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

Should you visit Dakar or Budapest?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dakar or Budapest, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Dakar or Budapest?

Dakar

Located in West Africa, Dakar is the capital city of Senegal and an Atlantic port on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Main attractions include the city's markets, the Dakar Grand Mosque, Goree Island, the IFAN Museum, the African Renaissance Monument, beaches, and the Senegal Zoo.

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 Adventure Tours to Senegal, The Best Luxury Tours to Senegal, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.


Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Dakar?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Dakar is $61, 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 Dakar and Budapest in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dakar $32
    Budapest $50
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dakar $64
    Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Dakar and Budapest

Looking for a hotel in Dakar 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 Dakar


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: Budapest Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dakar $5.37
    Budapest $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dakar

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dakar:

  • Blaise Diagne Int Airport (DSS): Transfer to Dakar hotels: $211
  • Transfer - Dakar <-> Saint-Louis (One way): $197
  • DSS Airport Transfer <-> Dakar (Return): $120
  • Private Transfer DSS AIBD Airport - Dakar (two directions): $82
  • Transfer - DSS Airport <-> Dakar (One way): $66
  • AIBD-DAKAR transfer: $49

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $7.05
  • 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 Dakar or Budapest?

Prices for flights to both Budapest and Dakar 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
    Dakar $20
    Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Dakar

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dakar:


  • Breakfast
    $4.11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dakar

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dakar.

  • Senegalese Street Food Tour in Dakar: $115

Typical Food Prices in Budapest

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


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dakar $14
    Budapest $22

Tours and Activities in Dakar

Here are a few actual costs in Dakar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Mamelles Lighthouse and Ngor Island (Walking Tour): $130
  • 2-day tour Lac rose- desert of Lompoul: $290
  • Accro Baobab Adventure Ticket Entry: $38
  • Dakar City Tour and Goree Island: $162
  • Pink Lake and Turtle Village Half-Day Tour: $200
  • Private City Tour: $109
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $30
  • Day trip Goree island and Dakar city tour : $159
  • From Dakar or Saly: Half-Day Tour to Pink Lake: $138
  • From Dakar/Saly: Half-Day Bandia Wildlife Reserve Tour: $247
  • Full Day Goree Island And Dakar City Tour(Minimum 2 Participants): $142
  • Full Day Private Tour in move, eat, act like a local: $109

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
    $6.91

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dakar $9.00
    Budapest $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 Dakar and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Dakar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dakar 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 Dakar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dakar 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 Dakar.

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


Which is Bigger, Dakar or Budapest?

Dakar has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Budapest. When comparing the sizes of Dakar 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 Dakar or Budapest?

Budapest has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dakar experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Dakar or Budapest in the Summer?

Both Budapest and Dakar during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dakar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Dakar is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dakar 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 Dakar. In the summer, Dakar often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Dakar gets 218 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.

Dakar usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Dakar gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dakar 28°C (82°F) 
    Budapest 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Dakar or Budapest in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dakar and Budapest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dakar year-round. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.

In October, Dakar is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Dakar average around 28°C (82°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In Dakar, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dakar usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Dakar gets 260 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dakar usually receives less rain than Budapest. Dakar gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dakar 28°C (82°F) 
    Budapest 12°C (53°F)

Should I visit Dakar or Budapest in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dakar as well as Budapest. Dakar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Budapest. Dakar is much warmer than Budapest in the winter. The daily temperature in Dakar averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dakar this time of the year. In the winter, Dakar often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Dakar gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.

Dakar usually gets less rain in January than Budapest. Dakar gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dakar 22°C (72°F) 
    Budapest -1°C (31°F)

Should I visit Dakar or Budapest in the Spring?

Both Budapest and Dakar are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dakar throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Budapest in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Dakar is much warmer than Budapest. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dakar 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 Dakar. Dakar usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during spring. Dakar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dakar usually receives less rain than Budapest. Dakar gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dakar 21°C (70°F) 
    Budapest 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Budapest and Dakar

Dakar Budapest
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) -1°C (31°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 2°C (35°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 12°C (53°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
May 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 16°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 26°C (79°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 20°C (67°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 50 mm (2 in) 21°C (70°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 21°C (69°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 12°C (53°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 6°C (42°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Dec 24°C (75°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 1°C (34°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)