Luxury at Lake Balaton: a cheese and sour cream lángos can cost as much as 3,900 forints

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 17. 11:09

The classic Balaton lángos was once considered a penny retro dish, but by the summer of 2025 it can be considered more of a premium beach treat. According to the Pénzcentrum’s price summary by settlement, a cheese and sour cream lángos costs 2,400 forints in several places, and up to 3,900 forints for the topping versions. Although caterers say the price hike is due to rising costs, for many, lángos no longer fits into the summer beach budget.

Ten deka cheese, three thousand bill

The price of the most popular beach dish, the cheese and sour cream lángos, has crossed the psychological limit of 2,400 forints in several locations on Lake Balaton. For example, in Balatonmáriafürdő, a gyros lángos with gyros costs 3,900 forints, while the price of the classic, plain lángos ranges between 1,200 and 1,500 forints. The map collection prepared by Pénzcentrum based on social media posts and reader feedback clearly shows: lángos prices can vary by up to 2-3 times depending on which part of the coast we visit.

The southern shore of Lake Balaton is still holding its own

The cheapest lángos are still found on the southern shore: in Fonyód and Balatonlellé, there are still plain lángos for 1,200 forints. In Zamárdi and Siófok, however, they charge as much as 2,400 forints for cheese and sour cream. The most expensive places include Tihany and Balatonfüred: here the price of lángos with toppings regularly exceeds 3,000 forints.

Why do they cost so much?

According to caterers, the main reason for this year’s 10-15 percent price increase is the increase in raw material costs, wage costs and supplier fees. The prices of flour, oil, cheese and sour cream are also being pushed up by inflation, rising logistics costs and the ongoing labor shortage. Several bartenders emphasized that they are trying to find a balance between covering costs and protecting customers’ wallets.

In addition, many places work with their own recipes, fresh ingredients and modern technology – however, this is also reflected in the price. The pursuit of quality is therefore an important aspect, but the question is how many people can afford this level of “beach gastronomy”.

No longer “everyone’s lángos”

Lángos is still an unavoidable icon of the summer at Lake Balaton – but in terms of price category it is increasingly in the premium segment. In many places, the price of a cheese and sour cream lángos is the same as the price of a downtown lunch menu, and the gyros or ham versions are almost at the price of a bistro meal. It is no wonder that more and more people are arriving at the beach with a cooler bag.

The Pénzcentrum price map summary helps you find your way around where it’s worth having a lángos – and where it might be better to choose a different beach option. One thing is for sure: the Balaton lángos is now not only a taste experience, but also a financial decision.