Should you visit Minsk or Bucharest?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Minsk or Bucharest, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Minsk
Minsk is the capital city of Belarus, centrally located. Situated on the Svislac and Niamiha rivers, it is also capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and was the capital of the former Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1919-1991. It is a modern city dominated by monumental Stalinist architecture with many of its museums, theaters, and other cultural attractions.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Bucharest or Minsk?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Minsk is $50, while the average daily cost in Bucharest is $109. 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 Minsk and Bucharest in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Minsk is about $50 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $100 for a double occupancy room in Bucharest.
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Minsk is $9.03 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Bucharest is $21 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Minsk
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Minsk:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Minsk National Airport MSQ to Minsk by Business Car:
$44
-
Arrival Private Transfer Minsk National Airport MSQ to Minsk by Luxury Van:
$118
-
Arrival Private Transfer Minsk National Airport MSQ to Minsk by Minibus:
$69
-
Arrival Private Transfer Minsk National Airport MSQ to Minsk by Minivan:
$44
-
Arrival Private Transfer Minsk National Airport MSQ to Minsk by Standard Car:
$29
-
Business Transfer from Minsk Airport (MSQ) to Minsk city center (any address):
$92
-
Comfort Transfer from Minsk Airport (MSQ) to Minsk city center (any address):
$45
-
Departure Private Transfer City to Minsk National Airport MSQ by Business Car:
$44
-
Departure Private Transfer City to Minsk National Airport MSQ by Luxury Van:
$118
-
Departure Private Transfer City to Minsk National Airport MSQ by Minibus:
$69
-
Departure Private Transfer City to Minsk National Airport MSQ by Minivan:
$44
-
Departure Private Transfer City to Minsk National Airport MSQ by Standard Car:
$29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
-
Best transfer from Bucharest Airport to City Center:
$3.72
-
Bucharest airport transfer:
$12
-
Private transfer from Bucharest Otopeni Airport to Bucharest:
$12
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Bucharest Airport to Bucharest City:
$14
-
Private Departure Transfer from Bucharest City to Bucharest Airport:
$14
-
Bucharest - Private Airport Transfer:
$15
-
Bucharest Airport Transfer:
$16
-
Otopeni Airport Transfer to Bucharest:
$16
-
Private One-Way BUCHAREST-OTP Airport Transfer:
$16
-
Bucharest Airport Transfer by Minivan:
$17
-
Private Bucharest Airport Transfer:
$17
-
Bucharest Giurgiu Port Shared Transfer:
$17
Is it cheaper to fly into Minsk or Bucharest?
Prices for flights to both Bucharest and Minsk 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
In Minsk travelers spend around $16 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
The price of a meal in Bucharest can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $46 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $18 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Minsk $16
Bucharest $46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
-
Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours:
$80
-
Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest:
$199
-
Walking Food Tour in the Old Town of Bucharest:
$199
-
Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience:
$223
-
Private Dracula Castle Tour by night and Romanian traditional dinner:
$331
Entertainment
Minsk's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Bucharest's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $12 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Minsk
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Minsk are as follows:
-
Sightseeing Tour Around Minsk on a Unique Retro Bus:
$13
-
Skip the Line: Minsk:Ticket to Museum "BelarusMini" & Virtual Reality Zone:
$15
-
Minsk Soviet tour:
$25
-
Walking city tour of Minsk:
$25
-
walking citytour & visit museum "BelarusMini":
$37
-
Sightseeing tour to The Mound of Glory:
$50
-
Shared Tour: Stalin Line - Khatyn Memorial Complex:
$50
-
Private Sightseeing tour from Minsk - Stalin Line Complex:
$52
-
Private tour to "Iron" Felix Dzerzhinsky museum-estate birthplace.:
$53
-
Shared Tour: Museum of Old Crafts “Dudutki”:
$58
-
Shared Tour: Minsk - Nesvizh Palace - Mir Castle. English speaking driver:
$59
-
Private Minsk walking tour (walking, 3 hrs):
$64
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Bellu Outdoor Museum Exploration Game & Tour:
$5.67
-
Old Town Hidden Gems Exploration Game and Tour:
$7.95
-
Museum of Senses Bucharest Entrance Ticket:
$11
-
One Hour Epic Escape Room Adventure Mystery in Bucharest:
$14
-
Escape Room Experience:
$17
-
Half-day tour to the Mogoșoaia Palace by train from Bucharest:
$20
-
Skip the line: Bucharest Parliament Palace Ticket:
$23
-
Self-Guided Ruse from Bucharest Tour:
$24
-
Skip the Line: Palace of the Parliament - Bucharest:
$25
-
Guided Ceausescu Villa Tour:
$25
-
Jewish Tour of Bucharest:
$28
-
Dracula's Transylvania Virtual Private 2-Hour Live Guided Tour:
$31
Alcohol
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Minsk per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Bucharest may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.31 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Pub Crawl in the Old Town:
$23
-
Wine Tasting Tour of Bucharest Old Town:
$61
-
Wine Tasting Tour at First Wine Bar:
$61
-
Private Wine Tasting at Bucharest's First Wine Bar:
$65
-
Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting – 2.5 hours:
$88
-
Traditions in Village Museum & Wine Tasting:
$93
-
Bike & Wine tour in Dealu Mare wineland:
$96
-
Wine tasting at the mansion, Dracula's grave from Snagov & Mogosoaia Palace:
$100
-
Traditions in Village Museum and Wine Tasting Tour:
$100
-
Romanian Wine Tasting:
$106
-
Romanian Wine Tasting Experience:
$113
-
Lacerta Crama Wine Tasting:
$113
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Minsk and Bucharest, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Minsk much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Minsk would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Minsk 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 Minsk.
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