Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Budapest?
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.
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 Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $97Budapest $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $89. 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 Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Budapest $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Budapest $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $505
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $174
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $174
- Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $153
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea (UME) Airport to City centre: $145
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $145
- Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $120
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
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$6.91
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Metro Pass$3.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Budapest HTL-APT (BUD): $57
- Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $706
- T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,581
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $930
- Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $588
- Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,059
- Private transfer from Budapest to Bratislava with Hotel or Airport pick-up: $276
- Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $471
- Private Transfer in Budapest: $76
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Zagreb with 2 hours for sightseeing: $267
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Zadar, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver: $282
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna, English-speaking driver: $196
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest 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 $38Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $52
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
- Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $15Budapest $22
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Days Private Tour in Gothenburg: $300
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- After Dark in A Guided Nightlife Tour: $263
- Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $40
- Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $113
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Discover Gothenburg - Private Walking Tour: $224
- Egypt Oasis Adventure Package: $918
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
- Entry Ticket To Universeum in Gothenburg with pickup: $64
- Fatbike Experience in Sorsele: $113
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in Gothenburg from Gothenburg Port: $283
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$6.77
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
- Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
- 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $185
- 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
- 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $38
- 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $49
- 2 Hours Private Scenic Photo Tour Around Budapest: $156
- 2-Hour Private Market Tour in Budapest With Free Tastings: $59
- 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
- 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
- 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55
- 3-Hour Orientation Walking Tour of Buda and Pest: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $20Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
- 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: $38
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When comparing the travel costs between Gothenburg and Budapest, 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 Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg or Budapest?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Gothenburg or Budapest in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Budapest. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Gothenburg is generally cooler than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 16°C (61°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Budapest this time of the year. In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Budapest during summer. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Budapest. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Budapest in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Budapest. 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.
Gothenburg is cooler than Budapest in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 9°C (47°F) in October, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the autumn, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in October than Budapest. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Budapest can be very cold during winter. Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Gothenburg is much colder than Budapest. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gothenburg in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Budapest averages at about -1°C (31°F).
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Budapest during winter. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Budapest. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Budapest in the Spring?
Both Budapest and Gothenburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Budapest because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 5°C (41°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Gothenburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Budapest. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.