Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Frankfurt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Frankfurt or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Frankfurt and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Frankfurt or Balaton Lake?
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the financial and business hub of Germany. It houses the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange, and often plays host to trade shows and business fairs. It has the country's most modern skyline and the largest airport. It is also a transportation hub for Germany with many important train lines passing through. The city itself is situated on the River Main. Some of the most important sights are along the river near Romer Square and include museums and monuments. This area pulls in millions of tourists every year. Although many sights are clustered in this area, it's important to head into more off the beaten path areas that can be enjoyable to explore. These areas offer glimpses into daily life in Frankfurt.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFrankfurt €122Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Frankfurt is €122, 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 Frankfurt and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFrankfurt €58Balaton Lake €45
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFrankfurt €116Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Frankfurt and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Frankfurt 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Frankfurt €25Balaton Lake €11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Frankfurt
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Frankfurt:
-
Car Rental€50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Frankfurt
Also for Frankfurt, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Frankfurt Hahn Airport: Bus transfer from/to Mainz: $18
- Frankfurt Hahn Airport: Bus transfer from/to city central: $20
- Wiesbaden Thermal to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) - Departure Transfer: $27
- Private One Way Frankfurt Airport Transfer To and From Frankfurt: $45
- Arrival Private Transfer from Frankfurt Airport FRA to Frankfurt by business car: $54
- Departure Private Transfer: Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport FRA by business car: $54
- Private 1-Way Transfer From Frankfurt Airport: $54
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Frankfurt Airport (FRA)- Frankfurt City: $54
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Frankfurt City - Frankfurt Airport (FRA): $54
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Frankfurt to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Wiesbaden Thermal Round-Trip Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Frankfurt or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Frankfurt 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 dayFrankfurt €41Balaton Lake €25
Typical Food Prices in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Soda€2.00
-
Bagel Sandwich and Latte€7.00
-
Ham & Cheese Sandwich and Coffee€6.00
-
Sandwich and Cola€7.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD TOUR WITH 3-4 LOCAL INSIDER FOODSPOTS: $80
- Eltz Castle Small-Group Tour from Frankfurt with Dinner: $281
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Frankfurt €36Balaton Lake €19
Tours and Activities in Frankfurt
For Frankfurt, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Selfguided Audiotour "Frankfurt Old Town": $3.20
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.28
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.81
- Frankfurt Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $6.95
- Struwwelpeter Museum Entry Ticket w/Audio Guide: $7.49
- Old Town Smartphone Audio Tour: $7.99
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour by Smartphone: $7.99
- Walking Tour with Audio Guide on App: $8.02
- Historisches Museum Entry Ticket: $8.56
- Frankfurt Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayFrankfurt €30Balaton Lake €8.18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Frankfurt
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Frankfurt:
-
Becks Beer€2.00
Sample the Local Flavors in Frankfurt
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Frankfurt:
- Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $21
- Enjoy the night with our Pub Tours: $32
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through Alt-Sachsenhausen: $34
- Full Day Private Rhine Valley Wine Tour Experience from Frankfurt: $279
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $280
- Frankfurt Wine Tasting Tour with a Wine Expert: $286
- Guided Walk Tour With Apple Wine Tasting: $334
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $401
- Private Premium Pub Crawl Tour: $513
- Private Rhine Valley tour with river cruise & wine tasting: $748
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Frankfurt and Balaton Lake, we can see that Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Frankfurt or Balaton Lake?
Frankfurt has a larger population, and is about 310 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Frankfurt 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 Frankfurt or Balaton Lake?
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 Frankfurt or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Frankfurt as well as Balaton Lake. The summer months attract visitors to Frankfurt because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Frankfurt is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 19°C (67°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Frankfurt this time of the year. In the summer, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Frankfurt gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Frankfurt usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Balaton Lake. Frankfurt gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyFrankfurt 19°C (67°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Frankfurt are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Frankfurt this time of year.
In the autumn, Frankfurt is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Frankfurt in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Frankfurt gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Frankfurt usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Frankfurt gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFrankfurt 11°C (51°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
Both Balaton Lake and Frankfurt during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Frankfurt for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Balaton Lake can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Frankfurt. In January, Frankfurt is generally much warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Frankfurt average around 1°C (34°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Frankfurt often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Frankfurt gets 41 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Frankfurt usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Frankfurt gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFrankfurt 1°C (34°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Frankfurt or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Frankfurt and Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Frankfurt in the spring for the activities around the city.
Frankfurt is cooler than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Frankfurt averages around 10°C (50°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Frankfurt usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Frankfurt gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Frankfurt usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Frankfurt gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilFrankfurt 10°C (50°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Frankfurt
| Frankfurt | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (34°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (50°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (67°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.