Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Jerusalem?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jerusalem or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Jerusalem or Budapest, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Jerusalem or Budapest?
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, as well as one of the most historically rich cities in the world. It is also the largest city in the country. While Tel Aviv holds many of the responsibilities of a capital city, officially, Jerusalem is still considered the capital. It is important to note that most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv, not in Jerusalem.
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 Luxury Tours to Israel, The Best Budget Tours to Israel, 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 dayJerusalem $108Budapest $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Jerusalem is $108, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $91. 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 Jerusalem and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJerusalem $64Budapest $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJerusalem $128Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Jerusalem and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Jerusalem 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: Jerusalem Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jerusalem $6.74Budapest $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Local Bus$3.17
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Light Rail Jerusalem$9.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jerusalem
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Jerusalem:
- Private Transfer From Ben Gurion Airport To Haifa Hotels : $300
- Jerusalem to Petra Private Transfer: $300
- Jerusalem Private Transfer To Petra: $290
- Private Transfer from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv: $247
- Transfer Between Tel Aviv city and Jerusalem city: $215
- Jerusalem Private Transfer To Amman: $195
- Private Transfer from Dead Sea Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $160
- Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport Private Transfer: $150
- Jerusalem to Allenby Bridge Private Transfer: $150
- Private Airport Transfers to/from Hotel: $148
- VIP transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem: $130
- VIP Transfer between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem: $130
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$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest One Way Private Transfer to or from Airport: $14
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- One way private transfer from Budapest hotels to Budapest cruise ports: $26
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Transfer from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Hotel: $38
- Hotel to Liszt Ferenc Airport departure Transfer: $38
- Budapest Airport transfer from City Center to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $39
- Budapest Airport transfer from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to City Centre: $39
- Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
- Euroring Old Timer Museum Ticket & Hotel Transfers: $44
- Transfer to/from Budapest Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Jerusalem or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Jerusalem 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 dayJerusalem $32Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of dining costs in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Orange Juice$2.69
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Watermelon$4.04
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Lunch$12
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Food at Market$15
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Juice$2.69
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Bagels$8.07
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Lunch for 2$15
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Snacks$5.65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jerusalem
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Jerusalem.
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant from Dead Sea: $96
- Private Madaba Haret Jdoudna Restaurant Lunch or Dinner from Dead Sea: $115
- The Best Food Tour in Jerusalem-Perfect for Viral Travel Content: $117
- Christmas Eve in Israel: Jerusalem Sightseeing Tour with Dinner and Midnight Mass Viewing in Bethlehem: $125
- Experience Shabbat With Dinner In Jerusalem: $170
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jerusalem $8.55Budapest $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Cooking Classes for 2$34
Tours and Activities in Jerusalem
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Jerusalem are as follows:
- 2 Days Bethlehem, Herodion, Judean Desert Monasteries and Jericho Private Tour: $275
- Political Private Tour Ramallah: $140
- (From Jerusalem) One-Day Tour to Bethlehem Jericho & Jordan River Qasr alyahood: $99
- 2 Hour Shooting Experience: $173
- 360 Virtual Tour of Ancient Jerusalem: $6.00
- Amazing Family Tour in Jerusalem: $505
- Ashdod Shore Excursion: Jerusalem and Bethlehem - for cruise ship guests only: $115
- Best of Jerusalem Day Tour from Jerusalem: $102
- Best of Jerusalem Full-Day Tour from Jerusalem: $69
- Bethlehem & Dead Sea Day Tour from Jerusalem & Tel Aviv: $147
- Bethlehem Alternative Tour: $90
- Bethlehem Christian Guided Tour: $20
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$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.28
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Original Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.28
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.92
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.92
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Discovering Budapest's hot pools and heroes: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJerusalem $16Budapest $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jerusalem
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Jerusalem are as follows:
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Beer$4.84
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- 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: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jerusalem and Budapest, we can see that Jerusalem is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jerusalem is in Middle East and Budapest is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Jerusalem would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jerusalem than you might in Budapest.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jerusalem Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jerusalem or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Jerusalem. When comparing the sizes of Jerusalem 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 Jerusalem or Budapest?
Budapest has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Jerusalem experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Jerusalem or Budapest in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Jerusalem as well as Budapest. Jerusalem attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Jerusalem is around the same temperature as Budapest. Typically, the summer temperatures in Jerusalem in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Budapest averages at about 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Budapest. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Jerusalem this time of the year. In the summer, Jerusalem often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Jerusalem gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.
Jerusalem usually gets less rain in July than Budapest. Jerusalem gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyJerusalem 23°C (73°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Jerusalem or Budapest in the Autumn?
Both Budapest and Jerusalem are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Jerusalem throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
In October, Jerusalem is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Jerusalem average around 19°C (66°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Jerusalem. Jerusalem usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Jerusalem gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Jerusalem usually receives less rain than Budapest. Jerusalem gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberJerusalem 19°C (66°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Jerusalem or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Jerusalem during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Jerusalem because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Budapest. Jerusalem is much warmer than Budapest in the winter. The daily temperature in Jerusalem averages around 8°C (46°F) in January, and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
In the winter, Jerusalem often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Jerusalem gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.
Jerusalem usually gets more rain in January than Budapest. Jerusalem gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryJerusalem 8°C (46°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Jerusalem or Budapest in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Jerusalem and Budapest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Jerusalem year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Budapest in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Jerusalem is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the spring temperatures in Jerusalem in April average around 16°C (61°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In Jerusalem, it's very sunny this time of the year. Jerusalem usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during spring. Jerusalem gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Jerusalem usually receives less rain than Budapest. Jerusalem gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilJerusalem 16°C (61°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Jerusalem
| Jerusalem | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (46°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (59°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.