: $73
- Airport transfer to Lisbon (metropolitan area).: $60
- Algarve to Lisbon Airport Transfer: $470
- Arrábida Snorkeling Adventure with Transfer from Lisbon: $96
- Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $72
- Costa da Caparica Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $36
- Departure Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $72
- Departure Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Luxury Van: $103
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budva
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Budva are as follows:
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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 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
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Food Meals for one dayLisbon €73Budva €53
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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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:
- Lisbon Sunset DJ Party – Luxury Boat, Pizza & Open Bar: $29
- Lisbon Exclusive Sunset Cruise – Pizza, Open Bar & Dolphins: $29
- Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $32
- Lisbon Sunset DJ Party – Luxury Boat, Pizza & Open Bar: $35
- Traditional Walking Food Tour: $50
- Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $57
- Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $58
- Lisbon Sangria – Exclusive Luxury Cruise with Pizza & Music: $59
- Pizza Cruise on a Luxury Boat with Open Bar: $59
- Portuguese street food cooking class with Drinks: $59
- Pizza Cruise on a Luxury Boat with Open Bar: $60
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $60
Entertainment
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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:
- Unravel Lisbon an Outdoor Charms Self Guided Tour: $1.17
- Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.23
- Alfama and Mouraria Tour - The oldest neighbourhoods in Lisbon: $1.23
- Lisbon Walking Tour - Discover Belém and the Discoveries Age: $1.78
- Lisbon Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $3.35
- The Moorish Beyond the Tourist Trail Quarter Free Walking Tour: $3.57
- Lisbon Tour in Walled City and Alfama and Old Town: $3.57
- Lisbon City Center Tour - The Unmissable Lisbon: $3.57
- Self Guided Tour in Lisbon with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.57
- Bairro Alto + Downtown Walking Tour: $3.57
- Alfama Tour in Lisbon Old Town: $3.57
- Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.57
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
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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:
- Lisbon Port Wine Tasting at Taylors Shop and Tasting Room: $19
- 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $22
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots & VIP Club Entry: $23
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar (Premium Upgrade Available): $23
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: Unlimited Drinks, Shots & V.I.P Club Entry: $23
- Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $24
- Lisbon Pub Crawl: $24
- Portuguese Wine Tasting: $25
- Guided Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif: $28
- Port Wine Tasting Apéritif/Digestif at Portuguese Wine Bar: $29
- Lisbon Wine Tasting: $29
- Catamaran Luxury Sunset and Wine Tour: $42
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.