Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Cardiff?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cardiff or Leuven?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Cardiff or Leuven? 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 Leuven?
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.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCardiff £156Leuven £153
The average daily cost (per person) in Cardiff is £156, while the average daily cost in Leuven is £153. 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 Leuven in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCardiff £93Leuven £80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCardiff £186Leuven £160
Compare Hotels in Cardiff and Leuven
Looking for a hotel in Cardiff 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: Cardiff Hotel Prices and Leuven Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cardiff £21Leuven £53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cardiff
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cardiff:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport CWL to Cardiff by Luxury Vehicle: $95
- Barry Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $33
- Bristol Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $13
- Cardiff Airport (CWL): Transfer to Cardiff Accommodation: $139
- Cardiff Private Transfer from Cardiff Airport to City centre: $79
- Cardiff to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfer from Cardiff to Cardiff Airport CWL by Luxury Vehicle: $95
- Heathrow Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Cardiff: $16
- Newport Accommodation to Cardiff Airport (CWL) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
- Private Cardiff Arrival Transfer- Airport to Hotel / Accommodation : $58
- Private Cardiff Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to Airport: $58
- Private Transfer from Holyhead Port to Manchester Airport (MAN): $102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Airport Transfer Brussels To Brussels: $87
- Airport Transfer Brussels To Ghent: $146
- Airport Transfer: Airport BRU to Brussels by Business Car: $82
- Airport Transfer: Brussels Airport BRU to Brussels by Luxury Van: $86
- Arrival Private Transfer from Brussels Airport BRU to Ghent City by Business Car: $147
- Arrival Transfer: Airport BRU to Brussels by Business Car: $82
- Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- Brussels Airport BRU to Brussels City all area - Private Airport transfer 1-3pax: $75
- Brussels Airport BRU to Brussels City all area - Private Airport transfer 1-7pax: $86
- Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> Brussels (1 to 8 PLACES): $34
- Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> SPA (1 to 8 PLACES): $156
- Brussels Airport Transfer <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Cardiff or Leuven?
Prices for flights to both Leuven 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 £44Leuven £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.Cardiff £25Leuven £20
Tours and Activities in Cardiff
Here are a few actual costs in Cardiff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ghosts of Llandaff Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- A Journey through Tudor A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Cardiff’s Bay and Waterfront: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- The Ghosts of Llandaff: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Bay and Barrage: $5.99
- Cardiff's Civic Centre: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Essential Caerphilly: Explore the town’s history on a self-guided audio tour: $6.22
- Uncover Ghostly Chester: In-App Audio Tour of Eerie Tales: $11
- Uncover Spectral Secrets with the Llandaff Ghosts Audio Tour: $11
- Cardiff Bay Private Self-Guided Tour: $11
- Llanberis, Conwy and Caernarfon Castle: A Self-Guided Driving Tour of Snowdonia: $15
- Cardiff Bay Boat Tour: $15
Tours and Activities in Leuven
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Offline Access: $5.99
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $52
- Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $52
- Guided Small-Group Cycling Tour of Mechelen: $60
- Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $63
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $229
- Soothing Corners of Leuven - Romantic Tour: $288
- Special Christmas Journey in Leuven - Walking Tour: $395
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCardiff £13Leuven £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
When comparing the travel costs between Cardiff and Leuven, we can see that Cardiff 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 Cardiff Expensive? and Is Leuven Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cardiff or Leuven?
Cardiff has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Cardiff 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.
When is the best time to visit Cardiff or Leuven?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Cardiff or Leuven in the Summer?
Both Leuven and Cardiff are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Cardiff because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Cardiff is around the same temperature as Leuven in the summer. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Leuven fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cardiff. Cardiff usually receives more sunshine than Leuven during summer. Cardiff gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 186 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Cardiff usually receives less rain than Leuven. Cardiff gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCardiff 17°C (63°F)Leuven 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Leuven in the Autumn?
Both Leuven and Cardiff during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Cardiff this time of year.
In the autumn, Cardiff is around the same temperature as Leuven. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cardiff in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Leuven averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Cardiff often gets less sunshine than Leuven. Cardiff gets 95 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 114 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Cardiff. Cardiff usually gets more rain in October than Leuven. Cardiff gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCardiff 11°C (52°F)Leuven 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Leuven in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Cardiff and Leuven. Many travelers come to Cardiff for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Leuven can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Cardiff. In January, Cardiff is generally around the same temperature as Leuven. Daily temperatures in Cardiff average around 3°C (38°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Cardiff usually receives more sunshine than Leuven during winter. Cardiff gets 57 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 49 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Cardiff usually receives more rain than Leuven. Cardiff gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCardiff 3°C (38°F)Leuven 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Cardiff or Leuven in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Cardiff as well as Leuven. Many visitors come to Cardiff in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Cardiff is around the same temperature as Leuven in the spring. The daily temperature in Cardiff averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and Leuven fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In the spring, Cardiff often gets more sunshine than Leuven. Cardiff gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 147 hours of full sun.
Cardiff usually gets less rain in April than Leuven. Cardiff gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCardiff 9°C (48°F)Leuven 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Leuven and Cardiff
| Cardiff | Leuven | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 80 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 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.