Which place is cheaper, Inverness or Hofn?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hofn or Inverness?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Hofn or Inverness, 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 Inverness?
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.
Inverness
Inverness is the northernmost city in Scotland, often referred to as the "gateway to the Highlands" as roads through Inverness lead to some of the most beautiful places in the Highlands. The city and surrounding area have a centuries old history, ranging from the battle of Culloden in the 1700's to Urquhart Castle that dates back to the 13th century. Inverness is the ideal place to explore Scotland's history and beauty, especially on a walk through the city or along the shore of the Firth. The warmest time of year is from June to September with temperatures usually in the 60's Fahrenheit and lighter rain. The rest of the year tends to be rainy and colder, with temperatures in the 40's Fahrenheit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Luxury Tours to Iceland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHofn $151Inverness $209
The average daily cost (per person) in Hofn is $151, while the average daily cost in Inverness is $209. 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 Inverness in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHofn $97Inverness $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHofn $194Inverness $228
Compare Hotels in Hofn and Inverness
Looking for a hotel in Hofn or Inverness? 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 Inverness Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hofn $27Inverness $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Inverness
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Inverness:
- Inverness to Glasgow Direct transfer: $781
- Inverness to Edinburgh Direct transfer: $781
- Inverness to Isle of Skye Direct transfer: $623
- Inverness to Fort William Direct transfer: $374
- Inverness Private Transfer to Aviemore: $229
- Transfers / Tour from , inverness, Edinburgh ,Glasgow ,Aberdeen : $184
- Inverness Airport to Glenshee Ski Resort - Round-Trip Transfer: $131
- Arrival Private Transfer from Inverness INV to Inverness City by luxury vehicle: $105
- Inverness Airport (INV) to Glenshee Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $66
- Inverness Airport (INV) to Lecht Ski Resort - Arrival Transfer: $33
Is it cheaper to fly into Hofn or Inverness?
Prices for flights to both Inverness 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 $36Inverness $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hofn $18Inverness $55
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 Inverness
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Inverness are as follows:
- 1-Day Moray Coast Tour with Speyside Whisky from Inverness: $97
- 2-Day Tour to Isle of Skye, The Fairy Pools & Highland Castles: $191
- 2-Hour Private Celtic Handfasting Ceremony Experience: $108
- 25 Shot Clay Pigeon Shooting Experience: $63
- Applecross, Loch Carron & Wild Highlands Tour from Inverness: $69
- Cawdor Castle, Inverness, Culloden, Outlander and Loch Ness Tour: $164
- Chauffeur driven sightseeing Edinburgh to & from Inverness: $1,000
- Clan Tour - Castle ,Whisky and History Tour: $172
- Craigs Luxury Speyside Private Whisky Tour: $686
- Day tour to Isle of Skye and Fairy Pools from Inverness: $126
- From Cairngorms National Park and Whisky Tour: $76
- From Glen Affric, Culloden and Clava Cairns Tour: $73
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHofn $12Inverness $28
Sample the Local Flavors in Inverness
Also in Inverness, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Invergordon Port Dunrobin Castle, Clynelish Distillery Tour : $203
- Speyside Distillery Tour From Inverness: $1,124
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hofn and Inverness, we can see that Inverness is more expensive. And not only is Hofn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hofn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hofn 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 Inverness would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Inverness than you might in Hofn.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hofn Expensive? and Is Inverness Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hofn or Inverness?
Inverness has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hofn. When comparing the sizes of Hofn and Inverness, 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 Inverness?
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 Inverness in the Summer?
Both Inverness and Hofn during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences.
Hofn is much colder than Inverness in the summer. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 9°C (48°F) in July, and Inverness fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Hofn usually gets more rain in July than Inverness. Hofn gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHofn 9°C (48°F)Inverness 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Inverness in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hofn and Inverness. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Inverness this time of year.
The weather in Hofn can be very cold. In the autumn, Hofn is much colder than Inverness. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hofn in October average around 4°C (40°F), and Inverness averages at about 9°C (49°F).
Hofn gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hofn usually receives more rain than Inverness. Hofn gets 153 mm (6 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHofn 4°C (40°F)Inverness 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Inverness in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hofn as well as Inverness. Additionally, many travelers come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Inverness. It's quite cold in Hofn in the winter. In January, Hofn is generally much colder than Inverness. Daily temperatures in Hofn average around -0°C (31°F), and Inverness fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Hofn receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hofn usually gets more rain in January than Inverness. Hofn gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHofn -0°C (31°F)Inverness 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Hofn or Inverness in the Spring?
Both Inverness and Hofn are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Inverness in the spring for the small town charm.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hofn. Hofn is much colder than Inverness in the spring. The daily temperature in Hofn averages around 2°C (36°F) in April, and Inverness fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).
In April, Hofn usually receives more rain than Inverness. Hofn gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Inverness receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHofn 2°C (36°F)Inverness 7°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Inverness and Hofn
| Hofn | Inverness | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (31°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 0°C (32°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (32°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 5°C (40°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 8°C (46°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 9°C (48°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 9°C (48°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 7°C (44°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 4°C (40°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (34°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | -0°C (32°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 52 mm (2 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.