Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Tel Aviv?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tel Aviv or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tel Aviv or Budapest, 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: Tel Aviv or Budapest?
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.
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 Tours for Seniors to Israel, The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Budapest, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest.
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Tel Aviv Prices
Israel PricesBudapest Prices
Hungary Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTel Aviv $198Budapest $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Tel Aviv is $198, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $130. 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 Tel Aviv and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTel Aviv $107Budapest $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTel Aviv $214Budapest $124
Compare Hotels in Tel Aviv and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv 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.
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: Tel Aviv Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tel Aviv $11Budapest $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:
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Local Bus to Central Bus Station$1.96
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Taxi to Airport$50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:
- Private Transfers and Chauffeur Services: $300
- Tel Aviv Prvate Transfer to Tel Aviv Airport TLV in Luxury Van: $291
- Tel Aviv Airport TLV Private transfer to Tel Aviv in Luxury Van: $291
- Tel Aviv Private Transfer to Tel Aviv Airport TLV in Business Car: $291
- Tel Aviv Airport(TLV) to Haifa city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $280
- Private Transfer from Herzlia to Jerusalem: $247
- Tel Aviv Private Transfer To Dead Sea: $240
- Private Transfer from Tel Aviv Int Airport (TLV) to Ashdod Port: $228
- Private Transfer from Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Haifa Cruise Port: $228
- Private Transfer: Jerusalem Hotels ↔ Ben Gurion Airport: $210
- Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $187
- Comfortable Private Transfer: Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport: $180
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$8.18
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Metro Pass$4.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer: Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by Luxury Car: $121
- Budapest - Bük Transfer: $188
- Budapest - Bratislava Transfer: $205
- Budapest - Debrecen Transfer: $233
- Budapest - Vienna Private Car Transfer: $271
- Budapest Airport Private Luxury Transfer by MB SClass/BMW7/AudiA8: $148
- Budapest Airport Private departure transfer: $28
- Budapest Airport Transfer - return (arrival & departure) with discount: $64
- Budapest Airport Transfers, City Transfers and Disposal Services: $52
- Budapest Airport transfer from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to City Centre: $52
- Budapest City Departure Private Transfer to Budapest Airport BUD: $96
- Budapest One Way Private Transfer to or from Airport: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into Tel Aviv or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Tel Aviv 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 dayTel Aviv $60Budapest $47
Typical Food Prices in Tel Aviv
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:
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Dinner for Two$28
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Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka$161
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Lunch at Segev Sarona$42
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Aroma Iced Coffee$4.65
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Lunch at the airport$39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tel Aviv
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tel Aviv.
- Carmel Market Food Tour: $45
- Private Jaffa Flea Market Hapishpeshim Food Tour: $60
- Try Your Hand At Israeli Home Cooking: $180
- Christmas Eve Tour Jerusalem and Bethlehem Dinner from Tel Aviv: $180
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dinner and Live Hungarian Music: $1.51
- Pizza Tasting Experience at Deci Pub: $20
- Hungarian Folk Dance & Concert with Dinner Option: $22
- Folklore Revue Show with Unlimited Dinner & Drinks: $33
- Catamaran Pizza Cruise: $41
- Sir Lancelot Medieval Dinner with Drink and Show: $50
- Budapest Goulash Cooking Experience at an Iconic Ruin Bar: $50
- Traditional Hungarian Dinner with Live Gypsy Music: $52
- Budapest Danube Cruise and Dinner Options, Live Music and Dance: $57
- Food Tour Market to Tavern: 14+ Tasters & Wines: $65
- Tipsy Food Tour - Wines, Small Group & Local Guide: $65
- Guided Food Tour with Wine, Beer, and Shots: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tel Aviv $28Budapest $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv
Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Masada tour from Tel Aviv$98
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Etzel museum$4.98
Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv
Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-Hour Private Morning Bike Tour: $300
- 30-minute Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Israel’s Neve Tzedek: $7.99
- Best of Jerusalem Full-Day Tour from Tel Aviv: $89
- Bethlehem, Jerusalem Desert and Monasteries Tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv: $125
- Caesarea Haifa and Akko Tour from Tel Aviv: $99
- Carmel Market Tasting Tour: $78
- Carmel Market Tour: $200
- Day Tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem from Tel Aviv: $121
- Dead Sea and Masada 1 day tour: $130
- Dead Sea and Masada Day Tour: $167
- Dead Sea, Masada and Ein Gedi Day Tour from Tel Aviv: $118
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$8.02
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- The Original Budapest Highlights Walking Tour: $1.75
- Budapest Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.49
- Self-Guided Tour In Budapest With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.49
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.49
- Walking Tour to the Shoes Memorial and Parliament: $3.49
- German-language tour - the best of Budapest: $3.49
- Budapest Central Line Walking Tour: $3.50
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.50
- Walking Tour Budapest incl. the Shoes on the Danube Bank: $3.50
- Budapest free walking tour: Parliament and Shoes Memorial: $3.50
- Mika Tivadar Secret Museum Entry Ticket: $4.36
- A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Budapest’s Castle District: $5.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTel Aviv $27Budapest $21
Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:
- Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $29
- Tel Aviv Pub Crawl: $30
- Bar Crawl tour with local in Tel-Aviv: $150
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guided Ruin Bar Pub Crawl VIP Entry & 6 Free Shots: $8.73
- Budapest Pub Crawl with Drinking Games and Free Shots: $9.33
- Pub Crawl & Ruin Bar Tour –6 Free Shots VIP Entry: $12
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $12
- Pub Crawl & Ruin Bars - Free Shots & VIP Entry: $12
- Budapest Pub Crawl & Ruin Bar Tour – Free Shots & VIP Entry: $14
- Guided Pub Tour to Ruin Bars with Games & 6 Shots: $16
- Unmissable Bar Crawls with Shots & VIP Club Entry: $21
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $21
- 'Hungarian Wine Tasting Experience' in Budapest by Bortársaság: $21
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $22
- Brewery Tour at "First Craft Beer" & Beer Tasting: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tel Aviv and Budapest, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tel Aviv is in Middle East and Budapest is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Budapest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Budapest 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 Tel Aviv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tel Aviv than you might in Budapest.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tel Aviv Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tel Aviv or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Tel Aviv. When comparing the sizes of Tel Aviv 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.
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.