Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Hamburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Hamburg and Balaton Lake can help you decide which place is right for you.
Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.
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 from Berlin, The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Hamburg is €117, 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 Hamburg and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Hamburg 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Hamburg 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.
Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Hamburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hamburg:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hamburg and Balaton Lake, we can see that Hamburg 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 Hamburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hamburg 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 Hamburg Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Hamburg has a larger population, and is about 840 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Hamburg 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hamburg and Balaton Lake. The summer months attract visitors to Hamburg because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
Hamburg is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Hamburg averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Balaton Lake this time of the year. In Hamburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hamburg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Hamburg gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Hamburg usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Hamburg gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Hamburg as well as Balaton Lake. The shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Hamburg this time of year.
In the autumn, Hamburg is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hamburg in October average around 10°C (50°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Hamburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Hamburg gets 101 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.
Hamburg usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Hamburg gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Balaton Lake and Hamburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Hamburg 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 Hamburg. In January, Hamburg is generally much warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Hamburg average around 0°C (33°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
Hamburg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Hamburg gets 42 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Hamburg usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Hamburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Balaton Lake and Hamburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Hamburg in the spring for the natural beauty.
Hamburg is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Hamburg averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Hamburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Hamburg gets 161 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.
Hamburg usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Hamburg gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Hamburg | Balaton Lake | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 0°C (33°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
Mar | 4°C (39°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
May | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
Oct | 10°C (50°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Nov | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Dec | 2°C (35°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |