Which place is cheaper, Galway or Hofn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hofn or Galway?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn or Galway, 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 Galway?
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.
Galway
Galway is Ireland's fifth largest city with a population of over 70,000. Located in the province of Connacht, it is typically the first stop for travelers headed into western Ireland. It serves as a gateway for this scenic part of the country, but it truly is a destination in and of itself. The city is pleasantly quaint, and is crisscrossed by lovely pedestrian only streets that are lined with shopping and restaurants. There are also countless museums and galleries to explore. Churches and cathedrals dot the town and are fun to drop by if you're fascinated with architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHofn $151Galway $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Hofn is $151, while the average daily cost in Galway is $140. 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 Galway in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHofn $97Galway $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHofn $194Galway $150
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Galway
Looking for a hotel in Hofn or Galway? 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: Hofn Hotel Prices and Galway Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hofn $27Galway $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galway
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Galway:
- Galway Private Driver: Personalized Tours & Transfers: $749
- One-Way Private Transfer to Killarney: $668
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Dublin Airport: $668
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Cork City: $561
- Galway to Limerick | Private Transfer and Car Service: $294
- Galway to Shannon Airport | Private Transfer & Car Service: $294
- Shannon Airport to Seamless Private Transfers: $257
- Galway Private Transfer from Galway Airport to City centre: $90
- Galway Private Transfer from central Galway to Galway Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Galway?
Prices for flights to both Galway 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
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Food Meals for one dayHofn $36Galway $35
Typical Food Prices in Galway
Some typical examples of dining costs in Galway are as follows:
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Fish & Chips Dinner$8.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Galway
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Galway.
- Tour & Taste Galway Food Tour: $93
- Galway Food Tour: $107
- Galway Food Tours: $109
- Private Irish Cooking Experience in the Heart of Gaeltacht: $136
- Farm to Table Experience and Irish Cooking Class in Galway: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hofn $18Galway $13
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
- Ice Cave Tour in the National Park of Vatnajökull: $160
- Sapphire Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón - Extra Small Group: $170
- Crystal Ice Cave Adventure : $185
- Blue Ice Cave Adventure: $282
- Private Iceland Aurora Hunting and Photography Tour from Hofn: $289
Tours and Activities in Galway
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Galway are as follows:
- Abalone farm tour and tasting with coastal seaweed walk. Guided. 2 hours: $82
- 3 Hours Guided Irish Whiskey Tour and Tasting in Galway City: $180
- Aran Island, Cliffs of Moher & Cruise tour from Galway. Guided.: $119
- Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea & Scones - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin: $136
- Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea and Scones from Galway: $163
- Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway: $82
- Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks: $60
- Boat cruise with local skipper on Galway Bay. Galway city. 1 hour: $36
- Burren Botany Experience: $16
- Castles of Connemara tour departing Galway city. Guided. Full day: $134
- City Sightseeing Galway Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
- City of the Tribes Tour: $131
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHofn $12Galway $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Galway
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Galway:
- Traditional Irish Poitin & Gin Distillery Tour: $355
When comparing the travel costs between Hofn and Galway, we can see that Hofn 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 Galway Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hofn or Galway?
Galway has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Hofn and Galway, 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 Galway?
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 Galway in the Summer?
Both Galway and Hofn during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hofn is generally much colder than Galway. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 9°C (48°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Hofn usually gets more rain in July than Galway. Hofn gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHofn 9°C (48°F)Galway 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Galway in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Galway. Also, many visitors come to Galway in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hofn. Hofn is much colder than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 4°C (40°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Galway receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hofn gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hofn usually receives more rain than Galway. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHofn 4°C (40°F)Galway 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Galway in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Galway. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Hofn can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Hofn is much colder than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hofn in January average around -0°C (31°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).
It's quite rainy in Galway. Hofn receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hofn usually gets more rain in January than Galway. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHofn -0°C (31°F)Galway 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Galway in the Spring?
Both Galway and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Galway because of the activities around the city.
Hofn can be very cold during spring. In April, Hofn is generally much colder than Galway. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around 2°C (36°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In April, Hofn usually receives more rain than Galway. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHofn 2°C (36°F)Galway 9°C (48°F)
Typical Weather for Galway and Hofn
| Hofn | Galway | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (31°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (32°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 5°C (40°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (40°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (32°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 125 mm (4.9 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.