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

Should you visit Malmo or Balaton Lake?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Malmo or Balaton Lake, 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: Malmo or Balaton Lake?

Malmo

Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.


Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Malmo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Malmo is $81, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $86. 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 Malmo and Balaton Lake in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malmo $48
    Balaton Lake $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malmo $96
    Balaton Lake $96
Compare Hotels in Malmo and Balaton Lake

Looking for a hotel in Malmo 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 Malmo


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: Malmo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malmo $7.88
    Balaton Lake $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:


  • Malmö Bus Card
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo

Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Malmo City Center to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $27
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $27
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City Center - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $55
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $95
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $95
  • Private Transfer from Malmo Airport MMX to Fredericia Port: $96
  • Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $121
  • Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $128

Is it cheaper to fly into Malmo or Balaton Lake?

Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Malmo 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
    Malmo $25
    Balaton Lake $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malmo

For Malmo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Self-guided Food Tour in Malmö: $59
  • Guided Food Tour in Malmö (Private): $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Malmo $16
    Balaton Lake $20

Tours and Activities in Malmo

For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Self-guided audio tour in Lund: explore the story of the Locus Peccatorum murder: $9.35
  • Malmö Ghost Story: A self-guided audio walking tour: $9.35
  • Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $21
  • Half Day Walking Tour in Lund City and University: $33
  • Malmö Photography Tour: $58
  • Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $66
  • Joyful Malmo Walking Tour for Couples: $147
  • Exploring Malmo Walking Tour: $147

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malmo $35
    Balaton Lake $8.73


When comparing the travel costs between Malmo and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Malmo Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Malmo or Balaton Lake?

Malmo has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Malmo 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 Malmo 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 Malmo or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Malmo as well as Balaton Lake.

In the summer, Malmo is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Malmo 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 Malmo this time of the year. In the summer, Malmo often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Malmo gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Malmo usually gets less rain in July than Balaton Lake. Malmo gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Malmo 17°C (62°F) 
    Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Malmo or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Malmo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Malmo is generally cooler than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Malmo average around 10°C (50°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Malmo usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Malmo gets 104 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Malmo usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Malmo gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Malmo 10°C (50°F) 
    Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Malmo or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Malmo during the winter are popular places to visit.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Malmo in the winter. Malmo is much warmer than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Malmo averages around 0°C (32°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Malmo often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Malmo gets 36 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Malmo usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Balaton Lake. Malmo gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Malmo 0°C (32°F) 
    Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Malmo or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Malmo and Balaton Lake.

In the spring, Malmo is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Malmo in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Malmo usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Malmo gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Malmo usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Malmo gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Malmo 5°C (42°F) 
    Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Malmo

Malmo Balaton Lake
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 0°C (32°F) 37 mm (1.4 in) 0°C (32°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb -0°C (32°F) 25 mm (1 in) 3°C (37°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 2°C (35°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 7°C (45°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 5°C (42°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
May 11°C (51°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 52 mm (2 in) 22°C (71°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 50 mm (2 in) 22°C (71°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 13°C (56°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Nov 6°C (42°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 7°C (44°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Dec 2°C (36°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 2°C (36°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)