A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bucharest vs. Barcelona for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Bucharest or Barcelona?

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 Bucharest and Barcelona. 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.

Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.

Barcelona

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.

Which city is cheaper, Barcelona or Bucharest?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $109, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is $130. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bucharest and Barcelona in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bucharest $50
    Barcelona $79
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bucharest $100
    Barcelona $158

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bucharest $21
    Barcelona $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:

  • Best transfer from Bucharest Airport to City Center: $3.72
  • Bucharest airport transfer: $12
  • Private transfer from Bucharest Otopeni Airport to Bucharest: $12
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Bucharest Airport to Bucharest City: $14
  • Private Departure Transfer from Bucharest City to Bucharest Airport: $14
  • Bucharest - Private Airport Transfer: $15
  • Bucharest Airport Transfer: $16
  • Otopeni Airport Transfer to Bucharest: $16
  • Private One-Way BUCHAREST-OTP Airport Transfer: $16
  • Bucharest Airport Transfer by Minivan: $17
  • Private Bucharest Airport Transfer: $17
  • Bucharest Giurgiu Port Shared Transfer: $17

Typical Local Transportation prices in Barcelona

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:


  • 10 Trip Metro Ticket
    $8.20
  • Airport Bus
    $5.26
  • Metro
    $2.21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Barcelona

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:

  • Airport Transfer: $127
  • Airport Transfers: $20
  • Airport, Port cruise & Hotel Transfers: $81
  • Ancient winery of vermouth, Tarragona & Reus: private Round-Trip Transfer: $311
  • Arrival Private Transfer Barcelona City or Airport to Andorra by Business Car: $445
  • Arrival Private Transfer Barcelona Port to Barcelona City by Business Car: $57
  • Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van Barcelona Port to Barcelona City: $70
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Barcelona Cruise Port to Bacelona City: $88
  • Barcelona - Salou private transfer: $198
  • Barcelona 1-Way Private Luxury Airport or Port Transfer: $47
  • Barcelona Airport (BCN) to Cruise Port - Arrival Private Car Transfer: $46
  • Barcelona Airport (BCN) to Cruise Port - Arrival Private Van Transfer: $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Barcelona?

Prices for flights to both Barcelona and Bucharest 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bucharest $46
    Barcelona $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.

  • Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $80
  • Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest: $199
  • Walking Food Tour in the Old Town of Bucharest: $199
  • Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $223
  • Private Dracula Castle Tour by night and Romanian traditional dinner: $331

Typical Food prices in Barcelona

Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:


  • Hot Cocoa & Churro
    $4.36
  • Sandwich
    $1.79
  • Baguette & Horchata
    $4.00
  • Tapas on the beach
    $8.71
  • Gelatto
    $2.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Barcelona

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.

  • Live from Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class: $23
  • Live from Barcelona to China: Potato Gnocchi Online Cooking Class: $23
  • Barcelona organic dinner in a beautiful rooftop garden: $35
  • Paella Cooking Experience + Boqueria Market Tour: $48
  • Interactive Spanish Cooking Experience in Barcelona: $49
  • Hands-on Brunch Cooking Class with Bottomless Mimosas!: $50
  • Born district food tour and tasting in Barcelona: $51
  • Street Food Tour & Gothic Quater Sightseeing with Local Expert: $52
  • Barcelona Street Food Tour: Local Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide: $52
  • Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit: $59
  • Skip the Line: Flamenco Show and Dinner Ticket: $62
  • 2-Hour Bites & Flavors Private Food Tour: $66

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bucharest $12
    Barcelona $28

Tours and Activities in Bucharest

Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Bellu Outdoor Museum Exploration Game & Tour: $5.67
  • Old Town Hidden Gems Exploration Game and Tour: $7.95
  • Museum of Senses Bucharest Entrance Ticket: $11
  • One Hour Epic Escape Room Adventure Mystery in Bucharest: $14
  • Escape Room Experience: $17
  • Half-day tour to the Mogoșoaia Palace by train from Bucharest: $20
  • Skip the line: Bucharest Parliament Palace Ticket: $23
  • Self-Guided Ruse from Bucharest Tour: $24
  • Skip the Line: Palace of the Parliament - Bucharest: $25
  • Guided Ceausescu Villa Tour: $25
  • Jewish Tour of Bucharest: $28
  • Dracula's Transylvania Virtual Private 2-Hour Live Guided Tour: $31

Typical Entertainment prices in Barcelona

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:


  • Picasso Walking Tour and Museum Pass
    $44
  • Souvenir Gaudi Book
    $8.99
  • Admission to Museo Picasso
    $6.31

Tours and Activities in Barcelona

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:

  • A Culinary Audio Tour of El Born by VoiceMap: $5.50
  • Self-Guided Tour with Over 100 Sights: $5.67
  • Private Barcelona Ghost Tour: Gothic Quarter Exploration Game: $7.45
  • Museu de la Xocolata Admission Ticket: $7.46
  • History Museum of Catalonia Skip-The-Line Ticket: $9.08
  • Skip the Line: Erotic Museum of Barcelona Admission Ticket with free souvenir: $9.95
  • Skip the Line: Human Bodies - Entrance to the exhibition Ticket: $9.95
  • Skip the Line: History Museum of Catalonia & Rooftop Access Ticket: $9.95
  • Guided Tour at Catalonia's Royal Academy of Medicine: $10
  • Guided Tour at Barcelona's Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts: $10
  • IDEAL Frida Kahlo, the Life of an Icon Ticket: $10
  • Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum Entry Ticket: $10

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bucharest $7.30
    Barcelona $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest

Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $23
  • Wine Tasting Tour of Bucharest Old Town: $61
  • Wine Tasting Tour at First Wine Bar: $61
  • Private Wine Tasting at Bucharest's First Wine Bar: $65
  • Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting – 2.5 hours: $88
  • Traditions in Village Museum & Wine Tasting: $93
  • Bike & Wine tour in Dealu Mare wineland: $96
  • Wine tasting at the mansion, Dracula's grave from Snagov & Mogosoaia Palace: $100
  • Traditions in Village Museum and Wine Tasting Tour: $100
  • Romanian Wine Tasting: $106
  • Romanian Wine Tasting Experience: $113
  • Lacerta Crama Wine Tasting: $113

Sample the Local Flavors in Barcelona

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:

  • Estrella Damm Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $9.08
  • Generation Pub Crawl in Barcelona: $19
  • Barcelona Pub Crawl: $20
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Barcelona: $22
  • Opera Samfaina: Food and Wine Tasting Interactive Experience in Barcelona: $26
  • Wine tasting & tapas: $39
  • Barcelona Guided Local Wine Tasting Tour: $44
  • Wine Tasting near Sagrada Familia: $47
  • Home Food and Wine Tasting with Wine Lover: $51
  • Fun Wine Tasting in Barcelona with a Sommelier!: $53
  • Spanish wine tasting in a historic building with a Sommelier: $54
  • Food Tasting Tapas and Wine Tour: $62

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Barcelona, we can see that Barcelona is more expensive. And not only is Bucharest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bucharest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bucharest 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 Barcelona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Barcelona than you might in Bucharest.

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Bucharest vs. Barcelona Travel Comparison

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