A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Innsbruck vs. Balaton Lake for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Innsbruck 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 Innsbruck 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: Innsbruck or Balaton Lake?

Innsbruck

Innsbruck is conveniently located near Munich, Germany and northern Italy, making it a centrally located base for seeing the Alps. Innsbruck is also a haven for winter sports and has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. The scenery is stunning and the skiing is world class. It is known as the largest ski resort in the Alps. Innsbruck was also a big contributor to the rise in snowboarding popularity during the 1990's. Snowboarding is still a huge past time in the area, and there is a very vibrant subculture of snowboarders that remains in the area. During the winter months, there are a stream of almost constant events that cater to skiers and winter sports fans, as well as adrenaline junkies. Innsbruck is also home to two different universities and a few smaller colleges, giving the city a youthful vibe with a very vibrant and enthusiastic nightlife.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vienna, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Salzburg, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.


Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Innsbruck?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Innsbruck is €129, 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 Innsbruck and Balaton Lake in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Innsbruck 76
    Balaton Lake 45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Innsbruck 152
    Balaton Lake 90
Compare Hotels in Innsbruck and Balaton Lake

Looking for a hotel in Innsbruck 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.

Hotels in Innsbruck


Hotels in Balaton Lake


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: Innsbruck Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Innsbruck 15
    Balaton Lake 11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Innsbruck

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Innsbruck:

  • Innsbruck to Innsbruck Airport (INN) - Departure Private Transfer: $16
  • Innsbruck Airport(INN) to Innsbruck - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
  • Innsbruck Swarovski Crystal Worlds Ticket and Transfer: $36
  • Innsbruck Airport (INN) to Alpbach: Arrival Private Transfer: $44
  • Innsbruck Airport (INN) to Mayrhofen - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer Innsbruck Airport INN to Saalbach-Hinterglemm: $49
  • Innsbruck Private Transfer from Innsbruck Airport to City centre: $60
  • Innsbruck Kranebitten Airport to Längenfeld - Round-Trip Transfer: $63
  • Innsbruck Airport (INN) to Soelden - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
  • Innsbruck Airport (INN) to Kitzbühel/SkiWelt - Arrival Transfer: $65
  • Innsbruck Airport (INN) to Silvretta Arena Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Innsbruck Airport to Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Round-Trip Transfer: $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Innsbruck or Balaton Lake?

Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Innsbruck 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 day
    Innsbruck 40
    Balaton Lake 25
Typical Food Prices in Innsbruck

Some typical examples of dining costs in Innsbruck are as follows:


  • Soup for Lunch
    3.75
  • Pasta Lunch
    8.20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Innsbruck

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Innsbruck.

  • Half-Day Food Tour of Tyrolean Cuisine: $148
  • Innsbruck Food Tour: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Innsbruck 19
    Balaton Lake 19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Innsbruck

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Innsbruck are as follows:


  • Schloss Ambras Entrance
    8.00
  • Botanical Garden Entrance Fee
    2.00

Tours and Activities in Innsbruck

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Innsbruck are as follows:

  • City Tower Entrance Ticket: $4.81
  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Bergisel Ski Jump Arena Entrance Ticket in Innsbruck: $11
  • Innsbruck Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $11
  • Hungerburg Funicular Roundtrip Ticket: $12
  • Hungerburg: Roundtrip Funicular Tickets from Innsbruck: $13
  • Skip the Line: Ambras Castle in Innsbruck Entrance Ticket: $13
  • Tickets for Schloss Ambras: $15
  • Innsbruck - "Welcome Tour" by Per Pedes. Guided City Tour.: $19
  • Combi Entrance Ticket to Alpine Zoo and Hungerburg: $20
  • Alpine Zoo Innsbruck and Hungerburg Funicular Combo Ticket: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Innsbruck 19
    Balaton Lake 8.18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Innsbruck and Balaton Lake, we can see that Innsbruck 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 Innsbruck would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Innsbruck 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 Innsbruck Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Innsbruck or Balaton Lake?

Innsbruck has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Innsbruck 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.