Which place is cheaper, Le Mans or Kos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kos and Le Mans can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Kos is a vibrant, beautiful, and ancient island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
Le Mans is a small, historic, and quaint town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and museums.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Kos. Although Kos and Le Mans are both popular with visitors, Kos has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Kos is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Le Mans is known for its small town charm. Kos is more touristy than Le Mans and is known for its sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. It is also home to Asklepieion Archeological Site. Le Mans is popular for being the location of the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is one of the world's greatest sports-car races.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Le Mans and Kos. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Kos is a world-class destination for its historical sights. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.
Travelers visit Kos from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The small island is packed with archaeological sites and interesting history. Famous places worth visiting include the ruins of Asklepion, the ancient Agora, Roman Odeon, Neratzia Castle, and so many more!
Le Mans offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. It's most famous as the location of the 24 hour car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on some days it's possible to visit the race track which has a museum with simulators and other activities. Around town you'll find museums and activities affiliated with the racing culture, and there's also a cathedral as well as several nice museums relating to the automotive industry among other things.
Kos is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Le Mans is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Kos has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The cuisine relies heavily on locally harvested ingredients with many dishes featuring cheese, seafood, vegetables, olive oil, and potatoes. The dishes are influenced by Italian and Turkish cuisines and common dishes include moussaka, souvlaki and tzatziki. Popular seafood options are prawns, squid, lobster and octopus. A great way to enjoy a sampling of local dishes is to visit an ouzeri, which is a Greek taverna that serves mezza style meals with small dishes that you can share.
You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Le Mans. It's not known for its food scene, but there is one dish in particular that you should try. The local specialty is les rillettes de porc, which is a pork paté.
Kos is great for nightlife. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife and partying.
Many people head to Kos for the nightlife scene. For such a small island you'll find a huge party scene during the peak summer months. There are almost nightly parties, beach raves, and late night clubs throughout the summer months. The bars and clubs are mostly concentrated around a couple of streets in the center of Kos Town, but Kardamena is also a lively party area. It's popular with British tourists who head here for the all-night clubs.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Le Mans. You'll find bars and clubs in the city center around Saint-Nicolas Quarter, rue des Ponts-neufs, Place de la Sirène and around the Republic Square.
Kos is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Le Mans is not a resort destination.
Kos has a handful of resorts to choose from. It's a smaller island and there aren't as many resorts here as there are on some of the larger Greek islands. Some of the best resort areas include Lamp and Psalidi to the northwest, Tigaki on the west coast (a good option for families), as well as Mastihari and Marmari which both have relaxed atmospheres. The younger crowd often hangs out around Kardemena on the east coast.
Le Mans is not a resort destination.
Kos is a world-class destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Le Mans is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
The scuba diving and snorkeling in Kos is not to be missed. There are countless snorkeling sports around the island where you can immerse yourself in the undersea world. Popular snorkeling areas include Camel Beach and Limnionas Beach. Make sure you understand the water conditions before heading into the water.
Le Mans is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Kos is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Le Mans is not a beach destination.
With world-famous beaches, Kos is a very popular vacation destination. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, many of which are sandy with various shades of color. There are touristy beaches with plenty of amenities as well as less frequented beaches that offer a quieter and more remote atmosphere. Some of the most visited beaches on the island include Agios Stefanos, Kardamena, Kefalos and Lambi while some of the more peaceful areas are Cavo Paradiso and Helona Beach.
Le Mans is not a beach destination.
Kos is very good for hiking. However, Le Mans is not a hiking destination.
Many people include a hike when visiting Kos. This is a great walking island with a number of easy walks or hikes that take you along the coastline or through interesting landscapes.
Le Mans is not a hiking destination.
Kos is very good for shopping. However, Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kos. There are a number of traditional items that you can pick up while you're in town. Fun souvenirs include jewelry, leather items, and perfumes.
Le Mans is not a noteworthy shopping destination.
Both Kos and Le Mans are good to visit with kids.
Kos is a family-friendly island. It's comparable to other Greek islands when it comes to kids' activities. Kos Town can get a bit lively at night so if you want to avoid the party crowds, then those areas are easily avoided. Popular activities include exploring ancient ruins, going to the Kos Archaeological Museum, visiting The Castle of the Knights, and of course, hanging out at the beach. One of the best family-friendly resort areas is Tigaki along the west coast.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Le Mans. Make sure you visit on a day when Le Mans Karting International and the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum is open to visitors. Families can ride on high speed go-carts and train like professionals with special game simulators. This is a popular destination for adults and kids alike. The town also has indoor play areas, waterparks, and beautiful parks to explore.
Kos is great for romance. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its romantic activities.
Kos is a great island if you're traveling as a couple. This small island offers beautiful beaches and plenty of ancient ruins to explore. Kos Town is where you'll find the liveliest atmosphere but for some of the best resorts you'll want to stay in one of the resort suburbs like Lampi or Psalidi.
Le Mans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's a small town, but racing enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum.
Kos is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.
Kos is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It's a small island but has a few hostels and a variety of apartments available for rent. Despite its small size, there are areas where you'll want to have a car if you wish to explore, but if you stay in town you'll find getting around fairly easy. The island attracts its share of young travelers and you'll find plenty of people to hang out with.
It's common for backpackers to visit Le Mans. While there aren't many hostels specifically designed for backpackers, it is possible to find affordable accommodation at most times.
Kos is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its public transit.
Public transit in Kos is fairly effecient and thorough. Buses connect many of the tourist destinations including beaches, cultural sights, are resort areas.
Le Mans has a few public transit options. There is a tram service around town that provides access to many places including the race track via the T1 line (Antarès-Stade Marie Marvingt and exit at the East Entrance).
Kos is great for its walkability. Also, Le Mans is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its high level of walkability.
Kos is very walkable. It's small size means it's possible to explore parts of the island on foot or bicycle. There are some beautiful walks on the island, but some areas will require a car or bus.
Le Mans is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the town are walkable.
For even more information, also check out Is Kos Worth Visiting? and Is Le Mans Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Kos and Le Mans. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Kos than in Le Mans. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Kos, and 1-3 days is enough time in Le Mans.
Families should spend more time in Kos than Le Mans. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Kos, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Kos than Le Mans. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Kos that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kos than Le Mans if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Kos.
In Kos, you'll find shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
With nightlife and museums around the small destination of Le Mans, there's plenty to do. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
In Kos, you'll find museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kos has to offer.
Many people visit Le Mans for a weekend. With museums and nightlife around the historic town of Le Mans, there's plenty to do. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.
Kos is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kos has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
The destination of Le Mans offers nightlife and museums. It offers something for everyone. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kos. Many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting Kos. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
Le Mans, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Athens, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Greece, The Best Adventure Tours to France, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in France.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kos is €134, while the average daily cost in Le Mans is €83. 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 Kos and Le Mans in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Kos or Le Mans? 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.
Also for Kos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Le Mans and Kos 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.
For Kos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Kos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kos:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kos and Le Mans, we can see that Kos is more expensive. And not only is Le Mans much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Le Mans would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Le Mans 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 Kos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kos than you might in Le Mans.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kos Expensive? and Is Le Mans Expensive?.
Le Mans has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Kos. When comparing the sizes of Kos and Le Mans, 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.