Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Cambridge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cambridge or Leiden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cambridge and Leiden. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Cambridge or Leiden?
Cambridge
Cambridge is a university city in England located along the River Cam and best-known as the home of Cambridge University, which was established in the 13th century. Aside from university architectural landmarks, Cambridge is also characterized by open green landscapes perfect for picnics and gentle walks, as well as churches, museums, parks, and gardens.
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCambridge £134Leiden £114
The average daily cost (per person) in Cambridge is £134, while the average daily cost in Leiden is £114. 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 Cambridge and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCambridge £72Leiden £66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCambridge £144Leiden £132
Compare Hotels in Cambridge and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Cambridge or Leiden? 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: Cambridge Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cambridge £24Leiden £22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cambridge
Also for Cambridge, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Heathrow To Cambridge: $175
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Cambridge or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Cambridge 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 dayCambridge £41Leiden £33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cambridge £22Leiden £15
Tours and Activities in Cambridge
For Cambridge, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Historic Walking Tour of Cambridge with Guide and Peek: $25
- A Guided Public Tour of Historic Cambridge: $32
- Cambridge - Shared Punting Tour: $13
- Cambridge Highlights Walking Tour by Cantab Tours: $25
- Cambridge Instagram Self-Guided Tour - Top Photo Spots: $6.35
- Cambridge Science Tour : $32
- Cambridge's History & Secrets with Self-Guided Walking Tours: $32
- Cambridge’s Colleges and Classic Sights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- 2-Hour Private University Walking Tour: $94
- Adventure Through Cross-Disciplinary Revolutions: $22
- Chauffeured Punting Tour: $62
- Chinese University Student-Guided Walking Tour: $40
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Dutch Windmills & Polder Walking Tour: $33
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour in Leiden: $163
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
- Historical Private Tour with Local Guide: $320
- Leiden City Tour with Live guide in Netherlands: $41
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Walking City Tour with Live guide: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCambridge £23Leiden £22
Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
- Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
- Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cambridge and Leiden, we can see that Cambridge is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Cambridge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cambridge than you might in Leiden.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cambridge Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cambridge or Leiden?
Cambridge has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Cambridge and Leiden, 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.