Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Berlin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Berlin or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Berlin 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: Berlin or Balaton Lake?
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
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 Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Cultural Tours in Germany, 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 dayBerlin €137Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Berlin is €137, 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 Berlin and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBerlin €64Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBerlin €128Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Berlin and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Berlin 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: Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Berlin €18Balaton Lake €11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket€1.40
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Bahn Ticket€3.00
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Short Taxi Ride€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $25
- Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Private Transfer from Berlin Airport to Hotels in Berlin: $46
- Listening Station Teufelsberg Tour with Transfer: $52
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $63
- Milan: Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $64
- Private Transfer from Brandenburg Airport to Berlin City Center: $70
- Arrival Transfer from Berlin Train Station to Berlin by Sedan: $72
- Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Car: $78
- Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Van: $78
- Private Transfer to / from Brandenburg Airport (BER): $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Berlin or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Berlin 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 dayBerlin €52Balaton Lake €25
Typical Food Prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
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Sandwich and Coffee To Go€5.00
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Turkish Sandwich€2.00
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Currywurst€2.00
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2 Pho Noodles€9.00
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Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)€60
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Mauer Park (2)€11
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Coffees at Impala€7.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- English Stand-Up Comedy with Pizza and Shots: $19
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte: $28
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $34
- Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Berlin Mitte kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- No Diet Club - Street Food Tour with many Tastings !: $59
- Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner: $63
- Sicilian Cooking Workshop with unlimited drinks: $70
- Evening Food Tour by Bike: $70
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $76
- Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Berlin €22Balaton Lake €19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Berlin Zoo (2)€20
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- Self-Guided Photo Tour with Digital hybrid Photobook: $0.53
- Berlin Walking Tour: $2.62
- Berlin Alternative Street Art Tour: $2.62
- Selfguided Audiotour "Old Berlin": $3.20
- Selfguided Audiotour "Center of Power": $3.20
- Third Reich and Holocaust Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.21
- Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin: $3.21
- Rude Bastards tour of Medieval Berlin: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
- Museum Island Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.74
- Berlin tour - Free offer - in Italian: $3.74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBerlin €16Balaton Lake €8.18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Show€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original One80 Berlin Pub Crawl: $16
- VIP Pub Crawl with Drinks and Challenges: $16
- brewery tour with beer tasting: $19
- Vagabund Brauerei Beer Tasting & Guided Brewery Tour: $24
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Club Entry: $24
- Berlin Pub Crawl and Nightlife Clubbing tour: $26
- The Showgirls of Burlesque: $46
- Showgirls of Burlesque Entry Ticket: $69
- Berlin:sunset boat trip with Argentine wine tasting and food: $214
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $250
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $255
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $401
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Berlin and Balaton Lake, we can see that Berlin 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 Berlin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berlin 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 Berlin Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Berlin or Balaton Lake?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 1660 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Berlin 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 Berlin or Balaton Lake?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Berlin or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
Both Balaton Lake and Berlin during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Berlin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Berlin is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Berlin in July average around 19°C (66°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).
In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Berlin. In the summer, Berlin often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Berlin gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Berlin usually gets less rain in July than Balaton Lake. Berlin gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBerlin 19°C (66°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Berlin or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Berlin and Balaton Lake. The autumn months attract visitors to Berlin because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Berlin is generally cooler than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Berlin average around 10°C (50°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Berlin usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Berlin gets 106 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Berlin usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Berlin gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBerlin 10°C (50°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Berlin or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Berlin as well as Balaton Lake. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Berlin this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Berlin in the winter. Berlin is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Berlin averages around -0°C (31°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Berlin often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Berlin gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Berlin usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Balaton Lake. Berlin gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBerlin -0°C (31°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Berlin or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
Both Balaton Lake and Berlin are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Berlin for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Berlin is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Berlin in April average around 9°C (47°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Berlin usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Berlin gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Berlin usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Berlin gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBerlin 9°C (47°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Berlin
| Berlin | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (31°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (33°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 4°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (47°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (35°F) | 51 mm (2 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.