Side by side: Hungary vs Italy
| Metric | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 🇮🇹 Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget (mid-range, per person)(/day) | $99.50 — Hungary is cheaper | $146.00 |
| Hotel per night (mid-range)(/night) | $75 — Hungary is cheaper | $120 |
| Typical meal (mid-range restaurant)(/meal) | $14 — Hungary is cheaper | $22 |
| 7-day trip estimate (per person)(flights excluded) | $697 — Hungary is cheaper | $1,022 |
| Local currency (daily budget equivalent) | 31,797 HUF | €128 |
| Time zone (capital, UTC offset)(same) | UTC+1 | UTC+1 |
| Typical visa fee(consular visa vs consular visa) | $80 | $80 |
| Best months to visit | May–Sep | Apr–Jun |
| Cost-of-living index (US = 100) | 50 — Hungary is cheaper | 75 |
When each destination wins
When 🇭🇺 Hungary wins
- Cheaper daily budget ($99.50 vs $146.00)
- Cheaper hotels ($75.00 vs $120.00)
- Cheaper meals ($14.00 vs $22.00)
- Lower cost-of-living index (50 vs 75)
When 🇮🇹 Italy wins
- No priced win here — Hungary matches or beats Italy on every cost metric in this comparison.
What 7 days costs for two, by travel style
The mid-range daily budgets above scale to three travel styles — hostels-and-street-food (×0.6), the mid-range baseline (×1) and hotels-and-tours (×1.8) — for two adults sharing a room, flights excluded.
Budget pair
Hostels or guesthouses, street food, free sights
Hungary- $836 — cheaper for two
Italy- $1,226
Mid-range pair
3-star hotels, restaurant meals, paid attractions
- Hungary
- $1,393 — cheaper for two
- Italy
- $2,044
Comfort pair
4-star hotels, nicer dining, tours and taxis
- Hungary
- $2,507 — cheaper for two
- Italy
- $3,679
The verdict
For a 7-day mid-range trip, 🇭🇺 Hungary comes out about $325 cheaper ($99.50 vs $146.00 per day). Both share the May–Jun window, so timing your trip costs you nothing. Visa friction is comparable (typical fee $80 vs $80).
Hotels in Budapest — from ~$80/night
We may earn a commission.
Plan your trip
FAQs: Hungary vs Italy
Is Hungary or Italy cheaper to travel in 2026?
Hungary costs about $99.50 per day versus $146.00 in Italy, making Hungary roughly 32% cheaper than Italy for a mid-range traveler. Over a 7-day trip that is roughly $325 saved before flights.
How much does a 7-day trip to Hungary vs Italy cost?
Excluding international flights, budget about $697 for 7 days in Hungary and $1,022 for Italy, per person, covering mid-range hotels, three meals a day and local transit/activities.
Which is easier for visas: Hungary or Italy?
Hungary: a traditional consular visa is typical (about $80). Italy: a traditional consular visa is typical (about $80).
When is the best time to visit Hungary and Italy?
Hungary is best in May–Sep; Italy is best in Apr–Jun. Both share the May–Jun window, so timing your trip costs you nothing.