Should you visit Bucharest or London?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Bucharest and London. 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.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Which city is cheaper, London 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 London is $199. 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 London 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.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $248 in London For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
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.
Food in London costs travelers about $39 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Bucharest $50
London $39
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 London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
-
Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
-
Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
-
3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
-
Private Cooking Class with a London Cookbook Author:
$87
-
BYOB Pizza Workshop Supper Club:
$91
-
3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
-
4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
-
Evening City & Food Tour (non-guided):
$110
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
Soho International Food Tour:
$113
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.
London's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $28 per person, per day on transportation in London.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
-
Private Transfer to from Bucharest to Vienna City Austria Price/Car 1-8 Seats:
$1,555
-
Private transfer from Bucharest to Istanbul price/car 1-4 seat:
$941
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Budapest price/car 1-4 seat:
$941
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Tirana Albania Price/Car 1-4 Seats:
$941
-
Private Transfer to Budapest (Hungary) from Bucharest:
$746
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Budapest:
$684
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Thessaloniki Salonic GR Price/Car 1-4 Seats:
$672
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Skopje, Macedonia de Nord Price/Car 1-4 Seats:
$672
-
Private Transfer: Bucharest to Bucharest B. A. V. International Airport (BBU):
$622
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Cluj City Untold and Electric Castle 1-8 Seat:
$605
-
Private Transfer from Bucharest to Sofia (BG) with Van, Price/Car 1-8 Seat:
$537
-
Private Transfer to Bucharest from Sofia (BG) with Van, Price/Car 1-8 Seat:
$537
Typical Local Transportation prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Accommodation to London St. Pancras Station - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Airport and venues transfer 3:
$1,173
-
All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southeast London:
$217
-
All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southwest London:
$217
-
All London Airports Roundtrip - PrivateTransfer to London Hotel Including Return Trip:
$112
-
Arrival Private Transfers from Airport LCY to London City in Luxury Van:
$109
-
Arrival Private Transfers from London Airport LCY to London in Business Car:
$89
-
Arrival transfer from Heathrow to London Hotel:
$53
-
Arrival, Departure or Round Trip Private Transfer: Central London to Southampton Cruise Port:
$250
-
Arrive & Depart in Style - Luxury Private Transfer - Southampton to London:
$381
-
Bath Day Trip From London With Private Transfer in Range Rover:
$1,134
-
Bus Transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports:
$35
Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or London?
Prices for flights to both London 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in London can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $36 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
1 Day - 4x4 Private Tour in Transylvania:
$200
-
1 Day 4x4 JEEP Tour in Carpathian Mountains:
$129
-
1 Day ATV and Buggy Tour Carpathian Mountains:
$181
-
1 Day Castles Tour - Sinaia and Bran:
$149
-
1 Day Communist Experience:
$168
-
1 Day Private Tour-Slanic Salt Mine, Mud Vulcanos & Wine Testing From Bucharest:
$160
-
1 Day Private Tour-Slanic Salt Mine, Mud Vulcanos - From Bucharest:
$187
-
1 day Cycling Tour from Bucharest - Biking The Roads Of History:
$196
-
1-Day Private Guided Tour: The Story of 40 Years of Communism in Romania:
$158
-
1-Day Private Tour - In the Footsteps of Communism - Execution Museum Included:
$188
-
1-Day Private Tour Constanta: The Ancient City of Tomis, Seaside Tour Included:
$222
-
10 days Small Group Balkans Tour from Bucharest with Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia:
$2,115
Typical Entertainment prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
-
Royal Canadian Regiment Museum: Historic Wolseley Barracks Tour:
$5.64
-
Shakespeare's Italy Virtual Experience:
$6.90
-
59-Minutes British Museum Audio-guided Tour:
$8.71
-
Banqueting House Entrance Ticket:
$9.22
-
59-Minutes National Gallery Audio-guided Tour:
$9.95
-
12 Angry Guests: The Online Jury Experience:
$11
-
The Clink Prison Museum Admission Tickets:
$11
-
British Museum Guided Tour:
$12
-
Private 90-Minute London Kick-Start Tour with a Local:
$13
-
Guided Tour of Handel House:
$14
-
Virtual Guided Tour of London's Off the Beaten Track Areas:
$14
-
1-Hour Guided Tour of the Royal Albert Hall:
$14
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In London, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $17.
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 London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
-
5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Central London 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
The Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$14
-
The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
3-Hour Pub Tour:
$21
-
The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
-
2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
-
London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
-
Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Complimentary Tasting:
$35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and London, we can see that London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Bucharest.
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