Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beirut or Budapest?
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 Beirut 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Budapest?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.26Budapest $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.26, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $91. 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 Beirut and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Budapest $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Beirut or Budapest? 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Budapest $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $46
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
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$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $710
- T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,603
- Speed boat cruise on Budapest Danube river and private airport transfer package: $91
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $936
- Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $592
- Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,066
- Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $474
- Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
- Private Transfer in Budapest: $76
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing, Local Driver: $235
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing: $217
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $0.71Budapest $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Budapest $22
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $250
- 3 Hours ATV Rental Guided Tour in Nature: $130
- 3 days tour package : Jeita grotto-Byblos-Baalbek & Beirut tour: $295
- 3-Day Tour of Beirut with Pick Up: $250
- ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $150
- ATV (2 Seat) Half Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $120
- All in 1 Lebanon Local Multi day Tour, 3 days: $289
- Baalbek Tour: $111
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Group Tour: $95
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Guided Full-Day Tour from Beirut: $90
- Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Jeita Grotto and Byblos Tour: $170
- Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour: $50
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
- Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
- 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $186
- 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
- 2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour: $57
- 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $39
- 2 Hours Budapest Walking Tour with A Private Guide: $130
- 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $50
- 2-Hour Private Budapest Castle Walking Tour: $127
- 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
- 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
- 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir : $50
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $69
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $69
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $103
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Budapest is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Budapest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Budapest than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Budapest?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Beirut and Budapest, 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 Beirut or Budapest?
Budapest has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Beirut experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Beirut or Budapest in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Budapest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Budapest in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Beirut is a little warmer than Budapest in the summer. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Budapest this time of the year. In Beirut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during summer. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Beirut usually receives less rain than Budapest. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeirut 27°C (81°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Budapest in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Budapest. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Beirut is much warmer than Budapest. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beirut in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beirut this time of the year. In the autumn, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun.
Beirut usually gets more rain in October than Budapest. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeirut 25°C (77°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Budapest because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Budapest can be very cold. In January, Beirut is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 13°C (55°F), and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during winter. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Beirut. In January, Beirut usually receives more rain than Budapest. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeirut 13°C (55°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Budapest in the Spring?
Both Budapest and Beirut during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
Beirut is a little warmer than Budapest in the spring. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite sunny in Beirut. In the spring, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun.
Beirut usually gets more rain in April than Budapest. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeirut 17°C (63°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Beirut
| Beirut | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 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.