Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Plovdiv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Plovdiv or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Plovdiv and Budapest can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Plovdiv or Budapest?
Plovdiv
Located in a large, hilly plain between the Rhodope Mountains in the south of Bulgaria and the Balkan Range in the central part of the country, Plovdiv sits uniquely spread across six hills. It is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, dating back roughly 8,000 years. Some of its best features are its ancient ruins and historic architecture.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria, The Best Adventure Tours to Bulgaria, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlovdiv $80Budapest $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Plovdiv 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 Plovdiv and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlovdiv $44Budapest $49
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlovdiv $88Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Plovdiv and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Plovdiv 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: Plovdiv Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Plovdiv $22Budapest $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plovdiv
Also for Plovdiv, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varna: Private Transfer from Varna to Plovdiv: $376
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Varna: $354
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas: $262
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Burgas city/airport with sedan/minivan/minibus: $190
- Private Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $160
- Sofia: Private Transfer from Sofia to Plovdiv OR vice versa: $147
- Private Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia / vice versa: $147
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Bansko: $134
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Sofia: $103
- Transfer Plovdiv to Sofia airport/city with a car 3+1: $98
- Transfer from Pamporovo to Sofia: $98
- Transfer from Plovdiv to Stara Zagora: $87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
-
Short Taxi Ride$6.91
-
Metro Pass$3.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $703
- T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,568
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $927
- Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $586
- Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,055
- Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $469
- Private Transfer in Budapest: $76
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Zagreb with 2 hours for sightseeing: $267
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Zadar, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver: $282
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing, Local Driver: $234
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing: $217
- Private Transfer from Budapest to Vienna with 2h of Sightseeing: $234
Is it cheaper to fly into Plovdiv or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Plovdiv 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 dayPlovdiv $21Budapest $23
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
-
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:
- 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
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- 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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Plovdiv $15Budapest $22
Tours and Activities in Plovdiv
For Plovdiv, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Private Superb Buggy Adventure: $194
- 5-Day Guided Tour to Sofia, Plovdiv and Istanbul: $486
- Bachkovo Monastery & Asen's Fortress - day tour from Plovdiv: $81
- Communist Heritage Tour- Buzludzha and The Might of the East Block Aviation: $98
- Day Tour from Plovdiv full with History, Nature & Forgotten Village Experiences: $144
- Exclusive Private Tour in the Thracian Valley from Sofia: $93
- Food Walk: Bulgarian Food and Culture Tour in Plovdiv: $38
- From Bachkovo Monastery & Asen’s Fortress Tour: $81
- From Musala Peak Full-Day Trekking Tour: $130
- From Sofia - A Story of an Ancient State Day Tour: $95
- Full Day Eco Private Tour in Koprivshtitsa and Plovdiv: $134
- Full Day Eco Private Tour in Plovdiv: $91
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$6.77
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $163
- E-ticket to Vajdahunyad Castle with Audio Tour on Your Phone : $19
- Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $239
- 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $38
- 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $49
- 2 Hours Private Scenic Photo Tour Around Budapest: $156
- 2-Hour Private Budapest Castle Walking Tour: $126
- 2-Hour Private Market Tour in Budapest With Free Tastings: $59
- 2-Hour Private Night Tour of Budapest: $264
- 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
- 3 Cocktail Cruise Budapest : $38
- 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlovdiv $9.57Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Plovdiv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plovdiv:
- Chateau Copsa Wine Tasting Tours & Activities: $21
- Old Town Exploring Guide Roman Ruins & Wine Tasting: $80
- Thracian Valley wine tasting - private day tour from Plovdiv: $91
- Private Day Trip From Plovdiv To Wine Cellars And Wine Tasting: $108
- From Sofia: Plovdiv and Perushtitsa Tour With Wine Tasting: $133
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $27
- 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
- Pub Crawl Through The Ruin Bars in Budapest with T-shirt Included: $53
- All You Can Drink Pub Crawl Through The Ruin Bars in Budapest: $59
When comparing the travel costs between Plovdiv 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 Plovdiv Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Plovdiv or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Plovdiv. When comparing the sizes of Plovdiv 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.
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.