Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Sibiu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sibiu 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 Sibiu and Budapest can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sibiu or Budapest?
Sibiu
Located in the Transylvania region of Romania, Sibiu is a historic city with Germanic origins which are evident in its architecture at its old town center. There are many charming squares which showcase landmarks like Gothic churches, a Baroque palace, medieval watchtowers, and more.
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 Budget Tours to Romania, The Best Tours for Seniors to Romania, 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 daySibiu $71Budapest $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Sibiu is $71, 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 Sibiu and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSibiu $33Budapest $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSibiu $66Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Sibiu and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Sibiu 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: Sibiu Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sibiu $27Budapest $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sibiu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sibiu:
- Bucharest to Sibiu - Private Transfer: $471
- Sibiu to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $471
- Sibiu to Balea: Bus Transfer: $69
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:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
- Budapest Private Arrival Transfer: Railway station to hotels: $16
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- Private Transfer Budapest City to Ferenc Liszt Airport(BUD): $22
- Private One-Way Budapest Int Airport Transfer To/From Budapest: $24
- Private Transfer from Budapest city to Budapest Airport - departure: $25
- Budapest to Ferenc Liszt Intl Airport-Departure Private Transfer : $25
- Ferenc Liszt Intl Airport to Budapest - Arrival Private Transfer : $25
- Budapest Airport Transfers: $26
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Budapest Airport - Budapest City Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Sibiu or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Sibiu 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 daySibiu $23Budapest $23
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:
- 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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sibiu $6.27Budapest $22
Tours and Activities in Sibiu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sibiu are as follows:
- Alba Iulia candlelight tour - Outdoor experience: $40
- City Tour Sibiu in English: $27
- Daily Sightseeing Tour Sibiu: $9.78
- Day Tour to Biertan, Sighișoara and Mediaș: $130
- Day Tour to Bran Castle(Dracula's Castle) and Râșnov Fortress: $157
- Day Tour to Brasov and Bran: $92
- Day Tour to Corvin Castle, Deva Fortress and Alba Iulia: $155
- Day Tour to Transfăgărășan and Vidraru Dam: $196
- E-Bike Tour in the Surroundings of Sibiu: $119
- Exclusive Tour: Bran Castle, Brasov and Rasnov fortress from Sibiu: $79
- Exclusive Tour: Corvin Castle, Alba Iulia and traditional villages from Sibiu: $81
- Exclusive tour: Sighisoara, Medias and Biertan tour from Sibiu: $81
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: $3.25
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.26
- Budapest Castle District Walking Tour: $3.26
- Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.26
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.26
- Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.26
- Alternative Street Art Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.26
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.26
- Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.26
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.44
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySibiu $7.80Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Sibiu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sibiu:
- Private Walking Tour of Alba Iulia Citadel with Wine Tasting: $49
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sibiu and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Sibiu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sibiu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sibiu 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 Budapest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Budapest than you might in Sibiu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sibiu Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sibiu or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sibiu. When comparing the sizes of Sibiu 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.