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

Should you visit Sofia or Siofok?

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 Siofok. 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 Siofok?

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.

Siofok

Siofok is a charming lakefront town located on the southern coast of Lake Balaton in Hungary. It is one of the most popular holiday resorts in the nation, drawing at least two hundred thousand visitors each summer for its peaceful beaches and thriving nightlife. While lakefront beaches and the accompanying resorts are the main attractions, Siofok also has a host of other opportunities for sight-seeing, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, The Best 10-Day Tours in Hungary, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Hungary.


Which place is cheaper, Siofok or Sofia?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $64, while the average daily cost in Siofok is $44. 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 Siofok in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sofia $40
    Siofok $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sofia $80
    Siofok $40
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Siofok

Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Siofok? 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 Siofok


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 Siofok Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sofia $8.38
    Siofok $9.64

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia

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

  • Transfer from Sofia airport to hotel in Sofia OR vice versa: $19
  • Private Airport Transfer to Sofia City Center: $31
  • Private Transfer: Sofia to Sofia Airport (SOF): $46
  • Private transfer: Sofia Airport (SOF) to Sofia: $46
  • Airport Transfer from Sofia Airport: $48
  • Sofia Airport Transfers: $49
  • Private Transfer from Sofia Airport SOF to Sofia in Business Car: $53
  • Be Eco: Sofia Airport Transfer with an Electric Vehicle: $53
  • Private Transfer from/to Sofia Airport : $53
  • From Koprivshtitsa & Historic Homes Tour w/ Transfer: $53
  • Private Airport Transfer from/to Sofia Bulgaria: $54
  • Airport Transfers in Bulgaria: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Siofok?

Prices for flights to both Siofok 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
    Siofok $16

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: $48
  • Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $97
  • Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $105
  • Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $107
  • Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $117
  • Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $117
  • Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sofia $5.92
    Siofok $7.80

Tours and Activities in Sofia

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

  • Rila Monastery: Monastery & Museums Self-Guided Audio Tour 7 lang: $5.42
  • Private Self-guided tour in Rila Monastery: $6.50
  • Self-guided tour of Boyana Church: $7.59
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.61
  • Sofia Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.66
  • Self-guided Tour in the Museum of Socialist Art: $7.81
  • Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
  • Guided Walking Tour of Sofia: $11
  • Audio Guide for All Sofia Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $12
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Sofia Audio guide Tour offers available in 7 languages: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sofia $8.39
    Siofok $4.26

Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:

  • Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
  • Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $19
  • Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
  • Sofia Bar Crawl: $53
  • Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
  • Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $75
  • From Rozhen monastery and Melnik with wine tasting: $98
  • Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $106
  • Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $114
  • Plovdiv and Thracia Valley with Wine Tasting: $119
  • Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $138
  • Rila Monastery Tour from Sofia - Lunch, Wine Tasting & The Unique Stob Pyramids: $139


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sofia and Siofok, we can see that Sofia is more expensive. And not only is Siofok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Siofok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Siofok 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 Sofia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sofia than you might in Siofok.

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


Which is Bigger, Sofia or Siofok?

Sofia has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Siofok. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Siofok, 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.