Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Turku?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Turku or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku 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: Turku or Budapest?
Turku
Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Finland, 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 dayTurku €136Budapest €84
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, while the average daily cost in Budapest is €84. 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 Turku and Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Budapest €46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Budapest €92
Compare Hotels in Turku and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Turku 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: Turku Hotel Prices and Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Budapest €9.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,112
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $73
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $73
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€6.47
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Metro Pass€3.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- T72 Tank Driving with Hummer Transfer: $1,581
- Budapest - Hungary to Bucharest - Romania /Private Transfer: $1,289
- Bucharest - Romania to Budapest - Hungary /Private Transfer: $1,181
- Private transfer from Budapest to Prague: $1,059
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb: $930
- Transfer from Vienna to Budapest: $706
- From Bucharest: One-way Private Fast Transfer to Budapest: $642
- Budapest-Vienna Private Transfer by Luxury Vehicle: $642
- Private transfer from Budapest to Vienna: $588
- Private transfer between Budapest and Vienna: $471
- Budapest-Vienna One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295
- Budapest-Bratislava One-Way Sightseeing Transfer: $295
Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest and Turku 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 dayTurku €32Budapest €22
Typical Food Prices in Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch€3.16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traveling Spoon Hungarian Goulash Private Online Cooking Class: $40
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $51
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $52
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
- Budapest Danube River Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Turku €22Budapest €20
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $310
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $131
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $523
- Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $133
- Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $766
- Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $659
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€6.35
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- Danube Bend Private All Day Tour with Lunch, with entrance fees and cruise: $164
- Private Budapest city tour with a daytime Danube river cruise: $240
- 101 things you have to see in Budapest - Full Day Tour with Lunch & Dessert: $185
- 10PM Budapest Danube Cruise with Live Music & Food or Drinks : $20
- 2 Hours Buda Castle Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $38
- 2 Hours Jewish Heritage Walking Tour - Walk with a Historian: $49
- 2 Hours Private Scenic Photo Tour Around Budapest: $156
- 2-Hour Private Market Tour in Budapest With Free Tastings: $59
- 22 Dog-statues in Budapest - an unusual tour: $25
- 3 Hours Budapest Segway Grand City Tour Buda, Margaret and Pest: $93
- 3-Hour Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Budapest with Historian: $55
- 3-Hour Orientation Walking Tour of Buda and Pest: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTurku €12Budapest €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $17
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $21
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Budapest Original Ruin Pub Crawl Including 5 Shots: $28
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $38
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Budapest, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Budapest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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 Turku or Budapest?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Turku or Budapest in the Summer?
Both Budapest and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Turku is cooler than Budapest in the summer. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Budapest fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
It's quite sunny in Budapest. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Turku. Turku usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest during summer. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Turku usually receives more rain than Budapest. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Turku or Budapest in the Autumn?
Both Budapest and Turku during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
In the autumn, Turku is much colder than Budapest. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Turku in October average around 6°C (43°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In the autumn, Turku often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets more rain in October than Budapest. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Turku or Budapest in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Budapest. Furthermore, many travelers come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Budapest. It's quite cold in Turku in the winter. In January, Turku is generally much colder than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Turku average around -6°C (20°F), and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Turku usually receives less sunshine than Budapest during winter. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Turku usually receives more rain than Budapest. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Turku or Budapest in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Turku as well as Budapest. Additionally, many visitors come to Budapest in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. Turku is much colder than Budapest in the spring. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 3°C (37°F) in April, and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Turku often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Budapest. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets less rain in April than Budapest. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Turku
| Turku | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.