A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Debrecen vs. Plovdiv for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Debrecen or Plovdiv?

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

Should I visit Debrecen or Plovdiv? 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 Plovdiv?

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.

Plovdiv

Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Hungary, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, and The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria.


Which place is cheaper, Plovdiv or Debrecen?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Debrecen is $68, while the average daily cost in Plovdiv is $81. 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 Plovdiv in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Debrecen $34
    Plovdiv $45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Debrecen $68
    Plovdiv $90
Compare Hotels in Debrecen and Plovdiv

Looking for a hotel in Debrecen or Plovdiv? 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 Debrecen


Hotels in Plovdiv


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 Plovdiv Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Debrecen $11
    Plovdiv $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Debrecen

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Debrecen:

  • Debrecen - Budapest Transfer: $171

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv

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

  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $83
  • Sofia: Private transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv: $83
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Pamporovo: $91
  • Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $100
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $105
  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $139
  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sunny Beach: $153
  • Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $163
  • Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $178
  • Varna: Private Transfer from Varna to Plovdiv: $178
  • Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $194

Is it cheaper to fly into Debrecen or Plovdiv?

Prices for flights to both Plovdiv 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Debrecen $24
    Plovdiv $21

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Debrecen $17
    Plovdiv $16

Tours and Activities in Plovdiv

For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Roman Plovdiv, Self-Guided Tour and Urban Quest Game: $12
  • Old Town Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Pokémon GO Private Tour of Plovdiv: $18
  • Self-Guided Hiking Tour of the Smolyan Lakes: $21
  • Audio Guide for All Haskovo & Kardjali Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $21
  • Plovdiv guided walking tour: $22
  • Plovdiv Communist Walking Tour Soviet Landmarks: $27
  • Plovdiv Private City Walking Tour Old Town & Ancient Stadium: $29
  • Private Virtual Tour in Plovdiv with a Local Guide: $32
  • Plovdiv Walking Tour To Old Town And Ancient Roman Landmarks: $33
  • Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $39
  • Audio Guide for All Rhodope Mountain Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $43

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Debrecen $9.42
    Plovdiv $9.73

Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:

  • Bulgarian Wine Tasting Experience in the Center of Plovdiv: $19
  • Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
  • Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $82
  • Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $93
  • Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $110
  • From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $136
  • Half-Day of Horseback Adventure with Wine Tasting: $171


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


Which is Bigger, Debrecen or Plovdiv?

Plovdiv has a larger population, and is about 67% larger than the population of Debrecen. When comparing the sizes of Debrecen and Plovdiv, 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.