A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sofia vs. Budapest for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sofia or Budapest?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Sofia and Budapest. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Sofia or Budapest?

Sofia

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also its largest city. Some people have tried to compare it to Budapest, but the cities are actually quite different. In Sofia you will find wonderful European style architecture intertwined with Communist style buildings. It's fascinating to see the two dramatically different building styles immediately next to each other. There are also many Orthodox Churches around town, with their beautiful domes and intricate details.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest.


Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Sofia?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $65, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $90. 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 Sofia and Budapest in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sofia $41
    Budapest $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sofia $82
    Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Budapest

Looking for a hotel in Sofia 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.

Hotels in Sofia


Hotels in Budapest


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: Sofia Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sofia $8.50
    Budapest $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $696
  • From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $455
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sozopol: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sunny Beach: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sofia to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $294
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Thessaloniki: $257
  • Private Transfer Bucharest to/from Sofia: $227
  • Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $197
  • Transfer from Sofia to Stara Zagora: $196
  • VIP Transfer from Sofia to Bansko: $187
  • Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Nis: $184
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $176

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $6.93
  • Metro Pass
    $3.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest

Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,576
  • Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,304
  • Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,196
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,075
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $945
  • Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $717
  • Budapest-Vienna Private Transfer by Luxury Vehicle: $652
  • From Bucharest: One-way Private Fast Transfer to Budapest: $652
  • Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $597
  • Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $478
  • Budapest-Bratislava One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $298
  • Private Transfer from Budapest to Zadar, Hotel-to-hotel, English-speaking driver: $286

Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Budapest?

Prices for flights to both Budapest and Sofia 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
    Sofia $18
    Budapest $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia

For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $49
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $50
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $98
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $108
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $119
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $119
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $132

Typical Food Prices in Budapest

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:


  • Lunch
    $3.38

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: $35
  • Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $35
  • Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
  • Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
  • Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
  • Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $74
  • Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $75
  • Dinner & Cruise on the Danube with Folklore Dance Show & Live Music: $76
  • Dinner Cruise with Operetta and Folk Show: $86
  • 3 course Dinner Cruise with Operetta and Folk Show: $87
  • 3 course Dinner Cruise with Piano Battle Show: $87
  • Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sofia $6.00
    Budapest $22

Tours and Activities in Sofia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.

  • Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa cave/Small group bigger experience: $116
  • Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $110
  • 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $87
  • 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $83
  • 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $99
  • Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
  • Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $109
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $61
  • Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $60
  • Afternoon Delights in Sofia Tour: $76
  • Archaeological tour-From the Neolithic to Modern times in Augusta Trayana: $109
  • Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $60

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
    $6.80

Tours and Activities in Budapest

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.

  • E-ticket to Vajdahunyad Castle with Audio Tour on Your Phone : $19
  • Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $243
  • 1 Hour Budapest Segway Tour - Parliament Hightails: $39
  • 2 Hour Budapest Market and Tasting Tour: $57
  • 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $38
  • 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $49
  • 2-Hour Private Budapest Castle Walking Tour: $128
  • 2-Hour Private Night Tour of Budapest: $268
  • 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
  • 3 Cocktail Cruise Budapest Winter Edition: $35
  • 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $94
  • 3-Hour Budapest E-Bike Adventure!: $52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sofia $8.51
    Budapest $18

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $20
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $60
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $66
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $76
  • 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $87
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $99
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $109
  • Private Sofia City Tour with Wine Tasting: $110
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $116
  • Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $141

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: $22
  • Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
  • Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
  • Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
  • Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $40
  • Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
  • Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
  • Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
  • Pub Crawl Through The Ruin Bars in Budapest with T-shirt Included: $54
  • All You Can Drink Pub Crawl Through The Ruin Bars in Budapest: $60
  • Wine Tasting Walk in Jewish Quarter Bars: $60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Sofia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sofia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sofia 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 Sofia.

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


Which is Bigger, Sofia or Budapest?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Sofia 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.