A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cappadocia vs. Budapest for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cappadocia or Budapest?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Cappadocia or Budapest? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Cappadocia or Budapest?

Cappadocia

Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

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 Coach Bus Tours in Turkey, The Best Adventure Tours to Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.


Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Cappadocia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cappadocia is $151, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $89. 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 Cappadocia and Budapest in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cappadocia $53
    Budapest $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cappadocia $106
    Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Budapest

Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia 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.

Hotels in Cappadocia


Hotels in Budapest


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: Cappadocia Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cappadocia $51
    Budapest $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia

Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride over Cat Valley with Transfers: $262
  • Cappadocia Balloon Ride with Breakfast, Champagne and Transfers: $250
  • 2 Days 1 Night Cappadocia Tour (Airport Transfer, Hotel, Daily Tour And Atv): $235
  • Private Transfer from Cappadocia to Antalya : $213
  • Goreme Hot Air Balloon over Valleys, with Champagne and Transfers: $208
  • Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride with Transfers: $197
  • Double Tour with Airport Transfer : $191
  • Cappadocia Package Tour withTransfers + 1 Night Hotel,1 Day Tour: $191
  • Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Hacibektas Hotels: $169
  • Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Nigde City Centre Hotels: $164
  • Transfer from Kayseri and Nevsehir Airport Cappadocia mercedes for 16 people: $162
  • Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport NAV Transfers to Guzelyurt Hotels: $158

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $6.91
  • Metro Pass
    $3.79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest

Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,568
  • Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,285
  • Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,178
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,055
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $927
  • Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $703
  • From Bucharest: One-way Private Fast Transfer to Budapest: $639
  • Budapest-Vienna Private Transfer by Luxury Vehicle: $639
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $586
  • Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $469
  • Budapest-Vienna One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295
  • Budapest-Bratislava One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295

Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Budapest?

Prices for flights to both Budapest and Cappadocia 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Cappadocia $50
    Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:


  • Cookies
    $0.03

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia

For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Turkish Night Show in Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Transfer: $43
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night in Avanos Dinner Included: $48
  • 3 Hours Turkish Night in Cappadocia with Dinner: $54
  • Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant: $55
  • Cappadocia Night: Turkish Dance & Dinner : $60
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Entertainments: $62
  • Turkish Night Show & Dinner: $63
  • Cappadocian cooking - hands-on class with pickup: $64
  • Romantic Cappadocia Sunset Dinner and Wine : $65
  • Turkish night show with dinner and unlimited free alcohol: $69
  • Cappadocia Cave Restaurant for Dinner and Turkish Entertainments: $71
  • 2-Hour Cappadocia Turkish Night Show and Dinner Experience: $76

Typical Food Prices in Budapest

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:


  • 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
  • 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: $85
  • 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
  • Hungarian Cooking Class - Foodapest: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cappadocia $95
    Budapest $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia

For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Underground City Entrance for Two
    $0.93
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
    $18
  • Horseback Riding for Two
    $3.55
  • Cappadocia Driving Tour
    $3.78
  • Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
    $0.46
  • Whirling Dervishes Show
    $3.09
  • Turkish Bath
    $2.16
  • Hot air ballooning
    $13
  • Goreme open air museum
    $0.62
  • Bellydancing Show
    $4.02

Tours and Activities in Cappadocia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.

  • 2 days Cappadocia Full Turkish night Show, Atv & Red Tour: $175
  • 2 days Cappadocia Tour (Car+ Guide): $219
  • ATV (Quad) Tour in Cappadocia-2 Hours: $49
  • Cappadocia ATV Tour: $36
  • Cappadocia Red Tour Small Group: $98
  • Full day private cappadocia tour With professional guide: $219
  • Highlights of Cappadocia All in One Tour: $219
  • Private Day Tour Natural Beauties of Cappadocia and Underground Caves: $284
  • 1 Hour ATV Tour: $27
  • 1-Hour Hot Air Balloon Tour in Cappadocia Goreme Valley: $250
  • 2 Days Cappadocia Tours: $200
  • 2 Days Private Guided Cappadocia Tour with Pick Up: $225

Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest

For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 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.

  • Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
  • Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
  • 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $185
  • 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
  • 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $38
  • 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $49
  • 2 Hours Private Scenic Photo Tour Around Budapest: $156
  • 2-Hour Private Market Tour in Budapest With Free Tastings: $59
  • 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
  • 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
  • 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55
  • 3-Hour Orientation Walking Tour of Buda and Pest: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cappadocia $18
    Budapest $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:

  • Cappadocia Nightlife Experience: Bar and Pub Crawl Tour: $32
  • Wine tasting in Cappadocia: $64
  • Cappadocia Wine Cellar and Wine Yard with Wine Tasting: $79
  • Full-day Cappadocia Tour with wine tasting and clay shaping : $90
  • Wine Tasting and Sunset in Cappadocia: $197

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
  • Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
  • Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
  • Budapest - Opera Gin Distillery Tour: $51


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cappadocia and Budapest, we can see that Cappadocia 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 Cappadocia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cappadocia than you might in Budapest.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Budapest?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 270 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia 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.