Which place is cheaper, Prague or Balaton Lake?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Balaton Lake or Prague?
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 Balaton Lake and Prague can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Balaton Lake or Prague?
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.
Prague
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is also the largest city in the country and one of the largest cities in Central Europe. Prague has long enticed travelers for its beautiful architecture, impressive bridges, detailed cathedrals, and fascinating history. Prague is unique in that is remained almost completely undamaged during World War II. The medieval city center still feels like you've stepped back in time. Despite this historic atmosphere, there is still a lot of vibrant energy and you'll find many different live music venues, art galleries, modern restaurants, and unique festivals throughout the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary, The Best Budget Tours to Czech Republic, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Czech Republic.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBalaton Lake $86Prague $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Balaton Lake is $86, while the average daily cost in Prague is $109. 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 Balaton Lake and Prague in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBalaton Lake $48Prague $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBalaton Lake $96Prague $134
Compare Hotels in Balaton Lake and Prague
Looking for a hotel in Balaton Lake or Prague? 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: Prague Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Balaton Lake $12Prague $8.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Prague
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Prague:
- Bus Transfer Between Prague Airport and the City: $4.95
- River Cruise with Transfer to Pier: $16
- Prague Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $17
- Private Transfer from Prague Airport to Prague Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Prague Hotels to Prague Airport: $22
- Transfer from Prague airport: $23
- Private Transfer from Prague City Center to Vaclav Airport (PRG): $24
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Prague Airport to Hotels: $25
- Shared Departure Transfer: Prague Hotel to Prague Airport: $25
- One Way Shuttle Airport & Hotel Transfer in Prague: $26
- Express Train Transfer Ticket to and from Krakow: $26
- Praha: private transfers from Vaclav Havel Airport Prague: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Balaton Lake or Prague?
Prices for flights to both Prague and Balaton Lake 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 dayBalaton Lake $27Prague $26
Typical Food Prices in Prague
Some typical examples of dining costs in Prague are as follows:
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Fruit$4.20
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Lunch for One$13
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Bananas$0.59
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Cookies$0.33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Prague
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Prague.
- Anti Tour Prague - Self Guided Beer and Food Tour: $17
- Anti Tour Prague - Self Guided Beer and Food Tour: $21
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Prague with Set Lunch or Dinner: $28
- Sightseeing Boat Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $46
- Vltava River Evening Dinner Cruise: $53
- Folkloric Dinner Show with Unlimited Drinks: $56
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $57
- River Cruise with Dinner and Live Music: $57
- Medieval Dinner with Unlimited Drinks: $59
- Prague 5 Courses Medieval Dinner and Live Performances: $60
- Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Balaton Lake $20Prague $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Prague
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Prague are as follows:
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Opera Tickets$4.20
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Two Tickets for Charles Bridge Tower$5.88
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Image Theatre for Two$40
Tours and Activities in Prague
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Prague are as follows:
- Bachelorette / Bachelor Party - City sightseeing Trike Tour: $2.73
- Royal Prague City sightseeing Electric Trike Tour: $2.94
- Prague Historical & Viewpoints Retro E-Bike Group Tour: $2.98
- Sunset View & Adventurous Retro E-Bike Tour: $2.98
- Adventurous Sightseeing & Historical Live Guided Trike Tour: $3.03
- Bachelorette/Bachelor Party - City sightseeing E-Bike Tour: $3.03
- Royal Prague City sightseeing Retro E-Bike Live Guided Tour: $3.07
- Prague City sightseeing in Night Trike Tour: $3.07
- Gorgeous Prague Night Retro E-Bike Tour ( Live Guided ): $3.11
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.19
- Tour of the Castle and Malá Strana based on Tips: $3.25
- Prague Historical & Viewpoints Retro E-Bike Group Tour: $3.25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBalaton Lake $8.73Prague $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Prague
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Prague from other travelers:
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A Bottle of Wine$6.68
Sample the Local Flavors in Prague
Also in Prague, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Staropramem Brewery Self-Guided Tour with Tasting: $13
- Clock Tower Bar Crawl with Drinks and Shots: $23
- 1 Hour Exclusive Moravian Wine Tasting in an Art Gallery : $28
- Pub Crawl in Prague: $32
- Pub Crawl and International Party: $34
- Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Entry: $34
- Pub Crawl with 2-Hour Open Bar at Drunken Monkey: $35
- Golden Burlesque Show & Live Music w/ Lady & The Devil: $36
- Drunken Monkey Pub Crawl: $36
- Golden BURLESQUE: $41
- Prague beer tour with brewery visit and tasting: $46
- Wine Tasting and Walking Tour of Prague: $49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Balaton Lake and Prague, we can see that Prague 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 Prague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Prague 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 Balaton Lake Expensive? and Is Prague Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Balaton Lake or Prague?
Prague has a larger population, and is about 560 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Balaton Lake and Prague, 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.
When is the best time to visit Balaton Lake or Prague?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Prague in the Summer?
Both Prague and Balaton Lake are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Prague for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Balaton Lake is generally a little warmer than Prague. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 22°C (71°F), and Prague fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Prague. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. Balaton Lake usually receives more sunshine than Prague during summer. Balaton Lake gets 302 hours of sunny skies, while Prague receives 216 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Prague. Balaton Lake gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Prague receives 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBalaton Lake 22°C (71°F)Prague 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Prague in the Autumn?
Both Prague and Balaton Lake during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Prague because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Balaton Lake is a little warmer than Prague in the autumn. The daily temperature in Balaton Lake averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Prague fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In the autumn, Balaton Lake often gets more sunshine than Prague. Balaton Lake gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Prague receives 124 hours of full sun.
Balaton Lake usually gets less rain in October than Prague. Balaton Lake gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Prague receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBalaton Lake 13°C (56°F)Prague 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Prague in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Balaton Lake and Prague. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Prague this time of year.
It's quite cold in Prague in the winter. The weather in Balaton Lake can be very cold. In the winter, Balaton Lake is much colder than Prague. Typically, the winter temperatures in Balaton Lake in January average around 0°C (32°F), and Prague averages at about 1°C (33°F).
Balaton Lake usually receives more sunshine than Prague during winter. Balaton Lake gets 72 hours of sunny skies, while Prague receives 49 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Balaton Lake usually receives less rain than Prague. Balaton Lake gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Prague receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBalaton Lake 0°C (32°F)Prague 1°C (33°F)
Should I visit Balaton Lake or Prague in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Balaton Lake as well as Prague. Also, many travelers come to Prague for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Balaton Lake is generally a little warmer than Prague. Daily temperatures in Balaton Lake average around 12°C (54°F), and Prague fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In the spring, Balaton Lake often gets more sunshine than Prague. Balaton Lake gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Prague receives 145 hours of full sun.
Balaton Lake usually gets more rain in April than Prague. Balaton Lake gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Prague receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBalaton Lake 12°C (54°F)Prague 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Prague and Balaton Lake
| Balaton Lake | Prague | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
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.