Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake 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 Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga 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: Riga or Balaton Lake?
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.
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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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesBalaton Lake Prices
Hungary Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Balaton Lake €100
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is €100. 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 Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Balaton Lake €45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Balaton Lake €90
Compare Hotels in Riga and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Riga 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: Riga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Balaton Lake €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minivan: $51
- Private Transfer Riga International Airport RIX to Jurmala City: $51
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer to anywhere in Riga Center: $60
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $60
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $68
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake 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 €57Balaton Lake €44
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
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €14Balaton Lake €19
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
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
- Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
- Riga Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.57
- Riga Canal and Daugava Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $9.58
- 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
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Drink and Audio Guide: $11
- Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Balaton Lake €8.26
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
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
- Riga Brewery Tour: $59
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $77
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Balaton Lake, we can see that Riga 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga 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 Riga Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Balaton Lake?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 360 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Riga 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 Riga 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 Riga or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
Both Balaton Lake and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In the summer, Riga is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 22°C (71°F).
In July, Riga usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Riga gets 79 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 JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Riga or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
Both Balaton Lake and Riga during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Riga for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Riga is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in October than Balaton Lake. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 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 OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Riga or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Balaton Lake. Many visitors come to Riga in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Riga can get quite cold in the winter. Riga is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The daily temperature in Riga averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
In January, Riga usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 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 JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Riga or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Riga as well as Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Riga for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Riga is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in April than Balaton Lake. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 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 AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Riga
| Riga | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.