Should you visit Budapest or Florence?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Budapest and Florence can help you decide which place is right for you.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.
Which city is cheaper, Florence or Budapest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $84, while the average daily cost in Florence is $137. 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 Budapest and Florence in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $92 in Budapest For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Florence can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $79, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $158.
Food
Food in Budapest costs travelers about $21 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.
In Florence travelers spend around $29 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Budapest $21
Florence $29
Typical Food prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Lángos (hungarian streetfood) cooking class:
$19
-
Dinner & Cruise on the Danube in Budapest:
$23
-
Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Vegan Food Tour / Local delights:
$36
-
Private Budapest Food Tour with a Local Foodie:
$37
-
Live from Hungarian Online Cooking class:
$39
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour Night & The City Budapest:
$47
-
Food Tour in Budapest:
$50
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour of Trendy Budapest:
$51
-
BBQ dinner and a Quiz Night - welcome shots (hungaricums) and 88 craft beers:
$52
-
2-Hours Strudel Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Central Budapest:
$53
-
Dinner Cruise with Live Music:
$54
Typical Food prices in Florence
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Florence:
-
Panini Sandwich
$7.42
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)
$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence
For Florence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Italian Fresh Pasta Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Virtual Cooking Class: Bruschetta & Tiramisù:
$40
-
Illuminated Florence Tour for Kids with Gelato & Pizza:
$45
-
Street Food Tour:
$48
-
Vegetarian pasta cooking class and dinner in Florence:
$54
-
Pizza & Gelato Preparation Class in Florence:
$60
-
2-Hour Flavorful Food Tour:
$61
-
Pizza and Gelato Making Class in Florence:
$62
-
Florence Private Food Tour:
$63
-
Pizza and Ice Cream Cooking Course in Florence:
$67
-
Cooking Lesson Traditional Italian Pasta:
$67
-
Chianti and Siena Day Tour with Tuscan Winery Dinner:
$72
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Budapest than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $9.99 on transportation in Budapest on average per day.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Florence than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $20 on transportation in Florence on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
-
Short Taxi Ride
$8.16
-
Metro Pass
$4.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Luxury transfer from Budapest to Zagreb with 5+ stops along the way:
$1,081
-
Private transfer from Budapest to Prague:
$987
-
Private Budapest-Ljubljana(Ljubljana- Budapest)Transfer with a comfortable car:
$871
-
Private Transfer to Bucharest from Budapest (Hungary):
$809
-
Budapest -Belgrade(Belgrade-Budapest)private transfer with a comfortable car/van:
$809
-
Budapest-Prague (Prague-Budapest) private transfer with a comfortable car / van:
$759
-
From Budapest to Frankfurt Airport Private Transfer - punctual & friendly Driver:
$705
-
One-way Transfer from Budapest Airport to Prague City Centre:
$695
-
Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna:
$683
-
Budapest - Kraków(Kraków -Budapest) private transfer with a comfortable car /van:
$666
-
Private Transfer from Budapest to Prague:
$664
-
Private transfer from airport Budapest (BUD) to Ljubljana:
$664
Typical Local Transportation prices in Florence
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence
Also for Florence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Florence to Turin Private Car/Van Transfer:
$1,460
-
One Way Private Transfer: Florence to Rome with Visit to San Gimignano and Siena:
$1,332
-
Private transfer from all over Tuscany to any place on the Amalfi coast:
$1,327
-
TRANSFER TOUR Florence to Milan with a food experience in Modena:
$1,219
-
TRANSFER TOUR Florence to Venice with a stop in Verona:
$1,120
-
TRANSFER TOUR Florence to Rome with a wine experience in MONTEPULCIANO:
$1,120
-
Florence to Naples Private 1-Way Luxury Transfer:
$1,074
-
Florence to Rome luxury transfer with Assisi & Orvieto tour and light lunch:
$995
-
Private transfer from all over Tuscany to any place on the Amalfi coast:
$995
-
Private Transfer from Firenze to Rimini (RMI) Airport:
$989
-
Direct Transfer from Florence Hotel To Rome Hotel:
$967
-
Private transfer Florence to Venice through Padova or vice versa:
$925
Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Florence?
