Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Debrecen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Debrecen or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Debrecen 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: Debrecen or Budapest?
Debrecen
Finding its beginning as a collection of agricultural villages, Debrecen has grown to become the second largest city in Hungary as well as the regional center for the Northern Great Plain region. Highlights include the Reformed Great Church of Debrecen, Hortobagy National Park, Deri Museum, and the Debrecen Zoo and Botanical Garden.
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 10-Day Tours in Hungary, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Hungary, The Best River Cruises in Hungary, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDebrecen $68Budapest $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Debrecen is $68, 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 Debrecen and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDebrecen $34Budapest $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDebrecen $68Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Debrecen and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Debrecen 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: Debrecen Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Debrecen $11Budapest $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Debrecen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Debrecen:
- Debrecen - Budapest Transfer: $169
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:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest One Way Private Transfer to or from Airport: $14
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- One way private transfer from Budapest hotels to Budapest cruise ports: $26
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Transfer from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Hotel: $38
- Hotel to Liszt Ferenc Airport departure Transfer: $38
- Budapest Airport transfer from City Center to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $39
- Budapest Airport transfer from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to City Centre: $39
- Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
- Euroring Old Timer Museum Ticket & Hotel Transfers: $44
- Transfer to/from Budapest Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Debrecen or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Debrecen 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 dayDebrecen $24Budapest $23
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.Debrecen $17Budapest $22
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 dayDebrecen $9.43Budapest $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 Debrecen and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Debrecen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Debrecen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Debrecen 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 Debrecen.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Debrecen Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Debrecen or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Debrecen. When comparing the sizes of Debrecen 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 Debrecen or Budapest?
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 Debrecen or Budapest in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Debrecen as well as Budapest. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Debrecen is generally around the same temperature as Budapest. Daily temperatures in Debrecen average around 20°C (68°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Budapest. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Debrecen this time of the year. In the summer, Debrecen often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest. Debrecen gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.
Debrecen usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Debrecen gets 70 mm (2.8 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 JulyDebrecen 20°C (68°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Debrecen or Budapest in the Autumn?
Both Budapest and Debrecen are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Budapest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Debrecen is around the same temperature as Budapest in the autumn. The daily temperature in Debrecen averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Debrecen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest during autumn. Debrecen gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Debrecen usually receives more rain than Budapest. Debrecen gets 40 mm (1.6 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 OctoberDebrecen 11°C (52°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Debrecen or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Debrecen during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Budapest can be very cold during winter. Debrecen can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Debrecen is much colder than Budapest. Typically, the winter temperatures in Debrecen in January average around -2°C (28°F), and Budapest averages at about -1°C (31°F).
In the winter, Debrecen often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Debrecen gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.
Debrecen usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Budapest. Debrecen gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryDebrecen -2°C (28°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Debrecen or Budapest in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Debrecen and Budapest. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Budapest because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Debrecen is generally around the same temperature as Budapest. Daily temperatures in Debrecen average around 11°C (52°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Debrecen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest during spring. Debrecen gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Debrecen usually receives more rain than Budapest. Debrecen gets 50 mm (2 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 AprilDebrecen 11°C (52°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Debrecen
| Debrecen | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (28°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 16°C (61°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.