Should you visit Bucharest or Belgrade?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Bucharest and Belgrade. 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. 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.
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital city of the Republic of Serbia. Dating back to the 4th Century BC, is has seen many changes from Celtic tribes at its earliest beginnings to Roman rule, the Ottoman Empire, and Serbian independence. Relics of its past can be seen today in Belgrade's architecture and museums, while there are also a host of contemporary activities like nightlife, clubs, cafes, and concerts.
Which city is cheaper, Belgrade or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $119, while the average daily cost in Belgrade is $38. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bucharest and Belgrade in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $108 for a double occupancy room in Bucharest.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Belgrade is $52. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The price of a meal in Bucharest can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $50 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
While meal prices in Belgrade can vary, the average travelers spends about $7.85 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Belgrade should cost around $3.14 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Belgrade is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Bucharest $50
Belgrade $7.85
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belgrade
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Belgrade.
-
VISIT SERBIA: Private Cooking Lesson in Belgrade:
$70
-
5-Hour Small Group Food Tour with Local Guide:
$85
-
Folklore night in Belgrade with dinner:
$191
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Bucharest is $22 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $4.73 per day to get around in Belgrade.
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belgrade
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Belgrade:
-
Belgrade - Budapest Transfer:
$349
-
Belgrade Airport Transfers (by Belgrade Nightlife Tours):
$44
-
Belgrade Full Day Private Layover Tour with Round-Trip Airport or Hotel Transfers:
$177
-
Belgrade airport transfer service:
$33
-
Belgrade and Avala Mountain Full Day Layover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfer:
$185
-
Belgrade to Kopaonik taxi transfer:
$258
-
Belgrade to Timisoara transfer and walking city tour:
$261
-
Belgrade to Zlatibor private transfer by car:
$218
-
Belgrade-Novi sad airport transfers minivan 7 passangers:
$128
-
Nikola Tesla Airport Private Transfer:
$45
-
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport One Way Transfer:
$75
-
Departure Private Transfer: Belgrade Hotels to Belgrade International Airport:
$42
Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Belgrade?
Prices for flights to both Belgrade 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.
Entertainment
Bucharest's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $3.81 per person, per day in Belgrade. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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
Tours and Activities in Belgrade
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Belgrade are as follows:
-
Belgrade Nightclub Pass with Skip the Line:
$1.00
-
VISIT SERBIA: Belgrade Sightseeing - Half Day Tour:
$7.07
-
VISIT SERBIA: Create Your Own Belgrade - Half Day Tour:
$7.07
-
VISIT SERBIA: Belgrade Panoramic Sightseeing Tour:
$7.96
-
VISIT SERBIA: Create Your Own Panoramic Belgrade Tour:
$7.96
-
VISIT SERBIA: Belgrade Hop-on Hop-off - Create Your Own Private Half Day Tour:
$7.96
-
VISIT SERBIA: Belgrade Panoramic Sightseeing Tour:
$7.99
-
Create Your Own Private Panoramic Belgrade Tour:
$12
-
VISIT SERBIA: Create Your Own Belgrade - Half Day Tour:
$12
-
VISIT SERBIA: Belgrade Hop-on Hop-off - Create Your Own Private Half Day Tour:
$12
-
VISIT SERBIA: Belgrade Panoramic Sightseeing Tour - Create Your Own Private Tour:
$14
-
Belgrade Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$15
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Bucharest may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.92 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $18 on alcoholic beverages in Belgrade per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 Belgrade
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belgrade:
-
BEERgrade Pub Crawl Tour:
$24
-
Belgrade Pub Crawl (by Belgrade Nightlife Tours):
$37
-
Belgrade Unique Local Wine Tasting Tour (By Belgrade Nightlife Tours):
$37
-
Belgrade Wine Tasting:
$42
-
Pearl of North Serbia, trip to Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci with wine tasting:
$52
-
Novi Sad and Sremski Karlovci Wine Tour From Belgrade:
$68
-
From Sremski Karlovci & Novi Sad with Wine Tasting in a cellar:
$75
-
Oplenac Royal Complex and Wine Tasting Full Day Tour from Belgrade:
$93
-
Day trip from Serbian Wine Story - Wine Tasting in Sumadija Region:
$131
-
Private Day Trip from Avala and Royal Town Topola with Wine Tasting:
$137
-
Private Day Trip from Viminacium & Smederevo Fort with Wine Tasting:
$149
-
Private Wine Tour in Royal Region:
$157
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Belgrade, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Belgrade much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Belgrade would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Belgrade 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Belgrade.
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