A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hofn vs. Dublin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hofn or Dublin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn or Dublin, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Hofn or Dublin?

Hofn

Hofn is a very small fishing town on the southeast of Iceland, measuring just over half a mile across. It is best known for being located in the beautiful Vatnajokull Region, where the largest glacier in Europe is located. Hofn, and the surrounding area, is full of breathtaking natural scenery including lagoons, icefalls, and mountains.

Dublin

Dublin is the vibrant and fun capital city of Ireland and home to over a third of the country's population. There are almost 2 million people in the metropolitan area. It's also the most common entry point into the country for visitors. Once you arrive, its a good idea to head over to the main tourist office in St. Andrew's Church off Grafton Street. They can give you maps and information to make sure your trip is efficient and fun. Many people enjoy seeing what remains of the Georgian architecture throughout the city. Much of the city is also modernist in style with many blocks made up of offices.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best Walking Tours in Ireland, and The Best Luxury Tours to Ireland.


Which place is cheaper, Dublin or Hofn?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hofn is $156, while the average daily cost in Dublin is $156. 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 Hofn and Dublin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hofn $100
    Dublin $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hofn $200
    Dublin $148
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Dublin

Looking for a hotel in Hofn or Dublin? 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.

Hotels in Hofn


Hotels in Dublin


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: Hofn Hotel Prices and Dublin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hofn $27
    Dublin $21

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dublin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Dublin:


  • Rental Car for a Day
    $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dublin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dublin:

  • One-Way Private Transfer to Killarney: $787
  • One-Way Private Transfer to Galway: $679
  • One-Way Private Transfer to Cork City: $646
  • Shannon: Private Airport Arrival Transfer to Dublin: $624
  • One-Way Private Transfer to Shannon Airport: $624
  • One-Way Private Transfer to Limerick: $592
  • Dublin Airport:, Executive/chauffeur transfer to Belfast: $567
  • Dublin Glasnevin National Cemetery Audio Tour with Transfers: $344
  • Dublin Zoo Skip-the-line Tickets and Private Transfers: $309
  • Private Transfer from Dublin Airport to Belfast City Airport (BHD): $296
  • Dublin Airport Or Dublin City To Bellinter House Private Chauffeur Transfer: $296
  • Private Max 5 Luxury Electric Limousine Transfer, Dublin Airport to Dublin City: $294

Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Dublin?

Prices for flights to both Dublin and Hofn 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hofn $37
    Dublin $53

Typical Food Prices in Dublin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dublin:


  • Lunch Lynam's Pub
    $4.30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dublin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dublin.

  • Walking Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $30
  • Dublin 3-Course Dinner and Live Shows at The Irish House Party: $31
  • No Diet Club - Best Food Tour in Dublin !: $60
  • Dublin Irish Night Show, Dance and Traditional 3-Course Dinner: $61
  • Grand Canal Cruise with Dinner: $62
  • NO DIET CLUB - Best Food Tour in Dublin !: $63
  • Dublin Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
  • Dublin Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65
  • Delicious Walking Food Tour: $81
  • Skip the Line: Irish Night Show Including 4-Course Dinner Ticket: $94
  • Howth Coastal Craft Beer and Seafood Tour: $97
  • Dublin Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $105

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hofn $18
    Dublin $27

Tours and Activities in Hofn

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hofn.

  • Ice Exploration Tour from the Glacier Lagoon: $129
  • Half-Day Small-Group Jokulsarlon Ice Cave Guided Tour: $148
  • Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $160
  • Ice Cave tour in Vatnajökull: $167
  • Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170
  • Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $187
  • Blue Ice Cave Adventure: $287
  • Private Iceland Aurora Hunting and Photography Tour from Hofn: $294

Typical Entertainment Prices in Dublin

Here are a few typical costs in Dublin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Wild Wicklow Tour
    $28
  • Guinness Brewery for Two
    $29
  • St Pauls Cathedral
    $4.90
  • Dublin Writer's Museum
    $6.86

