Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cairo or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Budapest can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Budapest?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $17Budapest $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $17, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $91. 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 Cairo and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $9.27Budapest $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $19Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Cairo or Budapest? 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $2.96Budapest $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- From Private Day Trip to Luxor w/ Transfer & Flights: $659
- 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
- Cairo - Sharm El Sheikh: One-Way or Return Private Transfer: $290
- Full-Day Private Trip to Fayoum from Cairo, with Transfer: $286
- 2 Days and 2 Evenings Private Tour in Cairo include airport transfer and M&A: $280
- 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $280
- From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $275
- 2-Day-One night Camping Tour in The Bahariya Oasis with Private Transfer: $274
- Private Pickup Transfers From Cairo To Dahab: $260
- Cairo : Marvel the Camping in the White & Black Deserts & Cairo Private Transfer: $250
- Private 3 Days in Giza Cairo and Alexandria including Free airport transfers: $250
- Cairo To El Gouna Private Transfer: $248
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$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,190
- Budapest - Bük Transfer: $153
- Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $168
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,298
- Budapest - Pécs Transfer: $150
- Budapest Airport BUD Arrival Private Transfer to Budapest City: $90
- Budapest Airport Private Luxury Transfer by a Mercedes Benz S Class: $120
- Budapest Airport Transfer: $55
- Budapest Airport Transfer - Round trip to and from Liszt Ferenc Airport: $78
- Budapest Airport Transfer - return (arrival & departure) with discount: $51
- Budapest Airport Transfer: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest City in Business Car: $75
- Budapest Airport Transfer: Budapest City to Budapest Airport BUD in Business Car: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Cairo 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 dayCairo $4.70Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Cairo Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $10
- Giza Dinner Cruise With Belly Dancer Show: $10
- Cairo Dinner Cruise, Belly Dancer Show With Pickup Service: $11
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $13
- Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
- 2-Hour Nile River Night Dinner Cruise from Cairo: $16
- Super Safari Quad Bike Jeep Safari Buggy and Dinner in Hurghada: $18
- Private Expert tour Giza Pyramids ,Sphinx ,Nile Dinner Cruise & Belly Dancer: $19
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $19
- Dinner Cruise Cairo With Belly Dancer Show in The Nile River: $20
- Giza Pyramids, Camel Ride, ATV, shopping Tour and Dinner cruise: $20
- Giza pyramids and Nile dinner cruise private tour from Cairo Giza hotels: $22
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $5.69Budapest $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.84
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.43
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
- 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
- 2-Day Ancient Egypt Tour with Pyramids and Museums: $219
- 2-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
- 2-Days Tour at Cairo & Giza: $86
- 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
- 3-Day Cairo Top Attractions Exploration Tour: $180
- 3-Day Private Tour in Cairo : $196
- 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
- All Inclusive 2-Day Private Tour to All Pyramids and Cairo and 2 evenings: $299
- All Inclusive Full-Day Tour to Pyramids, Museum, mosque and Felucca: $79
- All Inclusive day tour to Giza pyramids, Egyptian museum and Felucca : $88
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$6.91
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: $3.23
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.28
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Original Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.28
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.92
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.92
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Discovering Budapest's hot pools and heroes: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.16Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- 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: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa and Budapest is in Europe, 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Budapest?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Cairo and Budapest, 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 Cairo or Budapest?
Budapest has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairo or Budapest in the Summer?
Both Budapest and Cairo during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Cairo is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Budapest averages at about 21°C (70°F).
In Budapest, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the summer, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Budapest. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Budapest in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Budapest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round. Furthermore, 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 October, Cairo is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Budapest. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Budapest in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Budapest. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
It's quite cold in Budapest in the winter. Cairo is much warmer than Budapest in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the winter, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Budapest. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Budapest in the Spring?
Both Budapest and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Cairo is much warmer than Budapest. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Budapest. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Cairo
| Cairo | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.