Which place is cheaper, Budva or Messina?
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 Messina or Budva?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Messina and Budva can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Messina or Budva?
Messina
Messina is a city in the northwest area of Sicily. There are only five kilometers across the Straits of Messina to the Calabria region of mainland Italy. You can reach Messina by boats which travel every hour from the town of Villa San Giovanni in mainland Italy. There are also a couple of hydrofoils that make the trip every day from Reggio di Calabria. During the summer season don't be surprised to see cruise ships arriving with crowds of tourists. They are usually docked right downtown and are therefore hard to miss. Messina is also connected to mainland Italy by train, which are transported across the Straits of Messina by ferry.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Italy, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.
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Messina Prices
Italy PricesBudva Prices
Montenegro Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMessina €145Budva €113
The average daily cost (per person) in Messina is €145, 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 Messina and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMessina €65Budva €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMessina €130Budva €74
Compare Hotels in Messina and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Messina 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: Messina Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Messina €22Budva €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Messina
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Messina:
- From Private Air-Conditioned Transfer to Taormina: $109
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:
- 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 Messina or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Messina 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 dayMessina €64Budva €53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Messina
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Messina.
- Cooking Demo & Meal at a Local's Home: $116
- Messina Walking Tour & Traditional Cooking Class with Wine: $116
- Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $159
- Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Messina: $174
- Taormina: Private/Guided Godfather with Authentic Pizza Tasting : $263
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Messina €21Budva €22
Tours and Activities in Messina
Here are a few actual costs in Messina for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alfotour tour 3 hour grotte di bagnara: $41
- 2,5-Hour Messina Walking Tour: $50
- Guided City Highlights Walking Tour: $59
- Best Sicily Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina Port: $75
- Best of Sicily Taormina & Savoca Tour from Messina Cruise Port: $75
- Sicily Gems - Taormina Savoca Tour from Messina Port: $78
- Cruise-Friendly Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina Port: $83
- Deluxe SicilyTaormina and Savoca Tour from Messina Cruise Port: $83
- Majestic Sicily - Taormina and Castelmola Tour from Messina Port: $90
- Private Tour to Taormina, Savoca and Messina starting from Messina: $106
- Taormina, Isola Bella beach and Messina tour. Departure from Messina: $106
- Godfather Private Tour of Savoca and Forza D'Agrò from Messina: $106
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMessina €18Budva €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Messina
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Messina:
- Wine Tasting and Tour of Taormina and Messina starting from Messina: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Messina and Budva, we can see that Messina 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 Messina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Messina 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 Messina Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Messina or Budva?
Messina has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Messina 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.