Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Bad Gastein?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bad Gastein or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bad Gastein and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bad Gastein or Balaton Lake?
Bad Gastein
Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.
Balaton Lake
Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBad Gastein €122Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Bad Gastein is €122, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is €80. 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 Bad Gastein and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBad Gastein €62Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBad Gastein €124Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Bad Gastein and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Bad Gastein or Balaton Lake? 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: Bad Gastein Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bad Gastein €40Balaton Lake €11
Is it cheaper to fly into Bad Gastein or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Bad Gastein 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 dayBad Gastein €35Balaton Lake €25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bad Gastein €21Balaton Lake €19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBad Gastein €7.86Balaton Lake €8.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bad Gastein and Balaton Lake, we can see that Bad Gastein is more expensive. And not only is Balaton Lake much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Balaton Lake would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Balaton Lake 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 Bad Gastein would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bad Gastein than you might in Balaton Lake.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bad Gastein Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bad Gastein or Balaton Lake?
Bad Gastein has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Bad Gastein and Balaton Lake, 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.