Is the Croatian coast or Lake Balaton cheaper?

Holidays on the Croatian coast and at Lake Balaton have become exponentially more expensive in recent years. Spending a week at Lake Balaton mid-summer is considered a luxury by many nowadays. Locals believe that even Croatia can be less pricey. 

According to data from Ynsight Research, Hungarians deem the holiday expenses at Lake Balaton to be out of proportion to the quality of local service. Although many vacationers are dissatisfied with the rapid surge in prices, they still visit Lake Balaton every year. This suggests that the appeal of Lake Balaton outweighs the hefty cost. In addition, others reckon that the prices on the Croatian coast have also jumped and even surpassed the Greek and Turkish price levels.

How much a week costs you at Lake Balaton?

According to haszon.hu, two people can book a week at a guesthouse-type accommodation with breakfast at Lake Balaton for HUF 175,000 (EUR 466.48), on average. Four people have to dig deeper in their pockets as the average price is HUF 350,000 (EUR 932.95) in their case. Nevertheless, if you are lucky, you can find accommodation in a four-star hotel for HUF 365,000 (EUR 972.94) for two people, and HUF 730,000 (EUR 1,945.87) for four. However, note that the average cost may differ slightly, for example, depending on whether you request all-inclusive or half-board.

Varying prices in Croatia

On the Croatian coast, a group of four can spend a week at a boarding house with half-board between HUF 330-440 thousand (EUR 879.64-1,172.85). For example, the price of a 7-day family getaway in a three-star hotel in Crikveniá sits at HUF 880,000 (EUR 2,345.71), while in a four-star hotel, it creeps up to HUF 1 million (EUR 2,665.58). The prices in Rijeka are more or less similar. However, in the settlement of Vrsar in Instria County, 6 nights in a four-star hotel, self-catering, costs HUF 575,000 (EUR 1,519.38) for two people. On the Makarska Riviera, a four-star hotel stay with breakfast costs HUF 380,000 (EUR 1,012.92) for two people.

Prices can vary significantly in Croatia. In Kvarner Bay, in Selce, you can spend a week in a 3-star hotel for HUF 400,000 (EUR 1,066.23), but the same in Rovinj, Istria, costs HUF 725,000 (EUR 1,932.54) in a 4-star hotel. If you prefer the country’s natural beauty over its spectacular beaches, you can get your hands on a 3-star deal for as cheap as HUF 125,466 (EUR 334.44) at the Plitvice Lakes.

Overall, the Croatian coast proves to be more affordable when it comes to mid-level accommodation. Having said that, if you want to up the notch, Lake Balaton can be a better option.