Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Edinburgh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Edinburgh or Leuven?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Edinburgh and Leuven can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Edinburgh or Leuven?
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-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 dayEdinburgh £142Leuven £152
The average daily cost (per person) in Edinburgh is £142, 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 Edinburgh and Leuven in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEdinburgh £74Leuven £79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEdinburgh £148Leuven £158
Compare Hotels in Edinburgh and Leuven
Looking for a hotel in Edinburgh 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: Edinburgh Hotel Prices and Leuven Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Edinburgh £17Leuven £52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus£3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to/from Edinburgh City, St'Andrews etc.: $112
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Business Car: $129
- Airport Transfer: Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $153
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $129
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Car: $163
- Airport Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Luxury Van: $153
- Arrival Transfer Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh by Minivan: $95
- Central Edinburgh Hotels to Edinburgh Airport Transfers 1-3: $255
- Departure Transfer: Edinburgh to Airport EDI by Business Car: $129
- Edinburgh Accommodation to Edinburgh Airport Departure Transfer: $59
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Edinburgh Luxury Taxi Transfer: $152
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
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 Edinburgh or Leuven?
Prices for flights to both Leuven and Edinburgh 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 dayEdinburgh £39Leuven £42
Typical Food Prices in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast£8.50
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Dinner at Filling Station£10
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Lunch for Two£15
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Sandwich£1.85
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Cheese & bread£7.23
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)£25
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2 Coffees and Scones£5.80
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Turkish Delight£1.40
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Soup at the Pub£5.90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $87
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $120
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $167
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.Edinburgh £20Leuven £19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets£32
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Movie Tickets for Two£12
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Donation for Storytellers£6.00
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
- Old Town's Highlights Walking Tour: $4.36
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.34
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.35
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.56
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.19
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $7.99
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
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 dayEdinburgh £15Leuven £21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine£14
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern£1.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
When comparing the travel costs between Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Leuven Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Leuven?
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh or Leuven?
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 Edinburgh or Leuven in the Summer?
Both Leuven and Edinburgh during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Edinburgh is cooler than Leuven in the summer. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 14°C (58°F) in July, and Leuven fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In the summer, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Leuven. Edinburgh gets 163 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 186 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets less rain in July than Leuven. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEdinburgh 14°C (58°F)Leuven 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Leuven in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Leuven. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Edinburgh is cooler than Leuven. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Edinburgh in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Leuven averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Leuven during autumn. Edinburgh gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 114 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Edinburgh usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leuven. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEdinburgh 10°C (49°F)Leuven 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Leuven in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Leuven. Most visitors come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Leuven can be very cold. Edinburgh can be very cold during winter. In January, Edinburgh is generally around the same temperature as Leuven. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 3°C (38°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Edinburgh often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 49 hours of full sun.
Edinburgh usually gets less rain in January than Leuven. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEdinburgh 3°C (38°F)Leuven 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Edinburgh or Leuven in the Spring?
Both Leuven and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Edinburgh is cooler than Leuven in the spring. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Leuven fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Leuven during spring. Edinburgh gets 132 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 147 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Edinburgh usually receives less rain than Leuven. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEdinburgh 7°C (45°F)Leuven 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Leuven and Edinburgh
| Edinburgh | Leuven | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.