Which place is cheaper, Tihany 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 Tihany?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Tihany? 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 Tihany?
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.
Tihany
Located on the northern coast of Lake Balaton in Hungary, Tihany is a historic village with quaint streets and bustling squares - all centered on the twin-towered Tihany Benedictine Abbey which dates back to the 11th century.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Hungary, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Hungary.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesTihany Prices
Hungary Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Tihany €54
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Tihany is €54. 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 Tihany in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Tihany €18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Tihany €36
Compare Hotels in Riga and Tihany
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Tihany? 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 Tihany Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Tihany €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $563
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $503
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $468
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $258
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $164
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $163
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $138
- Private Transfer From Riga Airport To Riga City Center: $90
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga City: $78
- Riga City to Riga Airport (RIX) - Private Transfer.: $75
- Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga City - Private Transfer.: $75
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Tihany?
Prices for flights to both Tihany 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 €57Tihany €30
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 €14Tihany €4.56
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town : $96
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $88
- 24h Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $36
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $95
- 5,5 Hour Small Group Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $90
- Admission Ticket to Live Silver Museum: $13
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $81
- An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $46
- Beer Bike Experience : $46
Tours and Activities in Tihany
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tihany.
- Balaton: Sunset Safari & Solar Telescope Experience for Two: $36
- Lake Balaton 3 hour SUP tour - self-guided: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Tihany €6.22
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 Tihany, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Tihany much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tihany would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tihany 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 Tihany.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Tihany Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Tihany?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 520 times larger than the population of Tihany. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Tihany, 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 Tihany?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Tihany in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Riga as well as Tihany. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Riga is cooler than Tihany in the summer. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Tihany fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Tihany. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Tihany 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Riga or Tihany in the Autumn?
Both Tihany and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In the autumn, Riga is much colder than Tihany. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October average around 7°C (45°F), and Tihany averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In October, Riga usually receives more rain than Tihany. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Tihany 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Riga or Tihany in the Winter?
Both Tihany and Riga during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Tihany can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. In January, Riga is generally much colder than Tihany. Daily temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Tihany fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Riga usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Tihany. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Tihany -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Riga or Tihany in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Tihany. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Riga is much colder than Tihany in the spring. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 5°C (42°F) in April, and Tihany fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In April, Riga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Tihany. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Tihany receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Tihany 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Tihany and Riga
| Riga | Tihany | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 27 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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.