Should you visit Sochi or Balaton Lake?
Should I visit Sochi or Balaton Lake? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Sochi
Located on the coast of the Black Sea, Sochi is one of the southernmost major cities in Russia. It is especially busy in the summer when native Russians and international visitors alike come to enjoy the mountainous coastline and sunny beaches. Sochi is also known as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and many of the Olympic venues can still be visited today.
Balaton Lake
Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.
Which city is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Sochi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sochi is $61, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $82. 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 Sochi and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $15. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sochi the cost is $30 on average.
Balaton Lake's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $90. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $45.
Food
The average traveler spends about $18 per day in Sochi for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The price of a meal in Balaton Lake can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $26 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $10 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sochi $18
Balaton Lake $26
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $11 per day to get around in Balaton Lake.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sochi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sochi:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Sochi to Sochi International Airport (AER):
$23
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Private Arrival Transfer from Sochi International Airport AER to Sochi City Center:
$28
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Departure Private Transfer from Sochi City to Sochi Airport AER by Minivan:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer from Sochi City to Sochi Airport AER by Business Car:
$52
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Private Sochi International Airport AER - Sochi City Round-Trip Transfer:
$55
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Airport transfer:
$66
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Sochi, Russia Private & Secure Airport Transfers to/from AER Airport & Sochi:
$132
Is it cheaper to fly into Sochi or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Sochi 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.
Entertainment
Sochi's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $115 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $19 per person, per day in Balaton Lake. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Sochi
Here are a few actual costs in Sochi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Private Tour: Discover Sochi on a Private Stroll:
$93
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Sochi Private Tour with driver (ENG):
$160
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Olympic Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana Private Tour:
$177
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Discover the Highlights of Sochi and its Best Bird's-eye View on Private Tour:
$193
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Agura Canyon and Waterfalls Private Trekking Tour from Sochi:
$225
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Sochi City Tour:
$281
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Discover the secrets of Sochi on the shore Excursion Private Tour:
$330
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Nightlife in Sochi - Private tour. Meet a Sunset at the Akhun Mountain:
$330
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Highlights of Sochi Private Tour: Dacha of J.Stalin and Mount Akhun Views:
$330
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Walking Tour in the Heart of Sochi:
$382
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Discover Olympic Sochi and Enjoy Scenic Mountainous Views on Private Tour:
$406
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Romantic tour in Sochi:
$496
Alcohol
The average person spends about $8.36 on alcoholic beverages in Balaton Lake per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sochi and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Sochi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sochi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sochi 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 Balaton Lake would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Balaton Lake than you might in Sochi.
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