Which place is cheaper, Katowice or Budapest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Budapest or Katowice?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Katowice can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Budapest or Katowice?
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.
Katowice
Katowice is a city east of Krakow, in the Silesian province of southern Poland. A large dome crowns the Cathedral of Christ the King, built between 1927 and 1955. The adjacent Archdiocesan Museum exhibits Silesian sacred art. The ultramodern Silesian Museum features several glass structures on the site of a former coal mine. It exhibits Polish art and chronicles the history of Upper Silesia. Historically, Katowice is a product of the 19th-century industrial boom, but it only became a city in the interwar period. After WWII, at the height of the Stalinist cult craze, the city was renamed Stalinogrod, but reverted to its old name soon after Comrade Joe died in 1953. Katowice has few significant historical monuments, but it's a major commercial and cultural center and holds sufficient attractions to make it worth a stop.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Krakow, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Warsaw.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBudapest $89Katowice $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Budapest is $89, while the average daily cost in Katowice is $46. 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 Budapest and Katowice in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBudapest $49Katowice $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBudapest $98Katowice $38
Compare Hotels in Budapest and Katowice
Looking for a hotel in Budapest or Katowice? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Budapest Hotel Prices and Katowice Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Budapest $10Katowice $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$6.91
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Metro Pass$3.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
- Budapest Private Arrival Transfer: Railway station to hotels: $16
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- Private One-Way Budapest Int Airport Transfer To/From Budapest: $24
- Ferenc Liszt Intl Airport to Budapest - Arrival Private Transfer : $25
- Budapest Airport Transfers: $26
- Budapest Private transfer Airport or Hotel to or from Cruise Port: $26
- Private Airport Transfer Budapest: $27
- Budapest City - Budapest Airport Transfer: $31
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Hotel to Liszt Ferenc Airport departure Transfer: $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Katowice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Katowice:
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour from Katowice with Private Transfers: $199
- Katowice Airport: Private Transfer to or from Krakow: $186
- Katowice Pyrzowice KTW to Krakow City Private Transfer: $129
- Auschwitz-Birkenau: Fast-Track Ticket & Guided Tour No Transfers: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Budapest or Katowice?
Prices for flights to both Katowice 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBudapest $23Katowice $19
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $52
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
- Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Katowice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Katowice.
- Private Traditional Polish Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Budapest $22Katowice $6.40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.77
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.27
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.27
- Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.27
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.27
- Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.27
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.45
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.88
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.88
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Tours and Activities in Katowice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katowice are as follows:
- Auschwitz & Birkenau Live Guide Tour Entrance Ticket: $55
- Auschwitz-Birkenau - Skip the Line Tickets : $32
- Auschwitz-Birkenau: Entry Ticket with Guided Tour: $32
- Entrance Ticket to Auschwitz Birkenau with Guide and FREE ebook: $32
- From Auschwitz-Birkenau Skip-the-Line Guided Tour: $95
- Jasna Gora and Czestochowa Private Tour from Katowice by Car: $349
- Katowice Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour: $99
- Katowice Private Polish Beer Tasting Tour: $160
- Katowice Private Vodka Tasting Tour: $159
- Katowice and Nikiszowiec: bicycle tour with guide: $42
- Private City Tour with Stories & Viewing Points: $154
- Private Tour to Auschwitz Birkenau: $156
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBudapest $18Katowice $5.69
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $38
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
Sample the Local Flavors in Katowice
Also in Katowice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tyskie Brewery Tour: $111
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Budapest and Katowice, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Katowice much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Katowice would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Katowice 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 Budapest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Budapest than you might in Katowice.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Budapest Expensive? and Is Katowice Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Budapest or Katowice?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Katowice. When comparing the sizes of Budapest and Katowice, 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.
When is the best time to visit Budapest or Katowice?
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.
Should I visit Budapest or Katowice in the Summer?
Both Katowice and Budapest during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Budapest is a little warmer than Katowice in the summer. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Katowice fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In Katowice, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Budapest. In the summer, Budapest often gets more sunshine than Katowice. Budapest gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 219 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets less rain in July than Katowice. Budapest gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBudapest 21°C (70°F)Katowice 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Katowice in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Budapest and Katowice. The autumn months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Budapest is a little warmer than Katowice. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Budapest in October average around 12°C (53°F), and Katowice averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Budapest usually receives more sunshine than Katowice during autumn. Budapest gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 128 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Budapest usually receives less rain than Katowice. Budapest gets 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBudapest 12°C (53°F)Katowice 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Katowice in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Budapest as well as Katowice. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Katowice. It's quite cold in Budapest in the winter. In January, Budapest is generally much warmer than Katowice. Daily temperatures in Budapest average around -1°C (31°F), and Katowice fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).
In the winter, Budapest often gets more sunshine than Katowice. Budapest gets 61 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katowice receives 51 hours of full sun.
Budapest usually gets less rain in January than Katowice. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBudapest -1°C (31°F)Katowice -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Budapest or Katowice in the Spring?
Both Katowice and Budapest are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Budapest is a little warmer than Katowice in the spring. The daily temperature in Budapest averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Katowice fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Budapest usually receives more sunshine than Katowice during spring. Budapest gets 178 hours of sunny skies, while Katowice receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Budapest usually receives less rain than Katowice. Budapest gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Katowice receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBudapest 12°C (53°F)Katowice 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Katowice and Budapest
| Budapest | Katowice | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.