Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Tbilisi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tbilisi or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tbilisi or Balaton Lake? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Tbilisi or Balaton Lake?
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital of the country of Georgia. Its cobblestoned old town reflects a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Its diverse architecture encompasses Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures. Looming over it all are Narikala, a reconstructed 4th-century fortress, and Kartlis Deda, an iconic statue of the "Mother of Georgia." Tbilisi’s eternal charms of a dramatic setting in the deep valley of the swift Mtkvari River, picturesque architecture, an ever-lively arts and cultural scene, and the welcoming Georgian lifestyle have been added a whole new 21st-century dimension of inviting cafes and restaurants serving ever better food, up-to-date lodgings from backpacker hostels to international five-stars, interesting bars and clubs, spruced-up museums, galleries, parks, plazas and whole streets, modernized transport and a sprinkling of eye-catching contemporary architecture. The mix of modern and ancient elements makes Tbilisi the beating heart of the South Caucasus and it is well worth a visit.
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 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTbilisi $28Balaton Lake $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Tbilisi is $28, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $87. 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 Tbilisi and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTbilisi $12Balaton Lake $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTbilisi $24Balaton Lake $96
Compare Hotels in Tbilisi and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Tbilisi 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tbilisi $5.99Balaton Lake $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tbilisi
Also for Tbilisi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tbilisi Airport to Tbilisi city : Private Transfer: $9.81
- Kutaisi: BUS Transfer to/from Tbilisi: $10
- 24/7 Taxi Airport Shuttle and Transfer Private Service: $14
- Airport Shuttle and Transfer Service: $14
- Batumi airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tbilisi: $16
- Tbilisi Private Arrival Airport Transfer: $19
- Tbilisi International Airport Departure Transfer From Tbilisi: $19
- Private airport - city transfer Tbilisi: $22
- Tbilisi Airport Transfers: Tbilisi City to Tbilisi Airport TBS in Standard Car: $22
- Tbilisi Airport Transfers: Tbilisi Airport TBS to Tbilisi City in Standard Car: $22
- A shared transfer from Tbilisi to Borjomi: $24
- Tbilisi Airport to Hotel Transfer: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Tbilisi or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Tbilisi 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 dayTbilisi $7.76Balaton Lake $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tbilisi
For Tbilisi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Small-Group Khinkali and Khachapuri Cooking Class in Tbilisi: $24
- Georgian Cooking Class with Khinkali and Khachapuri: $25
- Georgian traditional dumplings "Khinkali" cooking master class!!: $34
- Best of Tbilisi wine and food tour with local guide: $35
- Adjarian Khachapuri Making Private Virtual Cooking Class: $40
- Cooking Class with a Local Family: $49
- Tbilisi Food Tour in a Local Family: $49
- Discovery more Tbilisi evening wine tasting food tour: $65
- Food Tour with 9 Tastings and Wine: $70
- Authentic Georgian Cooking Lesson and Meal with a Mother-Daughter Duo in Tbilisi: $71
- Tbilisi Street Food Tour (All-inclusive): $80
- Tbilisi Street Food Tour: $90
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tbilisi $14Balaton Lake $21
Tours and Activities in Tbilisi
For Tbilisi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Rustaveli Avenue: Roam down Tbilisi's historic main street on an audio tour: $5.20
- Old Town Walking Tour - Must-See Attractions: $9.50
- Virtual tour to Georgia: $10
- Private 4 days Food & Wine and Sightseeing tour to Kakheti, Kazbegi, Mtskheta.: $10
- Discover Hidden Gems and Iconic Sights Walking Tour: $10
- Highlands Tour: Kazbegi, Ananuri, Gudauri, and Zhinvali: $11
- Walking Tour in Old Tbilisi - Group Tour: $12
- From Tbilisi to Kazbegi, Gudauri, and Ananuri: Group Tour: $12
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Tbilisi: $13
- Afternoon Walking tour of Old Town: $13
- Tbilisi Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Underground Printing House Museum Tour in Tbilisi: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTbilisi $17Balaton Lake $8.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Tbilisi
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tbilisi:
- Full Day Wine Tour Bodbe , Sighnaghi , Telavi: $14
- Guided Walking Tour of Old Tbilisi with Free Wine Tasting: $14
- One-day tour of Kakheti from Tbilisi, free wine tasting: $14
- From Kakheti - Sighnaghi & 7Wine Tasting GuidedTour: $15
- Tbilisi Walking Tour with Cable Cars, Wine Tasting and Traditional Bakery: $15
- From Kakheti Free Wine Tasting and Cultural Tour: $15
- Kakheti Day Group Tour: Free Wine Tasting: $15
- Wine Tasting Feel the Difference of Qvevri or Classical Wine: $16
- From Kakheti Vineyard Tour with Wine Tasting: $17
- From Tbilisi to Bodbe Kakheti Signaghi & Wine Tasting Free: $17
- Tbilisi.First impression of Tbilisi-evening walking,wine tasting: $19
- Tbilisi Walking Tour Including Wine Tasting Cable Car and Bakery: $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tbilisi and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake is more expensive. And not only is Tbilisi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tbilisi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tbilisi 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 Balaton Lake would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Balaton Lake than you might in Tbilisi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tbilisi Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tbilisi or Balaton Lake?
Tbilisi has a larger population, and is about 510 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Tbilisi 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.
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.