Budapest is good value, but the 4% tourist tax, card fees and restaurant service charges add up. Thermal bath tickets, the Parliament tour and a Danube cruise are what most visitors forget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Budapest →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($2,870) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($734, about 26% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,604 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
6 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $900 per traveler | Our estimate for a typical round-trip economy fare to Budapest from a major US airport; most routes connect in Europe. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $130 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Budapest. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $55 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, casual lunches and a sit-down dinner per person in Budapest. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $31 for the trip | The 100E airport bus is 2,500 HUF, so four rides for two people come to about $31. Source |
| Tourist tax | 4% of the hotel | A central Budapest hotel lists the city tax as 4% of the net room price; rates are set by district. Source |
| Transit pass | $22 per traveler | A 72-hour pass is 5,750 HUF, about $18; our $22 adds a few single rides. Source |
| Thermal baths | $40 per traveler | Szechenyi day tickets run about 9,900 to 13,900 HUF, roughly $31 to $43, with weekends costing more. Source |
| Parliament tour and sights | $40 per traveler | Our estimate for the guided Parliament tour plus one Buda Castle sight per person. Our estimate |
| Danube evening cruise | $30 per traveler | An evening boat ride past the lit-up Parliament is a Budapest classic. Our estimate |
| Tips and service charges | $4 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for a 10% tip where no service charge is added, about $4 per person a day. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees are usually around 3% of each purchase on cards that charge them. Source |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a central hotel and food, plan on about $2,850. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the tourist tax, thermal baths, the Parliament tour, a Danube cruise and travel insurance, it's closer to $3,600. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
The 100E airport bus costs 2,500 HUF, about $8, per person and runs to the city center. A taxi costs much more. Source
A single ticket is 500 HUF, or 700 HUF from the driver. A 24-hour pass is 2,750 HUF and a 72-hour pass is 5,750 HUF, about $18. Source
Széchenyi tickets run about 10,000 to 14,000 HUF, roughly $31 to $43, and weekends cost more. A private cabin costs extra. Source
Check the bill first. Many restaurants add a service charge of 10% to 15%. If there isn't one, a tip of about 10% is usual.