Should you visit Kosice or Budapest?
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 Kosice and Budapest can help you decide which place is right for you.
Kosice
Founded in the 13th century, Kosice today is the second largest city in Slovakia featuring churches, cathedrals, and fortifications which speak to its roots as a center of activity during the Middle Ages. Some of its top attractions include the city's historical center, Singing Fountain, and Cathedral of Saint Elizabeth.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Budapest or Kosice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kosice is €110, while the average daily cost in Budapest is €72. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Kosice and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €118 in Kosice For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €80 in Budapest For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Kosice cost around €34 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €14.
Food in Budapest costs travelers about €18 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Kosice €34
Budapest €18
Typical Food prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Lángos (hungarian streetfood) cooking class:
$19
-
Dinner & Cruise on the Danube in Budapest:
$23
-
Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Vegan Food Tour / Local delights:
$36
-
Private Budapest Food Tour with a Local Foodie:
$37
-
Live from Hungarian Online Cooking class:
$39
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour Night & The City Budapest:
$47
-
Food Tour in Budapest:
$50
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour of Trendy Budapest:
$51
-
BBQ dinner and a Quiz Night - welcome shots (hungaricums) and 88 craft beers:
$52
-
2-Hours Strudel Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Central Budapest:
$53
-
Dinner Cruise with Live Music:
$54
Local Transportation
To get around in Kosice, the average visitor spends €23 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Budapest than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €8.56 on transportation in Budapest on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
-
Short Taxi Ride
€6.99
-
Metro Pass
€3.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Luxury transfer from Budapest to Zagreb with 5+ stops along the way:
$1,081
-
Private transfer from Budapest to Prague:
$987
-
Private Budapest-Ljubljana(Ljubljana- Budapest)Transfer with a comfortable car:
$871
-
Private Transfer to Bucharest from Budapest (Hungary):
$809
-
Budapest -Belgrade(Belgrade-Budapest)private transfer with a comfortable car/van:
$809
-
Budapest-Prague (Prague-Budapest) private transfer with a comfortable car / van:
$759
-
From Budapest to Frankfurt Airport Private Transfer - punctual & friendly Driver:
$705
-
One-way Transfer from Budapest Airport to Prague City Centre:
$695
-
Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna:
$683
-
Budapest - Kraków(Kraków -Budapest) private transfer with a comfortable car /van:
$666
-
Private transfer from airport Budapest (BUD) to Ljubljana:
$664
-
Private Transfer from Budapest to Prague:
$664
Is it cheaper to fly into Kosice or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Kosice 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.
Entertainment
In Kosice, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €19 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Budapest, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €18 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Kosice
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kosice.
-
7 days Tour - The best of Eastern Slovakia (2 people minimum & maximum 4 people):
$983
-
Slovakia Ancestry Private Tour for 2 people minimum:
$1,225
Typical Entertainment prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
-
"This is the Way!" - Budapest Photo Tour by Birta Photo:
$124
-
'Best of Pest' 3.5 Hour Private Photography Tour:
$112
-
1 Hour 30 Minutes Downtown Budapest Guided Segway Tour:
$93
-
1. Downtown Pest Side Segway Tour Budapest:
$54
-
10 days private sightseeing tour from Budapest to Prague:
$3,109
-
101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Private Tour:
$203
-
2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour:
$54
-
2 Hours Cultural and Food Experiences in Budapest:
$60
-
2 Hours Walking Tour in Budapest:
$11
-
2 days Vienna - Bratislava PRIVATE guided tour package from Budapest with lunch:
$1,070
-
2 days Vienna - Wachau Valley PRIVATE guided tour package from Budapest:
$1,070
-
2 hours long private orientation tour in Budapest:
$101
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Kosice, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €18.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Budapest, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €13.
Sample the Local Flavors in Kosice
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kosice:
-
4 days - Wine tasting & Spa (small group minimum 2 people & maximum 4 people):
$753
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Bingo Bar Crawl:
$15
-
Bingo Bar Crawl:
$15
-
Ultimate Ruin Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Generation Pub Crawl Budapest:
$19
-
Ruin Pub Crawl - Your Keys to the Nightlife of Budapest:
$21
-
Budapest Pub Crawl:
$24
-
Pest side Pub Crawl - Unlimited drinks for an hour, discover hidden ruin pubs:
$25
-
Re-opening Pub Crawls 2020 Summer-Autumn:
$25
-
Budapest Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access:
$26
-
Epic Local Insider Pub Crawl in Budapest - Every weekend:
$30
-
Party Cruise with Pub Crawl option:
$37
-
Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest:
$40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kosice and Budapest, we can see that Kosice is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Kosice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kosice than you might in Budapest.
Related Articles for Kosice
Related Articles for Budapest
