Should you visit Athens or Budapest?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Athens and Budapest. 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. So, let's dig into it.
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
Which city is cheaper, Budapest or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €103, while the average daily cost in Budapest is €74. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Athens and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Athens, €102 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Athens, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €51, such as in a hostel.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €82 in Budapest For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Athens travelers spend around €30 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in Budapest costs travelers about €18 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Athens €30
Budapest €18
Typical Food prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream
€3.00
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Souvlaki
€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Online 1hr Cooking Class: Santorini Tomato Fritters:
$6.22
-
Greek Meatballs Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Withlocals the 10 Tastings: Athens Private Food Tour with a Local:
$42
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Online Cooking Class: Greek mini cheese pies:
$45
-
Street Culture & Food Tour:
$56
-
Afternoon Food Tour:
$56
-
Athens walking and tasting food tour.:
$60
-
4-Hour Cooking Class with Market Visit:
$69
-
Homemade Gyros cooking class and dinner in Athens for private groups:
$75
-
The Classic Food Tour:
$76
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Taste of Half-Day Small Group Food Tour:
$77
-
Greek Phyllo and Pie Cooking Class in Athens:
$77
Typical Food prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Lángos (hungarian streetfood) cooking class:
$19
-
Dinner & Cruise on the Danube in Budapest:
$23
-
Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Vegan Food Tour / Local delights:
$36
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Private Budapest Food Tour with a Local Foodie:
$37
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Live from Hungarian Online Cooking class:
$39
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Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour Night & The City Budapest:
$47
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Food Tour in Budapest:
$50
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour of Trendy Budapest:
$51
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BBQ dinner and a Quiz Night - welcome shots (hungaricums) and 88 craft beers:
$52
-
2-Hours Strudel Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Central Budapest:
$53
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Dinner Cruise with Live Music:
$54
Local Transportation
Athens's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €22 per person, per day on transportation in Athens.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Budapest than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €8.75 on transportation in Budapest on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer from Αthens City to Igoumenitsa Port:
$1,763
-
Private Transfer from Athens City to Syvota:
$1,203
-
Private City Transfer From Athens To Pilos:
$970
-
Private City Transfer From Athens to Kranidi:
$970
-
Transfer to Corfu from Athens including visit to Delphi:
$964
-
Athens to Corfu Luxury Private Transfer:
$890
-
Private Transfer to/ from Lefkada Marina to/ from Athens Airport or City Centre:
$759
-
Transfer From Athens To Lefkada:
$678
-
Private Transfer from Athens to Nafplio:
$666
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Transfer to Lefkada - The Safest and most Convinient way:
$605
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Delphi Private Full Day Luxury Transfers From Athens:
$597
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Private Transfer from Athens-Pireaus-ATH to Igoumenitsa-Parga-Sivota-Ioannina:
$592
Typical Local Transportation prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride
€7.15
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Metro Pass
€3.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Luxury transfer from Budapest to Zagreb with 5+ stops along the way:
$1,081
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Private transfer from Budapest to Prague:
$987
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Private Budapest-Ljubljana(Ljubljana- Budapest)Transfer with a comfortable car:
$871
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Private Transfer to Bucharest from Budapest (Hungary):
$809
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Budapest -Belgrade(Belgrade-Budapest)private transfer with a comfortable car/van:
$809
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Budapest-Prague (Prague-Budapest) private transfer with a comfortable car / van:
$759
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From Budapest to Frankfurt Airport Private Transfer - punctual & friendly Driver:
$705
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One-way Transfer from Budapest Airport to Prague City Centre:
$695
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Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna:
$683
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Budapest - Kraków(Kraków -Budapest) private transfer with a comfortable car /van:
$666
-
Private Transfer from Budapest to Prague:
$664
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Private transfer from airport Budapest (BUD) to Ljubljana:
$664
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Athens 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Athens can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €28 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Budapest, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €19 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
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"A Must-See" Anc. Epidaurus, Mycenae & Nafplion Premium Full Day Tour By Locals:
$411
-
"Athens city tour":
$270
-
"Private tour in Athens":
$243
-
''Tour in Athens'':
$118
-
1 Day Private Tour Corinth, Cave of Lakes at Kalavrita & Journey by Cog Railway:
$264
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1 Day Private tour to Meteora, visit the Monasteries are lying on the cliffs.:
$317
-
1 Day Saronic Islands Cruise:
$168
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10 Day Greek Island Tour: Mykonos, Santorini-Volcano, Crete, Delos, Knossos,:
$2,457
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10 Day Ultimate Ancient Greece Tours Experience:
$2,411
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10 Day to Explore the Best Historical Gems in Greece and tour in Santorini:
$1,798
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10 Days Private Tour: North Greece:
$2,706
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10 Days Private Tour: Peloponnese:
$2,706
Typical Entertainment prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
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"This is the Way!" - Budapest Photo Tour by Birta Photo:
$124
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'Best of Pest' 3.5 Hour Private Photography Tour:
$112
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1 Hour 30 Minutes Downtown Budapest Guided Segway Tour:
$93
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1. Downtown Pest Side Segway Tour Budapest:
$54
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10 days private sightseeing tour from Budapest to Prague:
$3,109
-
101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Private Tour:
$203
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2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour:
$54
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2 Hours Cultural and Food Experiences in Budapest:
$60
-
2 Hours Walking Tour in Budapest:
$11
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2 days Vienna - Bratislava PRIVATE guided tour package from Budapest with lunch:
$1,070
-
2 days Vienna - Wachau Valley PRIVATE guided tour package from Budapest:
$1,070
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2 hours long private orientation tour in Budapest:
$101
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Athens, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €18.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Budapest, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €14.
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
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Athens Walking Tour with Food and Wine Tasting:
$37
-
Virtual Greek Wine Tasting:
$87
-
Athens Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$96
-
Wine tasting tour:
$131
-
Wine Tasting and Athens Trikke Combo Tour:
$133
-
The Best Winery & Tasting Tour in Nemea.Enjoy a unique all day wine tasting tour:
$140
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Private Wine Tasting Experience of Greek Awarded Wines in Athens:
$148
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Premium Wine Tour in Peloponnese -Ancient Corinthos, Nemea - the Land of Myth:
$148
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Athens Private Wine Tasting Tour - Dionysian Grapes:
$149
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Ancient Corinth & Nemea Wine Tasting (up to 15 in a Luxurious Mercedes Minibus):
$151
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Greek Private Wine Tasting:
$166
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Mercedes Private Full-Day Tour, Nafplio, Corinth Canal and Wine Tasting:
$168
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Bingo Bar Crawl:
$15
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Bingo Bar Crawl:
$15
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Ultimate Ruin Pub Crawl:
$18
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Generation Pub Crawl Budapest:
$19
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Ruin Pub Crawl - Your Keys to the Nightlife of Budapest:
$21
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Budapest Pub Crawl:
$24
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Pest side Pub Crawl - Unlimited drinks for an hour, discover hidden ruin pubs:
$25
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Re-opening Pub Crawls 2020 Summer-Autumn:
$25
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Budapest Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access:
$26
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Epic Local Insider Pub Crawl in Budapest - Every weekend:
$30
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Party Cruise with Pub Crawl option:
$37
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Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest:
$40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Budapest, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Budapest.
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