Prices for flights to both Florence and Budapest 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
Sightseeing expenses in Budapest, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
Sightseeing expenses in Florence, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $27 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
-
"This is the Way!" - Budapest Photo Tour by Birta Photo:
$124
-
'Best of Pest' 3.5 Hour Private Photography Tour:
$112
-
1 Hour 30 Minutes Downtown Budapest Guided Segway Tour:
$93
-
1. Downtown Pest Side Segway Tour Budapest:
$54
-
10 days private sightseeing tour from Budapest to Prague:
$3,109
-
101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Private Tour:
$203
-
2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour:
$54
-
2 Hours Cultural and Food Experiences in Budapest:
$60
-
2 Hours Walking Tour in Budapest:
$11
-
2 days Vienna - Bratislava PRIVATE guided tour package from Budapest with lunch:
$1,070
-
2 days Vienna - Wachau Valley PRIVATE guided tour package from Budapest:
$1,070
-
2 hours long private orientation tour in Budapest:
$101
Typical Entertainment prices in Florence
For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Admission to Uffizi
$13
-
Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi
$4.57
-
Firenze Card (for Two)
$114
-
Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)
$23
-
Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee
$6.85
-
Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee
$7.99
Tours and Activities in Florence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florence.
-
- Leonardo Interactive Museum® Entrance Ticket:
$8.71
-
2 hours sunset walking tour:
$112
-
2-Day Combo Tuscany & Florence Tour:
$140
-
2-Hour Walking Tour: Accademia Museum, David, and More:
$57
-
2-Nights Ferrari World and with Private Bologna Walking Tour from Florence:
$1,058
-
3 hours: Private walking tour of Florence and Accademia Gallery guided visit:
$158
-
3-Hour Florence Segway PT Authorized Tour:
$166
-
3-Hour Historic WhoDunIt Tour in Florence:
$29
-
3-Hour Panoramic Tour of Florence by Vespa:
$89
-
3-Hour Private Florence Walking Tour:
$112
-
3-Hour Scenic Tour of Florence by Vintage Fiat 500:
$81
-
3-Hour Tour of Florence with Accademia Gallery:
$58
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Budapest, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $16.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Florence, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $17.
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Bingo Bar Crawl:
$15
-
Bingo Bar Crawl:
$15
-
Ultimate Ruin Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Generation Pub Crawl Budapest:
$19
-
Ruin Pub Crawl - Your Keys to the Nightlife of Budapest:
$21
-
Budapest Pub Crawl:
$24
-
Pest side Pub Crawl - Unlimited drinks for an hour, discover hidden ruin pubs:
$25
-
Re-opening Pub Crawls 2020 Summer-Autumn:
$25
-
Budapest Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access:
$26
-
Epic Local Insider Pub Crawl in Budapest - Every weekend:
$30
-
Party Cruise with Pub Crawl option:
$37
-
Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest:
$40
Typical Alcohol prices in Florence
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florence from other travelers:
-
Glass of Chianti
$4.79
-
Bottle of Wine
$8.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Florence
Also in Florence, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Florence Highlights, Local Food & Chianti Wine Tour:
$40
-
60-Minute Wine Tasting Tour:
$46
-
Barricaia Wine Tasting at the Antinori Winery:
$49
-
2-Hour Tuscan Wine Tasting Workshop:
$55
-
Wine Tasting of Tuscan Wine in Florence:
$57
-
2-Hour Walking Tour and Wine Tasting:
$58
-
Chianti: Authentic Wine Tasting Experience from Florence:
$59
-
Florence Sunset Wine Tour:
$64
-
Sunset Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting:
$64
-
3-Hour Private Wine Tour:
$65
-
Chianti Wine Tour: Full-Day from Florence with Tastings:
$68
-
Siena, San Gimignano and Wine Tasting in Chianti:
$72
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Budapest and Florence, we can see that Florence is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Florence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florence than you might in Budapest.
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