Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Cologne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cologne? 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: Gothenburg or Cologne?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $97Cologne $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in Cologne is $172. 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 Gothenburg and Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Cologne $97
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Cologne $194
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or Cologne? 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Cologne $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $120
- Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $153
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $174
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $174
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne and Gothenburg 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 dayGothenburg $38Cologne $54
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner$15
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Donner Kebab$4.29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $15Cologne $22
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $395
- Beethoven and Bonn Highlights Tour from Cologne by Car: $840
- Best of Cologne in 1-Day Private Guided Tour with Transport: $438
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $20Cologne $24
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Cologne, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Cologne?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg and Cologne, 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 Gothenburg or Cologne?
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 Gothenburg or Cologne in the Summer?
Both Cologne and Gothenburg during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
Gothenburg is cooler than Cologne in the summer. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Cologne fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Gothenburg. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 184 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets less rain in July than Cologne. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Cologne 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cologne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Cologne. Also, many travelers come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Gothenburg is cooler than Cologne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gothenburg in October average around 9°C (47°F), and Cologne averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Cologne during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Cologne. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Cologne 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cologne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Cologne. Also, many visitors come to Cologne in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Cologne can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Gothenburg. In January, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around -2°C (29°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Gothenburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cologne. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 43 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Cologne. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Cologne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Cologne in the Spring?
Both Cologne and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cologne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Gothenburg is much colder than Cologne in the spring. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Cologne fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Gothenburg usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Cologne. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Cologne 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cologne and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Cologne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.