Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Pecs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pecs or Budapest?
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 Pecs and Budapest. 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: Pecs or Budapest?
Pecs
Located in southwest Hungary, Pecs is a pleasant university town with a history that dates back to Roman times - a history evident in its ancient architecture. Some of the most sought after sites include the Early Christian Necropolis, the Mosque of Pasha Quasim, and the Cathedral of Pecs.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Hungary, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPecs $80Budapest $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Pecs is $80, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $89. 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 Pecs and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPecs $37Budapest $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPecs $74Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Pecs and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Pecs or Budapest? 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: Pecs Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pecs $17Budapest $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pecs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pecs:
- Pécs - Budapest Transfer: $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$6.91
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Metro Pass$3.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,178
- Budapest - Bük Transfer: $153
- Budapest - Bratislava Transfer: $199
- Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $168
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,285
- Budapest - Pécs Transfer: $149
- Budapest - Szeged Transfer: $134
- Budapest Airport BUD Arrival Private Transfer to Budapest City: $89
- Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
- Budapest Airport Private Luxury Transfer by a Mercedes Benz S Class: $120
- Budapest Airport Transfer: $54
- Budapest Airport Transfer - Round trip to and from Liszt Ferenc Airport: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Pecs or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Pecs 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 dayPecs $29Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Pecs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pecs:
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Dinner for Two$24
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $52
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $85
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
- Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
- Hungarian Cooking Class - Foodapest: $94
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pecs $17Budapest $22
Tours and Activities in Pecs
Here are a few actual costs in Pecs for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mineral Museum Entrance Ticket: $4.34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.77
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.20
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.27
- Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.27
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.27
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.27
- Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.27
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.45
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.86
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.86
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPecs $8.30Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
- Budapest - Opera Gin Distillery Tour: $51
When comparing the travel costs between Pecs and Budapest, we can see that Budapest 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 Pecs Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pecs or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Pecs. When comparing the sizes of Pecs and Budapest, 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 Pecs or Budapest?
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 Pecs or Budapest in the Summer?
Both Budapest and Pecs during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Budapest in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Pecs is generally around the same temperature as Budapest. Daily temperatures in Pecs average around 22°C (71°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In Budapest, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pecs. In the summer, Pecs often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Pecs gets 302 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.
Pecs usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Pecs gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPecs 22°C (71°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Pecs or Budapest in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pecs and Budapest. Furthermore, most visitors come to Budapest for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Pecs is a little warmer than Budapest in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pecs averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Pecs usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Pecs gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Pecs usually receives more rain than Budapest. Pecs gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPecs 13°C (56°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Pecs or Budapest in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pecs as well as Budapest. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Budapest because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Budapest can be very cold. Pecs can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Pecs is much warmer than Budapest. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pecs in January average around 0°C (32°F), and Budapest averages at about -1°C (31°F).
In the winter, Pecs often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Pecs gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.
Pecs usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Budapest. Pecs gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPecs 0°C (32°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Pecs or Budapest in the Spring?
Both Budapest and Pecs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
In April, Pecs is generally around the same temperature as Budapest. Daily temperatures in Pecs average around 12°C (54°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Pecs usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest during spring. Pecs gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Pecs usually receives more rain than Budapest. Pecs gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPecs 12°C (54°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Pecs
| Pecs | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.