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

Should you visit Positano 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 Positano 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: Positano or Budva?

Positano

Located on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is a very scenic town that offers spectacular coastal views. The town sits on the edge of a hill and flows down toward the sea. Because of its dramatic beauty, Positano attracts thousands of visitors year around.

The town dates back to medieval times when it was a port for the Amalfi Republic. It thrived throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the mid-nineteenth century its prosperity was falling. During those times more than half of the population left, migrating predominantly to America. During the 1950s the town gained popularity as a tourist destination, in part because of John Steinbeck's essay about the area in Harper's Bazaar (May, 1953).

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Italy, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.


Which place is cheaper, Budva or Positano?

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 Positano is €261, 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 Positano and Budva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Positano 148
    Budva 37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Positano 296
    Budva 74
Compare Hotels in Positano and Budva

Looking for a hotel in Positano 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 Positano


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: Positano Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Positano 7.73
    Budva 20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:


  • Bus Ticket
    1.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano

Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cozy Private Door-to-Door Transfer from Positano to Naples: $159
  • Positano or Ravello to Naples airport/station private departure transfer: $193
  • Positano to Napoli Airport (NAP) - Departure Private Transfer: $125
  • Private Car Transfer from Positano to Sorrento: $203
  • Private Transfer by Car from Positano to Sorrento: $250
  • Private Transfer by car from Amalfi to Sorrento: $251
  • Private Transfer from Naples to Furore or Agerola (or vice versa): $143
  • Private Transfer from Positano to Naples: $120
  • Private Transfer from Positano to Naples: $263
  • Private Transfer from Positano to Naples : $143
  • Private Transfer-Positano to Naples with 2h of Sightseeing: Vesuvius or Pompeii: $209
  • Private transfer from POSITANO to NAPLES with 3 hours stop in Pompeii: $239

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:

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Positano or Budva?

Prices for flights to both Budva and Positano 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
    Positano 92
    Budva 53
Typical Food Prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:


  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    31
  • Pizza in a Restaurant
    9.32
  • Sandwich in a Restaurant
    12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano

For Positano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking class with Pasta, mozzarella and Tiramisu with wine: $80
  • Cooking lesson: tagliatelle, mozzarella and tiramisu: $84
  • Amalfi Coast Cooking Class: Make Pasta, Mozzarella & Tiramisu: $90
  • Dining Experience at a local's Home in Sant'Agnello with Show Cooking: $102
  • Sorrento: Gluten Free Cooking Class: $108
  • Cooking Class in Sorrento with Breathtaking View: $120
  • 3 Hours Sorrento Cooking Class in Sorrento Coast with Pickup: $155
  • Ravioli & Tagliatelle Cooking Class at a Local's Home in Positano: $179
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Gnocchi, Tiramisù & Drinks: $179
  • Cooking school in Positano at the home of a local family : $191
  • Cesarine: Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Positano: $214
  • Cesarine: Pizza & Tiramisu Workshop with Positano Terrace Views: $250

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Positano 60
    Budva 22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Positano

For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Chair & Umbrella at Spiaggia Grande
    17
  • Day Trip of Capri & Amalfi
    80
  • Sunset Cruise
    24
  • Full Day Wine Tour
    97
  • Cooking Class
    65

Tours and Activities in Positano

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.

  • Positano Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $72
  • Hiking the Path of the Gods with Enzo: Amalfi Coast Adventure: $73
  • Shared Sunset Cruise from Positano with Drinks & Snacks 1.5-Hour : $77
  • Sunset Group Boat Tour along the Amalfi Coast with Prosecco wine: $84
  • Small Group Tour to Positano by Boat at Sunset: $84
  • Positano Swim Experience with Lifeguard: $120
  • Pompeii Herculaneum small group tour skip the line ex AmalfiCoast: $125
  • Pompeii ruins skip the line tour: $153
  • Pompeii Guided Tour from Positano: $167
  • Blue Grotto Visit and Capri Semi-Private Boat Tour: $173
  • Capri Boat Tour and Blue Grotto Visit: $178
  • Capri and Blue Grotto Small Group Boat Tour: $178

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
    Positano 15
    Budva 14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Positano

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


  • Bottle of Limoncello
    16

Sample the Local Flavors in Positano

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

  • 5 Wine Tastings with Typical Products in Sorrento Coast: $84
  • Pompeii Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting from Positano: $271
  • Pompeii Excavations Tour-Wine Tasting with Lunch from Positano: $274


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


Which is Bigger, Positano or Budva?

Budva has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Positano. When comparing the sizes of Positano 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.