Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Basel?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basel or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Balaton Lake, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Basel or Balaton Lake?
Basel
Basel is often overlooked as a tourist destination in Switzerland, but despite this, it does have a lot to offer visitors as well as a beautiful medieval historic center. Every year it also hosts a Carnival festival that is one of the most popular in Europe, competing with those in Venice and Rio de Janeiro in its popularity. There are also some excellent museums and great examples of regional architecture around town. Basel also serves as an excellent entry point to the Swiss Jura mountains and a jumping off point to visit more popular cities such as Zurich or Lucerne.
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 Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, 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 dayBasel $236Balaton Lake $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Basel is $236, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $86. 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 Basel and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasel $143Balaton Lake $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasel $286Balaton Lake $96
Compare Hotels in Basel and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Basel 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: Basel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basel $45Balaton Lake $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basel
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Basel:
- Round Trip Private Transfer From Basel EuroAirport to Feldberg: $87
- ONE WAY: Basel Train Station (ZDH) to / from Basel transfer: $88
- Basel Airport Transfer: Basel to EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Private Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Van: $119
- Basel Airport Transfer: EuroAirport (BSL MLH EAP) to Basel in Luxury Car: $157
- Private direct transfer from Basel to Lucerne with a local driver: $177
- Private One-way Transfer From Basel to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $186
- Private Direct Transfer from Basel to Zurich: $205
- Private Transfer From Basel To Bern With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $224
- Private transfer from Basel to Strasbourg with a local driver: $233
- Private Transfer from Basel to Zurich with 3h Sightseeing Stops: $251
Is it cheaper to fly into Basel or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Basel 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 dayBasel $61Balaton Lake $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basel $37Balaton Lake $20
Tours and Activities in Basel
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basel are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Basel Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $5.47
- Basel's Portrait Self Guided Audio City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Hidden Treasures Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $8.99
- The Best of Basel’s Hidden Treasures: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- Uncover Basel's Charms: In-App Audio Tour of Cultural Gems: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Basel's Portrait: Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Old Town Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
- Basel (Kleinbasel) Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasel $33Balaton Lake $8.73
Sample the Local Flavors in Basel
Also in Basel, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Meet People and Hidden Bars and Clubs: $33
- Pinot Noir & Pinot Wine Tour to Baden-Württemberg: $279
- Fantastic, full day, private wine tour to Alsace!: $285
- Half Day Private Cheese & Wine Tasting in Vineyard in Basel: $289
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basel and Balaton Lake, we can see that Basel 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel 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 Basel Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basel or Balaton Lake?
Basel has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Basel 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.
When is the best time to visit Basel or Balaton Lake?
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 Basel or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
Both Balaton Lake and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Basel is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basel in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).
It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basel. Basel usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Basel usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasel 21°C (70°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Basel or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Basel during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Basel because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Basel is generally around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 13°C (56°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Basel often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.
Basel usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasel 13°C (56°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Basel or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Balaton Lake. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Basel this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Basel in the winter. Basel is much warmer than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
Basel usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Basel usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasel 3°C (37°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Basel or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Basel as well as Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Basel for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Basel is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basel in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Basel often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.
Basel usually gets more rain in April than Balaton Lake. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasel 12°C (53°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Basel
| Basel | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 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.