Which place is cheaper, Budva or Zagreb?
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 Zagreb 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 Zagreb 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: Zagreb or Budva?
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
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 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Montenegro, and The Best Adventure Tours to Montenegro.
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Zagreb Prices
Croatia PricesBudva Prices
Montenegro Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZagreb €89Budva €113
The average daily cost (per person) in Zagreb is €89, 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 Zagreb and Budva in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZagreb €48Budva €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZagreb €96Budva €74
Compare Hotels in Zagreb and Budva
Looking for a hotel in Zagreb 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: Zagreb Hotel Prices and Budva Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zagreb €9.11Budva €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- Airport Transfer: Zagreb to Zagreb Airport ZAG by Luxury Car: $118
- Airport Zagreb Transfer and Shuttle : $107
- Bratislava: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to BTS: $332
- Budapest: Private transfer to Zagreb or Zagreb to Budapest: $423
- CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer from Zagreb Airport ZAG / Zagreb City: $51
- CO2-Offset Departure Transfer from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport: $72
- From Sarajevo: 1-Way Transfer to Zagreb or opposite: $410
- From Split: Transfer to Zagreb with Stop at Plitvice Lakes: $163
- From Plitvice Lakes Round-Trip Comfort Bus Transfer: $17
- From Transfer to Split & Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $163
- Guided transfer from Zagreb to Split with Plitvice Lakes stop: $165
- Krka National Park Private Tour from Zagreb with transfer to Sibenik: $296
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 Zagreb or Budva?
Prices for flights to both Budva and Zagreb 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 dayZagreb €29Budva €53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Food Tour with Tastings: $104
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $106
- Bite Back in Time: Zagreb's Food Tour Spiced with History : $131
- Zagreb Food Tour: Bite into Traditional Dishes and Flavors: $140
- Croatian cuisine cooking class with Dolac market tour: $155
- Zagreb Walking Food Tour - Sightseeing - Dolac market visit: $161
- Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $184
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $201
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zagreb €12Budva €22
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Searching for Love in Romantic Exploration Game and Tour: $5.95
- Nikola Tesla Technical Museum Ticket: $7.02
- Skip-the-Ticket-Line Museum of Broken Relationships: $8.19
- Monuments to Modernism: An Audio Tour of the Zagreb Trade Fair: $8.99
- Cravaticum - Museum of The Cravat Entry Ticket: $9.36
- Chocolate Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
- VR 3D Immersive Film Experience - Voucher: $14
- City and WWII Tunnels Walking Tour: $18
- Zagreb Time Travel – Discover Zagreb with a fun interactive tablet city tour!: $18
- City & History Walking Tour & WW2 Tunnels: $18
- Jump into Walking Tour with local guide: $21
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 dayZagreb €8.92Budva €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl, 1-Hour of Unlimited Drinks, & Club Entry: $34
- Zagreb Pub Crawl 1Hour of Unlimited Drinks Club Entry: $35
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $35
- Taste Zagreb Heritage Wine Tasting with Traditional Lunch: $106
- Hrastje Plešivičko Wine Tasting Day Trip: $176
- From Samobor Highlights & Wine Tasting in Plešivica: $183
- Castle & Wine Tasting - Private Day Trip from Zagreb: $274
- Private Wine Tour from Two Local Wineries & Samobor : $285
- Fairytale Castle & Wine Tasting & Lunch: $286
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zagreb and Budva, we can see that Budva is more expensive. And not only is Zagreb much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zagreb would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagreb 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 Zagreb.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zagreb Expensive? and Is Budva Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zagreb or Budva?
Zagreb has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Budva. When comparing the sizes of Zagreb 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.