Which place is cheaper, Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Athens or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar?
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 Athens and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar. 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: Athens or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar?
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.
Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar
Located in northeast Romania, Cluj-Napoca is the capital of the Transylvania region and one of the nation's most-visited cities. Many visitors come to experience the modern Transylvanian university culture, admire historic churches and other landmarks, see fortress ruins, and visit museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Adventure Tours to Romania, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Romania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €127Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €78
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €127, while the average daily cost in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar is €78. 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 Athens and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €94
Compare Hotels in Athens and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar? 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Athens to Piraeus (Athens) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Private Athens International Airport to Piraeus Port Transfer: $80
- "Luxurious Transfer": $47
- AIRPORT TRANSFER in Athens : $28
- Airport Private Transfers: $79
- Airport Transfer: $109
- Airport Transfer/ Athens Greece: $28
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Business Car: $80
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Car: $126
- Airport Transfer: Athens to Athens Airport ATH by Luxury Van: $113
- Airport transfer: $131
- Arrival Private Transfer from Athens Airport ATH to Athens City by Minibus: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar:
- Private Transfer Cluj Napoca Airport: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar?
Prices for flights to both Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAthens €37Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €24
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:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $24
- Street Food Tour Market & City Centre: $42
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $46
- Greek Street Food Tour: $51
- Athens Street Food Tour: Explore City's Iconic Eateries: $52
- Middle-eastern Cuisine Cooking Class with Meal: $52
- Street Food Tour with Local Guide and 7 Tastings: $57
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $60
- Alternative, truly authentic food tour in secret Athens: $63
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Class with Meal: $63
- Greek Traditional Vegan Cooking Classes in Athina: $64
- Light Lunch Tasting & Cooking Demo: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €7.39
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Meouzo Online City Tour: $3.20
- Self-guided First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.21
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour into Byzantine Gems: $4.60
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- 360 Virtual tour of Ancient Athens: $6.00
- Herakleidon Museum of Ancient Greek Technology: Entry Ticket: $6.42
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Athens: $6.53
- Ancient Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- Ancient Agora of Athens Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.99
- Greece: Tourist eSIM Data Plan: $7.18
- Ancient Agora: Audiovisual self-guided tour with 3D models: $7.48
Tours and Activities in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar
Here are a few actual costs in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- CLUJ ADVENTURE TOUR ! ZIP LINE and HIKE: $98
- Cluj - private walking city tour: $65
- Cluj : Private Walking Tour with Guide ( Private Tour ): $33
- Cluj-Napoca Walking City Tour: $58
- Cluj-Napoca: 2.5-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $26
- Curly Tour - Day trip from Cluj :): $87
- Local Tour of Cluj by Electric Bike: $49
- Night Tour in Hoia Baciu Forest: $93
- Private Climbing OR Hiking Experience in Cheile Turzii: $78
- Private Full Day Green Tour: $120
- Private city tour in Cluj-Napoca: $48
- Snowshoeing Fun Tour from Cluj Napoca: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar €6.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Liquer tasting in Polykala's Distillery Show Room in Athens: $17
- Greek Wine Tasting: $23
- Premium Wine Tastings: $35
- Greek Wine Tasting Experience with a Sommelier: $43
- Athens Wine Tasting: $44
- Old Town Athens Wine Tasting: $52
- Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $52
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $53
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting : $53
- Greek food and wine tasting: $53
- Rare Greek Wine Tasting w/Sommelier by the Acropolis: $59
- Wine Tasting and Storytelling in a Historical Square in Athina: $60
Sample the Local Flavors in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar:
- Pub Crawl in Cluj: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar 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 Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Cluj-Napoca / Kolozsvar, 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.