Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Cardiff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cardiff or Leiden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff or Leiden? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Cardiff or Leiden?
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and a major port on the country's southern coast. Though Cardiff boomed with the coal industry during the Industrial Revolution, the city began its history as a Roman fort on the River Taff-perhaps taking its name from a combination of the Welsh word for fort (caer) and the name of the river (Taff). The fort still stands today along with many other landmarks that attract tourists each year.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, 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 dayCardiff £156Leiden £114
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £156, 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 Cardiff and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Leiden £66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Leiden £132
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff 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: Cardiff Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Leiden £22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Private Transfer from Mold to Manchester Airport (MAN): $125
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $95
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $139
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
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 Cardiff or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Cardiff 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 dayCardiff £44Leiden £33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cardiff £25Leiden £15
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 30 Minute Archery Experience in Llangollen: $19
- 30 Minute Axe Throwing Experience in Llangollen: $19
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- A Silent Disco Adventure in Cardiff: $22
- Canoe Aqueduct tours Llangollen: $76
- Canyoning with Beezra Experiences in South Wales: $89
- Cardiff All in One Walking Tour: $62
- Cardiff Bay Boat Tour: $15
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay: Highlights Private Guided Tour: $187
- Cardiff Bay: Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $37
- Cardiff City Private Guided Walking Tour: $178
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour: $14
- Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $21
- Windmill cruise through Warmond: $21
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $32
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $32
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCardiff £13Leiden £22
Sample the Local Flavors in Cardiff
Also in Cardiff, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gin Tour at Hensol Castle Distillery: $32
- Cardiff Bar Maid-led Pub Crawl for Special Events: $44
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 Cardiff and Leiden, we can see that Cardiff 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 Cardiff would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Leiden?
Cardiff has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff 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.
When is the best time to visit Cardiff or Leiden?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cardiff or Leiden in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Leiden. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
In the summer, Cardiff is around the same temperature as Leiden. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cardiff in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Leiden averages at about 17°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leiden. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cardiff this time of the year. In the summer, Cardiff often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets less rain in July than Leiden. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCardiff 17°C (63°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Leiden in the Autumn?
Both Leiden and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Cardiff is generally around the same temperature as Leiden. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 11°C (52°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Cardiff usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leiden during autumn. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Cardiff. In October, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Leiden. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCardiff 11°C (52°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Leiden in the Winter?
Both Leiden and Cardiff during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Cardiff in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Leiden can be very cold during winter. Cardiff can get quite cold in the winter. Cardiff is much warmer than Leiden in the winter. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Cardiff often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets more rain in January than Leiden. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCardiff 3°C (38°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Leiden in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Leiden. Most visitors come to Cardiff for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Cardiff is a little warmer than Leiden. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cardiff in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Leiden averages at about 8°C (46°F).
Cardiff usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during spring. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cardiff usually receives less rain than Leiden. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCardiff 9°C (48°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and Cardiff
| Cardiff | Leiden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
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.