A Travel Price Comparison for Hungary Pecs vs. Budapest for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Hungary, The Best Historical Tours in Hungary, The Best 10-Day Tours in Hungary, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Hungary.


Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Pecs?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pecs is $109, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $115. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pecs $41
    Budapest $53
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pecs $82
    Budapest $106
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.

Hotels in Pecs


Hotels in Budapest


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pecs $19
    Budapest $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pecs

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pecs:

  • Pécs - Budapest Transfer: $185

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

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


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $7.49
  • Metro Pass
    $4.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest

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

  • Airport Transfer: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by Luxury Car: $118
  • Airport Transfer: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by Luxury Van: $92
  • Airport Transfer: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by Sedan: $78
  • Arrival Transfer: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by Sedan: $78
  • Bratislava: Private transfer to Budapest or Budapest to BTS: $219
  • Budapest - Bük Transfer: $192
  • Budapest - Szeged Transfer: $163
  • Budapest - Vienna Private Car Transfer: $277
  • Budapest Airport (BUD) to Budapest - Arrival Private Transfer : $30
  • Budapest Airport Private Luxury Transfer by MB SClass/BMW7/AudiA8: $131
  • Budapest Airport Transfer - return (arrival & departure) with discount: $63
  • Budapest Airport Transfer: Budapest City to Budapest Airport BUD in Business Car: $82

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pecs $54
    Budapest $43
Typical Food Prices in Pecs

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pecs:


  • Dinner for Two
    $26

Typical Food Prices in Budapest

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:


  • Lunch
    $3.66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest

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

  • Glamour of the Old Town with Dinner and Live Music: $1.43
  • Central Market Hall Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $15
  • Hungarian Folk Dance & Concert with Dinner Option: $22
  • Pizza Cruise: $40
  • Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $46
  • Traditional Hungarian Dinner with Live Gypsy Music: $54
  • Food Tour Market-to-Tavern: 14+ Tasters & Wines: $57
  • Budapest Tipsy Food Tour with Wine Tasting and homemade Pálinka: $59
  • Super Saver:Széchenyi Spa Ticket with Cruise and Optional Dinner : $66
  • Guided Food Tour with Wine, Beer, and Shots: $68
  • Tipsy Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included in Budapest: $68
  • Budapest Guided Food Tour with Drinks Included: $68

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pecs $19
    Budapest $23

Tours and Activities in Pecs

Here are a few actual costs in Pecs for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Mineral Museum Entrance Ticket: $4.73

Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest

For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entrance to the Baths for Two
    $7.35

Tours and Activities in Budapest

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.

  • Jewish Quarter of Budapest Walking Tour: $2.30
  • Castle District Walking Tour: $2.30
  • Walking Tour to the Shoes Memorial and Parliament: $3.46
  • Buda Castle Walking Tour: Fishermans Bastion - Royal Palace: $3.46
  • Free tour of Buda Castle : $3.56
  • Budapest ️Highlights️ Live Guided Segway Tour: $3.56
  • Self Guided Tour In Budapest With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.56
  • Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.58
  • Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.58
  • Buda Castle Tour: Fisherman's bastion and hidden gems: $3.58
  • City Segway Tours Budapest: $3.58
  • Walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.58

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pecs $9.00
    Budapest $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest

Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $12
  • 'Hungarian Wine Tasting Experience' in Budapest by Bortársaság: $21
  • Bingo Bar Crawl: $21
  • 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $23
  • Brewery Tour at "First Craft Beer" & Beer Tasting: $25
  • Private, Personalized Pub Crawl, 3 drinks included: $29
  • Budapest Pub Tour +6 free Shots +VIP Access +Drinking Games : $30
  • Pub Crawl Budapest with Challenges and Free Shots: $30
  • Private Pub Crawl Tour with Local Guide in Budapest: $31
  • Wine Tasting with Fun Games and Delicious Snacks: $35
  • Budapest Wine Tasting and Heritage Experience at Goldcentral: $36
  • Budapest - Opera Gin Distillery Tour: $43


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.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Pecs 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.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Pecs 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.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Pecs 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.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Pecs 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)