Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Balaton Lake?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
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 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, 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 dayGothenburg $97Balaton Lake $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $86. 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 Gothenburg and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Balaton Lake $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Balaton Lake $96
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Balaton Lake $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Gothenburg 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 dayGothenburg $38Balaton Lake $27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $15Balaton Lake $20
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $20Balaton Lake $8.73
When comparing the travel costs between Gothenburg and Balaton Lake, we can see that Gothenburg is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Balaton Lake?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Balaton Lake.
Gothenburg is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 16°C (61°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 Gothenburg this time of the year. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
In the autumn, Gothenburg is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gothenburg in October average around 9°C (47°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
Both Balaton Lake and Gothenburg during the winter are popular places to visit.
Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around -2°C (29°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Balaton Lake.
Gothenburg is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Gothenburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.