Which place is cheaper, Sopron or Lucerne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lucerne or Sopron?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lucerne and Sopron. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lucerne or Sopron?
Lucerne
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.
Sopron
Sopron is a city in northwestern Hungary, located right on the Austrian border at the foot of the Alps near Lake Neusiedl.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Budget Tours to Hungary, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLucerne $214Sopron $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucerne is $214, while the average daily cost in Sopron is $65. 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 Lucerne and Sopron in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLucerne $137Sopron $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLucerne $274Sopron $58
Compare Hotels in Lucerne and Sopron
Looking for a hotel in Lucerne or Sopron? 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: Lucerne Hotel Prices and Sopron Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lucerne $13Sopron $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucerne
Also for Lucerne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bad Ragaz Resorts to Zurich Airport ZRH - Departure Transfer: $126
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $257
- INTERLAKEN Private Transfer from Zurich Airport: $744
- LAUTERBRUNNEN Private Transfer from Zurich Airport: $722
- Private transfer from Zurich airport to Lucerne: $547
- Lucerne City to Zurich City One-Way Private Transfer : $300
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $284
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich English Speaking Driver: $134
- Rafting in Interlaken with Return Transfer from Lucerne: $257
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Bad Ragaz Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $251
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucerne or Sopron?
Prices for flights to both Sopron and Lucerne 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 dayLucerne $62Sopron $24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Swiss Alps: Traditional Swiss Fondue Cooking Class: $82
- Lake Candlelight Dinner Cruise: $141
- From Zurich: 2-Day Mt.Titlis including 4-course dinner: $547
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lucerne $34Sopron $5.51
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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1 Day Bicycle Rental$34
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The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee$35
Tours and Activities in Lucerne
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lucerne.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Revealing Self-Guided Reading City Tour: $5.47
- Smartphone walking tour - cool Lucerne old town: $5.47
- Walking Tour - Around the Old Town Lucerne: $5.60
- The Lives and Legends of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Lucerne Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.42
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Revealing Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Porrentruy Secret Tour: $13
- Scavenger Hunt and Self-guided Walking Tour: $15
- Swiss Chocolate Adventure Experience: $20
- Guided Walking Tour with an Official Guide: $27
Tours and Activities in Sopron
Here are a few actual costs in Sopron for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Special Magical Christmas tour around Sopron: $218
- The best of Sopron walking tour: $163
- Romantic tour in Sopron for couples: $98
- Romantic tour in Sopron for couples: $191
- City Highlights Walking Tour: $191
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLucerne $22Sopron $5.64
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucerne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucerne:
- 3 Hour Unique Wine Tour - Half Day in Swiss Alps: $166
- Lake Lucerne Region Wine Tasting: $273
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lucerne and Sopron, we can see that Lucerne is more expensive. And not only is Sopron much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sopron would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sopron 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 Lucerne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucerne than you might in Sopron.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lucerne Expensive? and Is Sopron Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lucerne or Sopron?
Sopron has a larger population, and is about 0% larger than the population of Lucerne. When comparing the sizes of Lucerne and Sopron, 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 Lucerne or Sopron?
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 Lucerne or Sopron in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Lucerne as well as Sopron. Most visitors come to Lucerne for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Lucerne is generally around the same temperature as Sopron. Daily temperatures in Lucerne average around 21°C (70°F), and Sopron fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sopron. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lucerne this time of the year. In the summer, Lucerne often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sopron. Lucerne gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sopron receives 255 hours of full sun.
Lucerne usually gets more rain in July than Sopron. Lucerne gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Sopron receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLucerne 21°C (70°F)Sopron 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Lucerne or Sopron in the Autumn?
Both Sopron and Lucerne are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Lucerne because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Lucerne is around the same temperature as Sopron in the autumn. The daily temperature in Lucerne averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Sopron fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Lucerne usually receives less sunshine than Sopron during autumn. Lucerne gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Sopron receives 140 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Lucerne usually receives more rain than Sopron. Lucerne gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sopron receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLucerne 13°C (56°F)Sopron 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Lucerne or Sopron in the Winter?
Both Sopron and Lucerne during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Lucerne this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Sopron. It's quite cold in Lucerne in the winter. In the winter, Lucerne is a little warmer than Sopron. Typically, the winter temperatures in Lucerne in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Sopron averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Lucerne often gets less sunshine than Sopron. Lucerne gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sopron receives 65 hours of full sun.
Lucerne usually gets more rain in January than Sopron. Lucerne gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Sopron receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLucerne 3°C (37°F)Sopron 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Lucerne or Sopron in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lucerne and Sopron. Many travelers come to Lucerne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Lucerne is generally around the same temperature as Sopron. Daily temperatures in Lucerne average around 12°C (53°F), and Sopron fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sopron this time of the year. Lucerne usually receives less sunshine than Sopron during spring. Lucerne gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Sopron receives 202 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Lucerne usually receives more rain than Sopron. Lucerne gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sopron receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLucerne 12°C (53°F)Sopron 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Sopron and Lucerne
| Lucerne | Sopron | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.