Which place is cheaper, Bad Gastein or Riga?
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 Riga or Bad Gastein?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Bad Gastein? 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: Riga or Bad Gastein?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Bad Gastein
Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, and The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesBad Gastein Prices
Austria Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Bad Gastein €147
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Bad Gastein is €147. 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 Riga and Bad Gastein in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Bad Gastein €62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Bad Gastein €124
Compare Hotels in Riga and Bad Gastein
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Bad Gastein? 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Bad Gastein Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Bad Gastein €40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minivan: $51
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $68
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $164
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $563
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $503
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $468
- Private Transfer From Riga Airport To Riga City Center: $90
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $60
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Hotel with English speaking driver: $59
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga City: $78
- Private Transfer to anywhere in Riga Center: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Bad Gastein?
Prices for flights to both Bad Gastein and Riga 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 dayRiga €57Bad Gastein €60
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €14Bad Gastein €21
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
- Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
- Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
- Riga Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.55
- Riga Canal and Daugava Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $9.56
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Drink and Audio Guide: $9.56
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
- Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga English Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $11
- Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Bad Gastein €7.86
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Latvian Brewery Visit and Beer Tasting : $54
- Riga Brewery Tour: $59
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $76
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
- Shooting Range and Old Town Pub Crawl: $106
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Bad Gastein, we can see that Bad Gastein is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Bad Gastein would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bad Gastein than you might in Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Bad Gastein Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Bad Gastein?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Bad Gastein, 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.