Should you visit Kiel or Dusseldorf?
Should I visit Kiel or Dusseldorf? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Kiel
Kiel is a port city on Germany's Baltic Sea coast. Much of the city center it was obliterated during WWII by bombing raids on its U-boat pens. In the old town, the rebuilt, medieval St. Nikolai Church hosts classical concerts and Holstenstrasse and Danische Strasse are streets lined with shops. The city also has several indoor malls linked by pedestrian bridges. Along the Kiel Fjord, the Maritime Museum displays model ships and nautical instruments in a former fish auction hall. Nearby, cruise ships dock at the Ostseekai Terminal in Germania Harbor. This grand harbor in Kiel continues on as it has for centuries and should be the focus of your visit. Huge ferries transport millions of passengers to and from Scandinavia, while summer sees locals strolling the long waterfront promenade.
Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is a city in western Germany divided by the Rhine River, with its Altstadt (Old Town) on the east bank and modern commercial areas to the west. Dusseldorf is a university town and a center of art and fashion. This old electoral capital is also a city of wide streets lined by elegant shops, with a ring of parks and gardens encircling its vibrant downtown area. As an important cultural center, Dusseldorf has dozens of museums and in excess of 100 art galleries encompassing everything from internationally renowned facilities, such as the impressive Art Collection North Rhine-Westphalia, to the smaller installations found in the city's trendy Konigsallee area. In the Altstadt, St. Lambertus Church and Schlossturm (Castle Tower) both date to the 13th century. Dusseldorf impresses with boundary-pushing architecture, lively nightlife, and an art scene to rival many higher-profile cities. It's a posh and modern city that likes to have a good time with bar-hopping around the Altstadt, the historical quarter along the Rhine. These tourist attractions, along with the city's location on the Rhine and its numerous wide squares and wonderful riverside walkways, make it a particularly pleasant place to spend time.
Which city is cheaper, Dusseldorf or Kiel?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kiel is €110, while the average daily cost in Dusseldorf is €139. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Kiel and Dusseldorf in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €54. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Kiel the cost is €108 on average.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €148 for a double occupancy room in Dusseldorf.
Food
Kiel food costs typically run travelers around €31 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
While meal prices in Dusseldorf can vary, the average travelers spends about €54 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Dusseldorf should cost around €22 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Dusseldorf is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kiel €31
Dusseldorf €54
Typical Food prices in Dusseldorf
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dusseldorf:
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Salami
€1.99
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Nutella
€1.00
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Yogurt
€1.00
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Kiel is €43 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The cost of a taxi ride in Dusseldorf is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €1.30 per person, per day, on local transportation in Dusseldorf.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dusseldorf
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dusseldorf:
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Arrival Private Transfer Dusseldorf Airport DUS to Dusseldorf City by Minivan:
$57
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Arrival Private Transfer Dusseldorf Airport DUS to Dusseldorf City by Sedan Car:
$47
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Arrival Private Transfer Dusseldorf DUS Airport to Dusseldorf City by Luxury Van:
$62
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Arrival Private Transfer from Dusseldorf Train Station or Port by Business Car:
$52
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Arrival Private Transfer: Dusseldorf DUS Airport to City by Business Car:
$52
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Departure Private Business Transfer Dusseldorf to Train Station or Cruise Port:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer Dusseldorf City to Dusseldorf Airport by Business Car:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer Dusseldorf City to Dusseldorf Airport by Luxury Van:
$62
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Departure Private Transfer Dusseldorf to Dusseldorf Train or Port by Luxury Car:
$168
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Departure Private Transfer Dusseldorf to Dusseldorf Train or Port by Luxury Van:
$124
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Departure Private Transfer from Dusseldorf City to DUS Airport by Minivan:
$78
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Departure Private Transfer from Dusseldorf City to DUS Airport by Sedan Car:
$47
Is it cheaper to fly into Kiel or Dusseldorf?
Prices for flights to both Dusseldorf and Kiel 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.
Entertainment
Kiel's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Entertainment and activities in Dusseldorf typically cost an average of €20 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Kiel
Here are a few actual costs in Kiel for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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City Sightseeing Kiel Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$25
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Kiel Guided Walking Tour:
$753
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Private Driving Tour of Hamburg, Lüneburg or Lübeck. choose two destinations:
$858
Tours and Activities in Dusseldorf
Here are a few actual costs in Dusseldorf for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Düsseldorf: 1-hour Panorama Rhine River Cruise:
$12
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Düsseldorf Sightseeing round-trip Cruise:
$15
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Düsseldorf Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Rhine River Sightseeing Cruise:
$30
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Discover Dusseldorf in 60 Minutes with a Local - Walking Tour:
$34
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Dusseldorf’s Art and Culture Tour with a Local Guide:
$41
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Shopping tour- Roermond Outlet:
$46
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Shopping tour - Maasmechelen Village Belgium:
$46
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Best Intro Tour of Dusseldorf with a Local:
$61
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Düsseldorf Segway Tour: Classical City Experience:
$86
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Düsseldorf Segway Tour: Rhine River Experience:
$92
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2 Hour Segway Tour in Dusseldorf:
$92
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Dusseldorf Private Walking Tour:
$185
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Kiel may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €9.66 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Dusseldorf may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Dusseldorf
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Dusseldorf are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Dusseldorf
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Dusseldorf:
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Brewery Tour Düsseldorf in English (inc. 4 beer):
$30
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4-Hour Pub Crawl Tour in Dusseldorf including Drinks:
$33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kiel and Dusseldorf, we can see that Dusseldorf is more expensive. And not only is Kiel much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiel would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiel 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 Dusseldorf would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dusseldorf than you might in Kiel.
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