Tours and Activities in Dublin

Here are a few actual costs in Dublin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • VIP Irish Food and Drinks Tour with Jamesons Cocktail Class : $105
  • (Nearly!) All of Dublin in 5 hours (Walking Tour): $293
  • (Small Group) Cliffs of Moher and Castle Tour from Dublin: $142
  • 1 Hour Private Insta Photography Tour in Dublin: $76
  • 1-Hour Cocktail Masterclass Experience in Dublin: $50
  • 2-Day Wild Atlantic Way Tour From Dublin: $220
  • 2-Hour Historical Walking Tour from Dublin : $21
  • 3 Hour Tour Freemasons and Templars Secret Societies: $20
  • 3-Hour Drinks on Foot Dublin Walking Guided Tour: $30
  • 4-Day Grand Atlantic Rail Tour from Dublin: $1,191
  • 5-Day Tour of West Ireland: Blarney Stone & Cliffs of Moher: $1,473
  • 6 Hour Private Tour of Dublin: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hofn $12
    Dublin $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Dublin

Also in Dublin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Authentic Brewery Tour: $11
  • Dublin Traditional Irish Pub Crawl: $15
  • Generation Pub Crawl: $15
  • Dublin Epic Pub Crawl: Experience Dublin's pubs and nightlife: $15
  • "Dublin Delight Pub Expedition" Pub Crawl: $16
  • The Dublin Liberties Distillery: Tour with Whiskey Tasting: $18
  • City Pub Crawl Experience: $20
  • Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $22
  • Skip the Line: Teeling Whiskey Distillery Tour and Tasting in Dublin Ticket: $22
  • Pearse Lyons Whiskey Distillery Experience: $24
  • Roe and Co Distillery Cocktail Workshop Experience: $27
  • Dublin Jameson Distillery Tour with Whiskey and Cocktail Tastings: $33


When comparing the travel costs between Hofn and Dublin, we can see that Dublin 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 Hofn Expensive? and Is Dublin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hofn or Dublin?

Dublin has a larger population, and is about 600 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Hofn and Dublin, 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 Hofn or Dublin?

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 Hofn or Dublin in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Dublin. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dublin this time of year.

Hofn is much colder than Dublin in the summer. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 9°C (48°F) in July, and Dublin fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Hofn usually gets more rain in July than Dublin. Hofn gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hofn 9°C (48°F) 
    Dublin 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Dublin in the Autumn?

Both Dublin and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Dublin for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

It's quite cold in Hofn in the autumn. In the autumn, Hofn is much colder than Dublin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hofn in October average around 4°C (40°F), and Dublin averages at about 11°C (52°F).

It's quite rainy in Hofn. In October, Hofn usually receives more rain than Dublin. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 70 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hofn 4°C (40°F) 
    Dublin 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Dublin in the Winter?

Both Dublin and Hofn during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Dublin in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hofn. In January, Hofn is generally much colder than Dublin. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around -0°C (31°F), and Dublin fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hofn. Hofn usually gets more rain in January than Dublin. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hofn -0°C (31°F) 
    Dublin 6°C (42°F)

Should I visit Hofn or Dublin in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Dublin. Furthermore, most visitors come to Dublin for the activities around the city during these months.

Hofn can get quite cold in the spring. Hofn is much colder than Dublin in the spring. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 2°C (36°F) in April, and Dublin fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In April, Hofn usually receives more rain than Dublin. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Dublin receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hofn 2°C (36°F) 
    Dublin 8°C (47°F)

Typical Weather for Dublin and Hofn

Hofn Dublin
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -0°C (31°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 6°C (42°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Feb 0°C (32°F) 122 mm (4.8 in) 6°C (42°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Mar 0°C (32°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 7°C (44°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 2°C (36°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 8°C (47°F) 51 mm (2 in)
May 5°C (40°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 11°C (52°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Jun 8°C (46°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 14°C (57°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 9°C (48°F) 77 mm (3 in) 16°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Aug 9°C (48°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 15°C (60°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 7°C (44°F) 112 mm (4.4 in) 14°C (56°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Oct 4°C (40°F) 153 mm (6 in) 11°C (52°F) 70 mm (2.7 in)
Nov 1°C (34°F) 101 mm (4 in) 8°C (46°F) 65 mm (2.5 in)
Dec -0°C (32°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 6°C (44°F) 76 mm (3 in)