Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Bad Gastein?
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 Bad Gastein or Cologne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bad Gastein and Cologne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bad Gastein or Cologne?
Bad Gastein
Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Bad Gastein Prices
Austria PricesCologne Prices
Germany Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBad Gastein €147Cologne €197
The average daily cost (per person) in Bad Gastein is €147, while the average daily cost in Cologne is €197. 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 Bad Gastein and Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBad Gastein €62Cologne €91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBad Gastein €124Cologne €182
Compare Hotels in Bad Gastein and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Bad Gastein or Cologne? 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: Bad Gastein Hotel Prices and Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bad Gastein €40Cologne €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Arrival Transfer Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Sedan: $72
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $168
- Cologne CGN Airpot to Köln | Bonn | Dusseldorf Private Transfer: $42
- Cologne Bonn CGN Airport to Hotels Private Transfer: $37
- Departure Private Transfer Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne by Car: $72
- Private Limousine Transfer from Cologne Airport to Cologne City: $108
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Bad Gastein or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne and Bad Gastein 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 dayBad Gastein €60Cologne €87
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $32
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bad Gastein €21Cologne €20
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking tour of The essential and unmissable: $3.58
- Cologne Highlights, Stories, and Local Atmosphere Tour: $3.59
- The Dark Side of the Dom Tour: $3.59
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.79
- Cologne Cathedral tour audio guide with mobile app: $4.92
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.44
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.44
- Cologne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $6.69
- Cologne Walking Tour from Roman Era to World War 2 with an App : $6.93
- Aachen Cathedral tour with audioguide on mobile app: $6.93
- Cologne Walking Tour with Audioguide: City and Cathedral: $8.37
- Cologne Interactive City Tour: $8.38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBad Gastein €7.86Cologne €23
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with 1 Brewery Visit & 1 Beer: $21
- Informative and fun brewery tour in German, public: $23
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $24
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $24
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $24
- Brewery tour in Cologne including a variety of tastings: $29
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $29
- Night Pub Crawl Tour in Cologne - Shots and Party!: $30
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $32
- Kölsch Brewery Tour with 3 Beers Included: $33
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $33
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bad Gastein and Cologne, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Bad Gastein much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bad Gastein would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bad Gastein and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Bad Gastein.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bad Gastein Expensive? and Is Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bad Gastein or Cologne?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Bad Gastein and Cologne, 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.
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.