Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Cambridge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cambridge or Leuven?
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 Leuven. 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 Leuven?
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.
Leuven
Lying just east of Brussels, Leuven is a Belgian city and capital of the Province of Flemish Brabant known for its breweries, historic architecture, and university. Because of the university, the town is at its busiest during the academic year (September through June), but there is plenty to see and do during all seasons.
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 Luxury Tours to Belgium, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCambridge £134Leuven £152
The average daily cost (per person) in Cambridge is £134, while the average daily cost in Leuven is £152. 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 Leuven in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCambridge £72Leuven £79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCambridge £144Leuven £158
Compare Hotels in Cambridge and Leuven
Looking for a hotel in Cambridge or Leuven? 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 Leuven Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cambridge £24Leuven £52
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 Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Transfer from Brussels city (any hotel or address) to BRU Airport : $109
- Transfer from Brussels BRU -> Brussels MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $107
- Transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels MB V Class 7 PAX: $131
- Transfer from BRU Airport to Brussels city (any hotel or address): $131
- Transfer from BRU Airport to Brussels city (any hotel or address): $109
- Transfer From Brussels Airport to Charleroi Airport: $175
- Transfer Brussels airport <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $105
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Brussels MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $131
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $202
- Transfer Brussels Airport (BRU) <-> City Center 7 PAX (ONE WAY): $103
- Transfer Brussels Airport (BRU) <-> City Center 1-3 PAX (ONE WAY): $109
- Transfer Brussels Airport <-> Namur MB V Class 1-7 PAX (ONE WAY): $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Cambridge or Leuven?
Prices for flights to both Leuven 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 £41Leuven £42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leuven
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leuven.
- Mechelen Small-Group Walking Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $75
- Mechelen Food Tour: $82
- Vegan Walking Food Tour in Mechelen: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cambridge £22Leuven £19
Tours and Activities in Cambridge
For Cambridge, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.35
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Self-Guided Colleges Walking Tour and Sightseeing: $5.99
- Hidden Histories Self-Guided Smartphone Tour: $5.99
- Cambridge’s Colleges and Classic Sights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cambridge Instagram Self-Guided Tour - Top Photo Spots: $6.35
- Explore Cambridge's Grandeur: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Live Like a Student with Private Cambridge Self Guided Tours: $13
- Explore Cambridge Student Life & Top Colleges Walking Tour: $13
- Cambridge - Shared Punting Tour: $13
- Shared Guided Punting Tour of Cambridge: $13
- University Walking Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Leuven
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Small-Group Cycling Tour of Mechelen: $60
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Offline Access: $5.99
- Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $52
- Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $229
- Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $63
- Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $52
- Soothing Corners of Leuven - Romantic Tour: $288
- Special Christmas Journey in Leuven - Walking Tour: $395
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCambridge £23Leuven £21
When comparing the travel costs between Cambridge and Leuven, we can see that Leuven is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cambridge Expensive? and Is Leuven Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cambridge or Leuven?
Cambridge has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Cambridge and Leuven, 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.