A Travel Price Comparison for Hungary Sopron vs. Budapest for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sopron or Budapest?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Sopron and Budapest can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Sopron or Budapest?

Sopron

Sopron is a city in northwestern Hungary, located right on the Austrian border at the foot of the Alps near Lake Neusiedl.

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 Luxury Tours to Hungary, The Best Budget Tours to Hungary, The Best Tours for Seniors to Hungary, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest.


Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Sopron?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Sopron 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 Sopron and Budapest in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sopron $29
    Budapest $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sopron $58
    Budapest $98
Compare Hotels in Sopron and Budapest

Looking for a hotel in Sopron 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 Sopron


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: Sopron Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sopron $21
    Budapest $10

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:

  • Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,196
  • Budapest - Bük Transfer: $154
  • Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $170
  • Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,304
  • Budapest - Pécs Transfer: $151
  • Budapest - Vienna Private Car Transfer: $236
  • Budapest - Vienna Transfer: $232
  • Budapest - Vienna Transfer with Bratislava stop: $260
  • Budapest Airport - Budapest City Transfer: $35
  • Budapest Airport BUD Arrival Private Transfer to Budapest City: $91
  • Budapest Airport Private Departure Transfer : City to Airport: $16
  • Budapest Airport Private Transfer - Minibus for 8 people: $62

Is it cheaper to fly into Sopron or Budapest?

Prices for flights to both Budapest and Sopron 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
    Sopron $24
    Budapest $23

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.
    Sopron $5.53
    Budapest $22

Tours and Activities in Sopron

Here are a few actual costs in Sopron for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Special Magical Christmas tour around Sopron: $220
  • The best of Sopron walking tour: $165
  • Romantic tour in Sopron for couples: $99
  • Romantic tour in Sopron for couples: $194
  • City Highlights Walking Tour: $194

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.

  • Historic Budapest Tour: $1.80
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.26
  • Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.30
  • Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.31
  • Original Budapest Walking Tour: $3.31
  • Budapest Historical Sightseeing - Walking Tour: $3.31
  • Escape Game and Tour: $5.97
  • Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.97
  • Discovering Budapest's hot pools and heroes: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
  • Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sopron $5.66
    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:

  • 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 Sopron and Budapest, we can see that Budapest is more expensive. And not only is Sopron much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sopron would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sopron 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 Sopron.

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


Which is Bigger, Sopron or Budapest?

Budapest has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Sopron. When comparing the sizes of Sopron 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 Sopron 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 Sopron or Budapest in the Summer?

Both Budapest and Sopron during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Budapest for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Sopron is around the same temperature as Budapest in the summer. The daily temperature in Sopron averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).

In Budapest, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sopron. In the summer, Sopron often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Sopron gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.

Sopron usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Sopron gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Sopron 23°C (73°F) 
    Budapest 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Sopron or Budapest in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sopron and Budapest. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Sopron is around the same temperature as Budapest. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sopron in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Sopron usually receives less sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Sopron gets 140 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Sopron usually receives more rain than Budapest. Sopron gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Sopron 12°C (54°F) 
    Budapest 12°C (53°F)

Should I visit Sopron or Budapest in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sopron as well as Budapest. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.

It's quite cold in Budapest in the winter. The weather in Sopron can be very cold. In January, Sopron is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Sopron average around 2°C (36°F), and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Sopron often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest. Sopron gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.

Sopron usually gets less rain in January than Budapest. Sopron gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Sopron 2°C (36°F) 
    Budapest -1°C (31°F)

Should I visit Sopron or Budapest in the Spring?

Both Budapest and Sopron are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Budapest for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Sopron is around the same temperature as Budapest in the spring. The daily temperature in Sopron averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sopron. Sopron usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during spring. Sopron gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sopron usually receives more rain than Budapest. Sopron gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Sopron 13°C (55°F) 
    Budapest 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Budapest and Sopron

Sopron Budapest
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) -1°C (31°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 4°C (38°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 2°C (35°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 13°C (55°F) 51 mm (2 in) 12°C (53°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
May 17°C (63°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 16°C (62°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 20°C (69°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 20°C (67°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Jul 23°C (73°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (70°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Aug 22°C (72°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 21°C (69°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Oct 12°C (54°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 50 mm (2 in) 6°C (42°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Dec 3°C (37°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 1°C (34°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)