Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Cologne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cologne or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cologne or Balaton Lake? 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: Cologne or Balaton Lake?
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
Balaton Lake
Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, The Best Budget Tours to Germany, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCologne €161Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Cologne is €161, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is €80. 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 Cologne and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCologne €91Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCologne €182Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Cologne and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Cologne or Balaton Lake? 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: Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cologne €19Balaton Lake €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Cologne or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Cologne 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 dayCologne €50Balaton Lake €25
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cologne €20Balaton Lake €19
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cologne Walking Tour: The essential and unmissable one: $3.20
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Original funky-fun Free Tour of Cologne: $3.21
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.28
- Smartphone Scavenger Hunt Sightseeing Tour: $5.88
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- Horrors of World War II Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.48
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCologne €23Balaton Lake €8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cologne and Balaton Lake, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Balaton Lake much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Balaton Lake would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Balaton Lake 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Balaton Lake.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cologne Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cologne or Balaton Lake?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 470 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Cologne and Balaton Lake, 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 Cologne or Balaton Lake?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cologne or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Cologne and Balaton Lake. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
Cologne is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Balaton Lake this time of the year. Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Cologne gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cologne usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Cologne gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCologne 19°C (66°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Cologne as well as Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Cologne is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cologne in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Cologne gets 104 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Cologne gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCologne 12°C (54°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
Both Balaton Lake and Cologne are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Cologne in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Cologne can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Cologne is generally much warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Cologne average around 3°C (37°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
Cologne usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Cologne gets 43 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cologne usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Cologne gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCologne 3°C (37°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Cologne or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
Both Balaton Lake and Cologne during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cologne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Cologne is cooler than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Cologne averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Cologne often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Cologne gets 152 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.
Cologne usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Balaton Lake. Cologne gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCologne 10°C (50°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Cologne
| Cologne | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 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.