Which place is cheaper, Bucharest or Mamaia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mamaia or Bucharest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mamaia or Bucharest? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mamaia or Bucharest?
Mamaia
The most popular beach resort in Romania, Mamaia sits on an 8-kilometer wisp of land between Lake Siutghiol and the Black Sea. With plenty of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and an aqua park, the resort area is a party-goer's destination with endless opportunities for fun in the sun and nighttime merriment.
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Romania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Romania.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMamaia $64Bucharest $137
The average daily cost (per person) in Mamaia is $64, while the average daily cost in Bucharest is $137. 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 Mamaia and Bucharest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMamaia $25Bucharest $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMamaia $50Bucharest $126
Compare Hotels in Mamaia and Bucharest
Looking for a hotel in Mamaia or Bucharest? 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: Bucharest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mamaia $27Bucharest $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mamaia
Also for Mamaia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cernavoda to Bucharest - Private Guided Transfer - Car and Driver: $217
- Constanta to Bucharest Otopeni airport - private transfers: $250
- Mihail Kogalniceanu Constanta to Bucharest Driver - Private Guided Transfer : $272
- Private Transfer from Constanta to Bucarest (OTP) Airport: $174
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Tulcea Bucharest Private Transfer: $173
- Transfert Privat București: $60
- Transfer from Otopeni Airport to Bucharest: $29
- Transfer from Bucharest to Brasov - Hotel Pick-up: $174
- Transfer from Bucharest to Brasov: $163
- Transfer and Full Access All Day at Therme Spa Bucharest : $109
- Transfer From Bucharest Airport To Sofia Bulgaria: $290
- Transfer Bucharest to/from Giurgiu Cruise Port: $140
- Transfer Bucharest Otopeni Airport (OTP) to/from Brasov: $244
- Transfer Bucharest Airport to Brasov: $287
- Transfer Airport Otopeni - Bucharest: $43
- Transfer Aeroport Otopeni: $64
Is it cheaper to fly into Mamaia or Bucharest?
Prices for flights to both Bucharest and Mamaia 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 dayMamaia $22Bucharest $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Bohemian Bucharest Markets and Mahallas Traditional Food Tour: $60
- Cooking Class traditional food: $65
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $74
- Unhealthy Food Tour of Bucharest – 4 hours: $75
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $84
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $86
- Private Walking Food Tour - Culture, History & Traditions: $98
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $201
- Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $227
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mamaia $13Bucharest $15
Tours and Activities in Mamaia
For Mamaia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Labyrinth in the Rocks Tour near Silistra: $21
- Day Tour: Visit Histria Winery and Ancient Citadel: $86
- One Day Tour to Constanta (The Ancient City of Tomis): $175
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bears Sanctuary, Dracula's Castle, Brasov Day Trip Private Tour from Bucharest: $248
- Bucharest Panoramic Sightseeing - Private City Tour: $92
- Transylvania Heritage Tour at Peles Bran and Cantacuzino Castles: $92
- 1 Day 4x4 Tour in Carpathian Mountains: $173
- 1 Day ATV Tour in Carpathian Mountains: $206
- 1 Day Castles Tour - Sinaia and Bran: $137
- 10h Bucharest City Tour & Snagov Monastery (Dracula's Grave): $257
- 14 Days Private Tour in Romania, Moldova & Transnistria: $4,712
- 2 Days Private Tour - The Romanian Caves from Bucharest: $557
- 2 Hour Photoshoot Experience Near Bucharest Architectural Charms: $98
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Bucharest City: $87
- 2-Day Medieval Transylvania with Brasov,Sibiu and Sighisoara Tour from Bucharest: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMamaia $12Bucharest $9.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Mamaia
Also in Mamaia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Unveilling the Essence: Gabai Winery's Captivating Wine Tours: $43
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekend Pub Crawl: $23
- Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $25
- Bachelors Party in Custom Bar Crawl: $37
- Private Bar Crawling in Bucharest Old City: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $43
- From Romanian Wine Tasting Tour: $45
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $47
- Romanian Wine Tasting: $48
- Private Romanian Wine Tasting in Urlați: $51
- Bucharest VIP Bar Crawl in Lipscani 'Old Town': $59
- Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting: $84
- Wine Tasting Tour at First Wine Bar: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mamaia and Bucharest, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Mamaia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mamaia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mamaia 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Mamaia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mamaia Expensive? and Is Bucharest Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Mamaia or Bucharest?
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 Mamaia or Bucharest in the Summer?
Both Bucharest and Mamaia during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Bucharest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Mamaia is around the same temperature as Bucharest in the summer. The daily temperature in Mamaia averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Bucharest fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Bucharest, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mamaia. In the summer, Mamaia often gets more sunshine than Bucharest. Mamaia gets 320 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bucharest receives 289 hours of full sun.
Mamaia usually gets less rain in July than Bucharest. Mamaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMamaia 22°C (72°F)Bucharest 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Mamaia or Bucharest in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mamaia and Bucharest. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Bucharest this time of year.
In the autumn, Mamaia is around the same temperature as Bucharest. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mamaia in October average around 14°C (56°F), and Bucharest averages at about 13°C (55°F).
Mamaia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bucharest during autumn. Mamaia gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Bucharest receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Mamaia usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bucharest. Mamaia gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMamaia 14°C (56°F)Bucharest 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Mamaia or Bucharest in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Mamaia as well as Bucharest. Additionally, many travelers come to Bucharest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Bucharest. It's quite cold in Mamaia in the winter. In January, Mamaia is generally much warmer than Bucharest. Daily temperatures in Mamaia average around 1°C (33°F), and Bucharest fluctuates around -1°C (29°F).
In the winter, Mamaia often gets more sunshine than Bucharest. Mamaia gets 83 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bucharest receives 71 hours of full sun.
Mamaia usually gets less rain in January than Bucharest. Mamaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMamaia 1°C (33°F)Bucharest -1°C (29°F)
Should I visit Mamaia or Bucharest in the Spring?
Both Bucharest and Mamaia are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Bucharest in the spring for the activities around the city.
Mamaia is cooler than Bucharest in the spring. The daily temperature in Mamaia averages around 10°C (51°F) in April, and Bucharest fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Mamaia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bucharest during spring. Mamaia gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Bucharest receives 185 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Mamaia usually receives less rain than Bucharest. Mamaia gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Bucharest receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMamaia 10°C (51°F)Bucharest 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Bucharest and Mamaia
| Mamaia | Bucharest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 1°C (33°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | -1°C (29°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Oct | 14°C (56°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 1°C (34°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.