Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Sochi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sochi or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sochi or Budapest? 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 Budapest?
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.
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 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySochi $60Budapest $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Sochi is $60, 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 Sochi and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSochi $14Budapest $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSochi $28Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Sochi and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Sochi 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: Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sochi -Budapest $10
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:
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,178
- Budapest - Bük Transfer: $153
- Budapest - Bratislava Transfer: $199
- Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $168
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,285
- Budapest - Pécs Transfer: $149
- Budapest - Szeged Transfer: $134
- Budapest Airport BUD Arrival Private Transfer to Budapest City: $89
- Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
- Budapest Airport Private Luxury Transfer by a Mercedes Benz S Class: $120
- Budapest Airport Transfer: $54
- Budapest Airport Transfer - Round trip to and from Liszt Ferenc Airport: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Sochi or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest 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
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Food Meals for one daySochi $17Budapest $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:
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- 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
- 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.Sochi $112Budapest $22
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: $3.26
- Free Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.27
- Past and Present of Budapest Jewish District Tour: $3.27
- Free walking tour in the Buda Castle incl. Fisherman's Bastion: $3.27
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.27
- Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.27
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.45
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.86
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.86
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySochi -Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
- 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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sochi and Budapest, we can see that Budapest 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 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 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 Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sochi or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Sochi. When comparing the sizes of Sochi 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 Sochi 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 Sochi or Budapest in the Summer?
Both Budapest and Sochi during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Sochi is around the same temperature as Budapest in the summer. The daily temperature in Sochi averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Sochi usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Sochi gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySochi 23°C (73°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Sochi or Budapest in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sochi and Budapest. Furthermore, many visitors come to Budapest in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Sochi is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sochi in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
Sochi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Sochi usually receives more rain than Budapest. Sochi gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSochi 16°C (60°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Sochi or Budapest in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Sochi as well as Budapest. Additionally, most visitors come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Budapest can be very cold during winter. In January, Sochi is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Sochi average around 6°C (44°F), and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Sochi receives a lot of rain in the winter. Sochi usually gets more rain in January than Budapest. Sochi gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySochi 6°C (44°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Sochi or Budapest in the Spring?
Both Budapest and Sochi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Budapest because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Sochi is around the same temperature as Budapest in the spring. The daily temperature in Sochi averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
It's quite rainy in Sochi. In April, Sochi usually receives more rain than Budapest. Sochi gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSochi 13°C (55°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Sochi
| Sochi | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (44°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (45°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
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.