Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Warsaw?
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 Warsaw or Balaton Lake?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Warsaw and Balaton Lake can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Warsaw or Balaton Lake?
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital city of Poland. It has a population of 1.7 million, making it the country's largest city. Located on the Vistula River, it is a popular tourist destination for its interesting architecture and culture. The right bank of the river was the first area to become populated in the 9th or 10 century. Today, however, the city's central district is on the left bank of the river. The Old Town, where you will find many sights and attractions, is fully contained within the city center.
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 in Poland, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Poland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Warsaw Prices
Poland PricesBalaton Lake Prices
Hungary Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayWarsaw $124Balaton Lake $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Warsaw is $124, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $117. 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 Warsaw and Balaton Lake in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personWarsaw $57Balaton Lake $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomWarsaw $114Balaton Lake $106
Compare Hotels in Warsaw and Balaton Lake
Looking for a hotel in Warsaw 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: Warsaw Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Warsaw $5.10Balaton Lake $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Warsaw
Also for Warsaw, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer from Warsaw city center to Chopin Airport WAW: $24
- Private Warsaw Railway Station One Way Transfer: $27
- Bus Transfer to/from Vilnus: $28
- Private transfer with pick-up from Chopin Airport WAW to Warsaw city center: $29
- Private Transfer Warsaw Chopin Airport WAW to Warsaw City: $34
- Private Transfer to/from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW): $35
- Private transfer from Warsaw city center to Modlin Airport WMI: $40
- Private Round-Trip transfer from Warszawa-Okecie airport to hotel in Warszawa: $45
- Private transfer from Modlin Airport WMI to Warsaw city center: $48
- Private transfer from Warsaw Chopin airport by social-distance car: $48
- Warsaw Private Transfer from Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) to City centre: $48
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Warsaw APT-HTL (WAW): $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Warsaw or Balaton Lake?
Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Warsaw 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 dayWarsaw $51Balaton Lake $52
Typical Food Prices in Warsaw
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Warsaw:
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Dinner for Two$14
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Lunch for Two$12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Warsaw
For Warsaw, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lunch or dinner at Hard Rock Cafe with Skip-the-Line: $33
- Traditional Pierogi Dinner with Beer: $36
- Polish Dumplings Cooking Class: $74
- Warsaw's No 1 cooking class-Polish dumplings with liqueur tasting: $76
- The Art of Pierogi Making - Warsaw cooking class dumplings: $86
- Polish Food Tour: $92
- Warsaw Traditional Food Tour with Adrian: $93
- Half-Day Polish Food Walking Tour with Guide and Dinner: $94
- Warsaw Food Tour with Local Guide: $113
- 4-Hour Polish Food Tour: $115
- Taste of Poland - Old Town food tour and guided walk in one: $115
- Dinner Show at Sabat Theatre: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Warsaw $7.77Balaton Lake $23
Tours and Activities in Warsaw
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Warsaw.
- Warsaw Old Town UNESCO HERITAGE walking tour in English: $5.49
- Warsaw’s Muranów: Jewish Heritage Exploration Game and Tour: $5.96
- Warsaw Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.68
- Walking Audio Tour of Wilanów Palace Grounds: $7.99
- Self Guided Legends and Uprisings Walking Tour of Warsaw: $8.09
- Warsaw Exploration Private Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.55
- Warsaw Old Town Highlights Walking Tour | max. 15 people : $9.56
- Old Town Guided Walking Tour: $9.89
- Warsaw's Old Town A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Warsaw at War 1939-1945: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- The Legacy of the Last King: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Ticket pass to the world of fairy tales and adventures : $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayWarsaw $12Balaton Lake $9.70
Sample the Local Flavors in Warsaw
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Warsaw:
- Pub Crawl with Optional 1-Hour Open Bar: $25
- The Original Pub Crawl: $25
- Warsaw Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $188
- Warsaw Wine Tasting Private Tour with Wine Expert: $190
When comparing the travel costs between Warsaw and Balaton Lake, we can see that Warsaw is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Warsaw Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Warsaw or Balaton Lake?
Warsaw has a larger population, and is about 820 times larger than the population of Balaton Lake. When comparing the sizes of Warsaw 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 Warsaw or Balaton Lake?
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 Warsaw or Balaton Lake in the Summer?
Both Balaton Lake and Warsaw during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Warsaw in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Warsaw is generally cooler than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around 19°C (65°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
In Balaton Lake, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Warsaw. In the summer, Warsaw often gets more sunshine than Balaton Lake. Warsaw gets 353 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Warsaw gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyWarsaw 19°C (65°F)Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Warsaw and Balaton Lake. Most visitors come to Warsaw for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Warsaw is cooler than Balaton Lake in the autumn. The daily temperature in Warsaw averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Warsaw usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Warsaw gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Warsaw usually receives around the same amount of rain as Balaton Lake. Warsaw gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberWarsaw 9°C (49°F)Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Balaton Lake in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Warsaw as well as Balaton Lake. The winter months attract visitors to Warsaw because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Balaton Lake in the winter. The weather in Warsaw can be very cold. In the winter, Warsaw is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the winter temperatures in Warsaw in January average around -3°C (27°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 0°C (32°F).
In the winter, Warsaw often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Warsaw gets 35 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.
Warsaw usually gets less rain in January than Balaton Lake. Warsaw gets 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryWarsaw -3°C (27°F)Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Warsaw or Balaton Lake in the Spring?
Both Balaton Lake and Warsaw are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Warsaw this time of year.
In April, Warsaw is generally cooler than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Warsaw average around 9°C (47°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Warsaw. Warsaw usually receives more sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Warsaw gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Warsaw usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Warsaw gets 32 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilWarsaw 9°C (47°F)Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Warsaw
| Warsaw | Balaton Lake | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -3°C (27°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 3°C (37°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (47°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (65°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (49°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (39°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (31°F) | 32 mm (1.3 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.