Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Helsinki or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Balaton Lake can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Balaton Lake?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, 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 dayHelsinki €139Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €139, 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 Helsinki and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Balaton Lake €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Port : $40
- Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Helsinki hotels-Arrival Private Transfer : $41
- Helsinki City hotels to Helsinki Airport (HEL) Departure Transfer: $41
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $64
- Private Transfer in Helsinki: $76
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $82
- Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port in Luxury Van: $93
- Departure Transfer: Helsinki to Airport HEL in Business Car: $97
- Private Transfer: Airport HEL to Helsinki in Business Car: $97
- Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki city centre to Helsinki airport: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki €34Balaton Lake €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $106
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Balaton Lake €19
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-Based City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $5.13
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
- Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $6.95
- Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.56
- From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.64
- Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.62
- Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- 4D Flying Cinema Tour of Helsinki Tickets: $14
- Self-Guided City Highlights Audio Tour: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Balaton Lake €8.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Balaton Lake, we can see that Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Balaton Lake?
Helsinki has a larger population, and is about 270 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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 Helsinki or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Helsinki is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Helsinki in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 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 Helsinki this time of the year. In the summer, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Helsinki gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Balaton Lake. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 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 JulyHelsinki 17°C (62°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Helsinki is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 6°C (42°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Helsinki usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Helsinki gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 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 OctoberHelsinki 6°C (42°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
Both Balaton Lake and Helsinki during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Balaton Lake in the winter. The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. Helsinki is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around -6°C (21°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Helsinki often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Helsinki gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Helsinki usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Balaton Lake. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 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 JanuaryHelsinki -6°C (21°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Balaton Lake. The natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.
It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. In the spring, Helsinki is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Helsinki in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Helsinki usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Helsinki gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 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 AprilHelsinki 3°C (37°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Helsinki
| Helsinki | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 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.