A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sochi vs. Balaton Lake for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sochi or Balaton Lake?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Sochi or Balaton Lake? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Sochi or Balaton Lake?

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.


Which place 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 $87. 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 Sochi and Balaton Lake in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sochi $15
    Balaton Lake $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sochi $30
    Balaton Lake $96
Compare Hotels in Sochi and Balaton Lake

Looking for a hotel in Sochi or Balaton Lake? 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 Sochi


Hotels in Balaton Lake


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sochi -
    Balaton Lake $12

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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sochi $18
    Balaton Lake $28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sochi $114
    Balaton Lake $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sochi -
    Balaton Lake $8.86


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.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sochi Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sochi or Balaton Lake?

Sochi has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Sochi and Balaton Lake, 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 Sochi or Balaton Lake?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Sochi or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sochi and Balaton Lake.

In the summer, Sochi is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sochi in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).

In July, Sochi usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Sochi gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Sochi 23°C (73°F) 
    Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Sochi or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sochi as well as Balaton Lake.

In October, Sochi is generally a little warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Sochi average around 16°C (60°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Sochi receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sochi usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Sochi gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Sochi 16°C (60°F) 
    Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Sochi or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Sochi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Sochi is much warmer than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Sochi averages around 6°C (44°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

It's quite rainy in Sochi. In January, Sochi usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Sochi gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Sochi 6°C (44°F) 
    Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Sochi or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

Both Balaton Lake and Sochi during the spring are popular places to visit.

In the spring, Sochi is around the same temperature as Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sochi in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sochi. Sochi usually gets more rain in April than Balaton Lake. Sochi gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Sochi 13°C (55°F) 
    Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Sochi

Sochi Balaton Lake
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 6°C (44°F) 183 mm (7.2 in) 0°C (32°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 7°C (45°F) 119 mm (4.7 in) 3°C (37°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 9°C (48°F) 115 mm (4.5 in) 7°C (45°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 13°C (55°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 12°C (54°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
May 17°C (62°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jun 20°C (68°F) 99 mm (3.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 23°C (73°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 22°C (71°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 20°C (68°F) 133 mm (5.2 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 13°C (56°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Nov 12°C (54°F) 182 mm (7.2 in) 7°C (44°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Dec 9°C (47°F) 202 mm (8 in) 2°C (36°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)