Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Tallinn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tallinn or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tallinn or Balaton Lake, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Tallinn or Balaton Lake?
Tallinn
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is located on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. It has a population of more than 430,000 people and is a charming, yet cosmopolitan place to visit. The Old Town is at the center of the city's tourism, and the beauty and architecture is very impressive. The city's close proximity to Helsinki makes it a popular day trip from Finland, but cheap plane flights have also encouraged visitors from around Europe to spend several days in this city. In particular, summer months can become quite crowded.
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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTallinn €95Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Tallinn is €95, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is €80. 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 Tallinn and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTallinn €47Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTallinn €94Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Tallinn and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Tallinn 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.
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: Tallinn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tallinn €12Balaton Lake €11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tallinn
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tallinn:
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Tram Around Town for Two€1.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tallinn
Also for Tallinn, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tallinn hotels to Tallinn Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $16
- Tallinn Cruise Port to Tallinn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $16
- Private Transfer from Tallinn Cruise Port to Tallinn hotels : $16
- Private Transfer from Tallinn hotels to Tallinn Cruise Port : $16
- Tallinn Airport (TLL) to Tallinn Cruise Port - Round-Trip Privat Transfer: $33
- Arrival private transfer from Tallinn Airport or Port to Tallinn by Luxury Van: $41
- Departure private transfer from Tallinn to Tallinn TLL Airport by Luxury Van: $41
- Private Airport Transfer: $43
- Talinn Airport and City Private Transfer: $44
- Highlights Shore Excursion with Return Transfer: $48
- Airport Transfer Service: $48
- Tallinn Highlights Shore Excursion With Port Return Transfer: $51
Is it cheaper to fly into Tallinn or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Tallinn 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 dayTallinn €36Balaton Lake €25
Typical Food Prices in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two€7.68
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Dessert€1.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tallinn TV Tower evening dinner (2-course meal): $56
- Tallinn TV Tower evening dinner (3-course meal): $63
- Tallinn Russian Dinner: $84
- Tallinn Beer House Dinner: $96
- Tallinn Food Tour: $116
- Tallinn 3-Hour Estonian Food Tour: $127
- Tallinn Food Tour with Round-trip Transfer Port-City: $136
- Vegan Food Tours Tallinn: $213
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tallinn €5.63Balaton Lake €19
Tours and Activities in Tallinn
For Tallinn, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Tallinn Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.95
- Aegna Island: Self-Guided Discovery Tour: $8.54
- Private Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Tallinn Old Town: $8.73
- Tales of Reval Smartphone App Self-Guided GPS Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Tallinn Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Self-Guided Tour to Most Instagrammable Places in Tallinn: $15
- Terrific Tallinn Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Virtual Time Travel Experience VR Tallinn 1939/44 I: $16
- Time Travel Experience "VR Tallinn 1939/44": $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTallinn €15Balaton Lake €8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Tallinn
Also in Tallinn, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Mad Monk’s Pub Crawl Tallinn: $21
- Tallinn Pub Crawl (Ex The Epic Bar Crawl): $27
- Tallinn Exclusive Pub & Bar Crawl - Free Drinks, Local Guide: $42
- Tallinn Brewery Fiesta: $72
- Tallinn Guided Bar Crawl: $123
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tallinn and Balaton Lake, we can see that Tallinn is more expensive. And not only is Balaton Lake much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Balaton Lake would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Balaton Lake 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 Tallinn would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tallinn than you might in Balaton Lake.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tallinn Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tallinn or Balaton Lake?
Tallinn has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Tallinn 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 Tallinn or Balaton Lake?
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 Tallinn or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Tallinn as well as Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Tallinn for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Tallinn is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tallinn in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tallinn this time of the year. In the summer, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Tallinn gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Tallinn usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Tallinn gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTallinn 17°C (62°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Tallinn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Tallinn because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Tallinn is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Tallinn average around 7°C (44°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Tallinn usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Tallinn gets 92 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tallinn usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Tallinn gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTallinn 7°C (44°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
Both Balaton Lake and Tallinn during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Tallinn this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Balaton Lake. It's quite cold in Tallinn in the winter. Tallinn is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Tallinn averages around -5°C (22°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Tallinn often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Tallinn gets 25 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Tallinn usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Tallinn gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTallinn -5°C (22°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Tallinn or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tallinn and Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Tallinn for the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Tallinn. In the spring, Tallinn is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tallinn in April average around 4°C (39°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Tallinn usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Tallinn gets 186 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tallinn usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Tallinn gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTallinn 4°C (39°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Tallinn
| Tallinn | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (22°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -6°C (22°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (29°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (39°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (44°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | -3°C (27°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 45 mm (1.8 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.