Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Vilnius?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vilnius or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Vilnius and Balaton Lake. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Vilnius or Balaton Lake?
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital and largest city in the country of Lithuania. It has a population of more than 500,000 residents and is located in the valley between the Neris River and the Vilnia River in the southeastern part of the country. Visitors come to the city for its beautiful Old Town, impressive architecture, and fascinating culture. In 2009 it was named the European Capital of Culture along with the city of Linz, in Austria.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Lithuania, 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 dayVilnius €94Balaton Lake €80
The average daily cost (per person) in Vilnius is €94, 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 Vilnius and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVilnius €42Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVilnius €84Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Vilnius and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Vilnius 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: Vilnius Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vilnius €8.30Balaton Lake €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vilnius
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vilnius:
- Airport Bus Transfer to/from Central Bus Station: $3.21
- Riga: Bus Transfer to/from Vilnius: $20
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Riga: $24
- Private Vilnius Airport Arrival Transfer: $27
- Vilnius Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Warsaw: $35
- Arrival Transfer from Vilnius VNO Airport to Vilnius by Minivan: $46
- Vilnius Airport Transfer: $51
- Vilnius Airport (VNO): Bus Transfer to/from Gdansk: $51
- Vilnius Private 1-Way Airport Transfer: $53
- Private Transfer from Vilnius Airport to Lithuania: $142
- Jewish Heritage Sites Private Tour with Transfer: $214
- Hot Air Balloon Ride with Hotel Transfer: $214
Is it cheaper to fly into Vilnius or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Vilnius 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 dayVilnius €40Balaton Lake €25
Typical Food Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of dining costs in Vilnius are as follows:
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Dinner for Two€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vilnius
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vilnius.
- Private National Dinner with Folk Show: $60
- Dinner in local family: $74
- Flavors of Vilnius - Private Walking Food Tour: $191
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vilnius €9.72Balaton Lake €19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Vilnius
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Vilnius are as follows:
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Walking Tour€5.79
Tours and Activities in Vilnius
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vilnius are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Secrets of Old Vilnius Smartphone App GPS Audio Walking Tour: $6.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.42
- Vilnius Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Skip the Line: Europos Parkas, Open-Air Museum Ticket Vilnius, Lithuania: $12
- Vibrant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $18
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $18
- Regular walking tour of Jewish Vilnius: $19
- Regular walking tour of Soviet Vilnius: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVilnius €6.38Balaton Lake €8.18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Vilnius
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Vilnius from other travelers:
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Beer€4.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Vilnius
Also in Vilnius, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer degustation at Bear & Boar Brewery Taproom: $43
- Vilnius Private Pub & Bar Crawl Tour & Hidden Gems: $46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vilnius and Balaton Lake, we can see that Vilnius 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 Vilnius would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vilnius 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 Vilnius Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vilnius or Balaton Lake?
Vilnius has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Vilnius 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 Vilnius or Balaton Lake?
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 Vilnius or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
Both Balaton Lake and Vilnius are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Vilnius for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Vilnius is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vilnius in July average around 18°C (65°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).
It's quite sunny in Balaton Lake. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vilnius. Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during summer. Vilnius gets 219 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Vilnius usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Vilnius gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVilnius 18°C (65°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Vilnius during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Vilnius in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Vilnius is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Vilnius average around 8°C (46°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Vilnius gets 94 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Vilnius gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVilnius 8°C (46°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vilnius and Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Vilnius for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Balaton Lake can be very cold. Vilnius can be very cold during winter. Vilnius is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Vilnius averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
Vilnius usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during winter. Vilnius gets 36 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vilnius usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Vilnius gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVilnius -5°C (23°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Vilnius or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Vilnius as well as Balaton Lake. The spring months attract visitors to Vilnius because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Vilnius is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vilnius in April average around 7°C (45°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Vilnius often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Vilnius gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun.
Vilnius usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Vilnius gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVilnius 7°C (45°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Vilnius
| Vilnius | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (26°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (33°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (56°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°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.