Which place is cheaper, New York City or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and New York City. 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 is a undiscovered, cultural, and charming city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Bucharest travel costs.
New York City is a vibrant, energetic, and cosmopolitan city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. New York City is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife. See New York City travel costs.
Tourists will generally find more to do in New York City than Bucharest. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. New York City is very popular for its museums and attractions, theatre productions, food, nightlife, music, shopping, christmas markets, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bucharest attracts visitors for its historical sights. New York City is more touristy than Bucharest and is popular for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. It is also well known for The Statue of Liberty. Bucharest is famous for its wide avenues and longstanding religious institutions.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New York City and Bucharest. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
New York City is renowned for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in New York City are among the most recognizable in the world. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bucharest. The city is rich in landmarks and historical buildings. Popular sights include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Palace of the Parliament, Stavropoleos Church, and Curtea Veche.
New York City is renowned for its theatre productions. However, Bucharest is not a theatre destination.
New York City is considered to be a world-class theater destination. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.
Bucharest is not a theatre destination.
New York City is renowned for its restaurant scene. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.
Eat your way through New York City, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.
Bucharest is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Many Romanian recipes have been passed down through the generations and they still use traditional flavors. You'll see some German or Hungarian influences, but the flavors are still uniquely Romanian. Popular dishes include ciorba (tripe soup), cabbage rolls, and mici (grilled meat rolls).
New York City is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.
New York City is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.
If you're looking for night time activities Bucharest has a few options to choose from. The city has come to life with its party scene, with many bars and clubs that you can choose from. There are rooftop bars, chic dance clubs, and cozy pubs where you can pass the evening. You'll find most of the upscale clubs in the northern part of the city, with a more casual scene found in the downtown areas around Universitate and Romanā.
New York City is renowned for its live music scene. However, Bucharest is not a live music destination.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in New York City Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.
Bucharest is not a live music destination.
Bucharest is a good destination for its historic old town. However, New York City does not have a historic old town.
Bucharest is a good destination for visiting its old town. The old town dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, with much of the historical charm seen in the architecture. Many of the buildings have been restored, but others are still awaiting repairs. This gives the area a sense of authenticity that you often miss in other old towns.
New York City does not have a historic old town.
New York City is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.
The abundance of shops in New York City make it a world-class shopping destination. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.
Bucharest has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The residents love fashion, and you'll find many shopping centers around town where you can find a good deal. In addition to the many malls, there are also antique shops, flea markets and boutique clothing stores where you might find a hidden gem.
New York City is renowned for its Christmas activities. However, Bucharest does not offer Christmas activities.
During Christmas, New York City is not to be missed. Christmas in the city is a quintessential experience. From the Christmas tree and ice skating at Rockefeller Center to seeing a live performance of the Nutcracker, everyone enjoys the holidays in New York.
Bucharest does not offer Christmas activities.
New York City is well known for its Christmas markets. However, Bucharest does not offer Christmas markets.
New York City has a lively atmosphere around its Christmas markets. There are a number of Christmas markets that pop up around town during the holiday season. Nothing will get you more in the holiday spirit than wandering these unique venues.
Bucharest does not offer Christmas markets.
New York City is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Bucharest is not a destination known for its beauty.
New York City is a beautiful place to visit, too. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.
Bucharest is not a destination known for its beauty.
New York City is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.
New York City is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.
For families, Bucharest is not always the best place to visit. Kid-friendly activities include kid's play areas, museums such as the Museum of the Senses, and water centered activities like rowing in the park or visiting the wellness center Therme.
New York City is renowned for its romantic activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for couples.
New York City is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.
Bucharest is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The city has some romantic settings such as wandering down Victory Avenue or exploring the historic Cotroceni Neighbourhood. There are also several gardens and a number of nice cafes to explore.
New York City is well known for backpackers. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.
New York City is a great city to visit for backpackers. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.
Plenty of budget travelers visit Bucharest. The city is affordable, but it's often overlooked by backpackers. Part of the charm for many is the sense of authenticity that can often be hard to find in travel these days.
New York City is renowned for students. However, Bucharest is not popular with students.
New York City is a very popular place to visit for students. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.
Bucharest is not popular with students.
New York City is renowned for its public transit. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.
New York City has a great public transit system. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.
Bucharest offers a very effecient public transportation network. Public transit options include trams, buses, and trolley buses.
New York City is renowned for its high level of walkability. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.
Getting around New York City on foot is easy. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.
Bucharest is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the tourist attractions are within a walkable area.
For even more information, also check out Is Bucharest Worth Visiting? and Is New York City Worth Visiting?.
Both Bucharest and New York City have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Bucharest. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bucharest, and 3-7 days is enough time in New York City.
Families should spend more time in New York City than Bucharest. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in New York City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in New York City than Bucharest. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New York City that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City than Bucharest if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in New York City.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Bucharest. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.
People visit New York City because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bucharest. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.
People visit New York City because there is so much to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming destination of Bucharest. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
People visit New York City because there is so much to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.
You'll find food and shopping around the city of Bucharest. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
New York City is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in New York City, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Romania, The Best Budget Tours to Romania, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $183, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 Bucharest and New York City in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bucharest or New York City? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both New York City 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Bucharest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest is in Europe and New York City is in North America, 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 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Bucharest.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bucharest Expensive? and Is New York City Expensive?.
New York City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bucharest. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest and New York City, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Bucharest as well as New York City. The summer months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
In July, Bucharest is generally around the same temperature as New York City. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 23°C (73°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It's quite rainy in New York City. Bucharest usually gets less rain in July than New York City. Bucharest gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both New York City and Bucharest are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year. Also, many travelers come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Bucharest is cooler than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bucharest averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
In October, Bucharest usually receives less rain than New York City. Bucharest gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both New York City and Bucharest during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bucharest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
New York City can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bucharest. In the winter, Bucharest is much colder than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bucharest in January average around -1°C (29°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).
Bucharest usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Bucharest gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bucharest and New York City. Many visitors come to Bucharest in the spring for the activities around the city. Furthermore, most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Bucharest is generally a little warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Bucharest average around 12°C (54°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In April, Bucharest usually receives less rain than New York City. Bucharest gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Bucharest | New York City | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -1°C (29°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
May | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
Nov | 6°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |