Should you visit Tartu or Kaunas?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Tartu and Kaunas can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Tartu
Tartu is a university town that is also the second largest city in Estonia. It has a population of about 100,000 and dates back to 1030, making it the oldest city in the country. The Emajogi River passes through town and it has a lovely old town that's pleasant to explore. The city is a great place to see day to day life in Estonia. It is a very real town with people going about their daily lives. If you find yourself here when the weather is nice, you'll be greeted by crowds of happy locals out enjoying the weather. They make full use of the warm, sunny weather with festivals, events, and concerts during the summer. This is easily the most fun and eventful time to visit the city.
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.
Which city is cheaper, Kaunas or Tartu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Tartu is €84, while the average daily cost in Kaunas is €76. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Tartu and Kaunas in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around €76 for a double occupancy room in Tartu If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €72 for a double occupancy room in Kaunas.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Tartu cost around €30 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €12.
The price of a meal in Kaunas can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €30 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €12 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Tartu €30
Kaunas €30
Typical Food prices in Tartu
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tartu:
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Danishes
€0.76
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Lunch for Two
€4.93
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Ice Cream
€1.27
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Cookies
€0.51
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Coffee & Cake
€3.47
Local Transportation
Tartu's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €22 per person, per day on transportation in Tartu.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €13 per day to get around in Kaunas.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kaunas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kaunas:
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Private transfer from Kaunas to Vilnius:
$118
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Departure Private Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN by Luxury Car:
$93
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Departure Private Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN by Minivan:
$47
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Private Kaunas Airport - Kaunas City Round-Trip Transfer:
$44
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Departure Private Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN by Business Car:
$41
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Private Arrival Transfer from Kaunas Airport to Kaunas City:
$22
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Private Departure Transfer from Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport:
$22
Is it cheaper to fly into Tartu or Kaunas?
Prices for flights to both Kaunas and Tartu 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Tartu can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €13 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €15 per person, per day in Kaunas. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Tartu
For Tartu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Art Museum ticket
€0.95
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Movie Ticket
€3.47
Tours and Activities in Tartu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tartu.
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Tartu Toy Museum Entrance Ticket:
$7.46
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Water Park Entrance Ticket:
$11
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Tartu city cultural tour:
$479
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Tartu city cultural tour:
$479
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Guided tour “Love stories of Tartu”:
$496
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The best of Tartu walking tour:
$496
Tours and Activities in Kaunas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaunas are as follows:
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Kaunas Modernism Architecture Tour:
$32
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Kaunas Old Town tour:
$44
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Kaunas Private Walking Tour:
$199
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Tour in Kaunas tour English or Norwegian:
$249
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Tartu, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €13.
The average person spends about €12 on alcoholic beverages in Kaunas per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Tartu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tartu:
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Private Distillery Tour in Tartu with Tastings:
$25
When comparing the travel costs between Tartu and Kaunas, we can see that Tartu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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