Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Lausanne?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lausanne or Leiden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lausanne or Leiden, 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: Lausanne or Leiden?
Lausanne
Located on Lake Geneva, Lausanne is the capital city of French-speaking region of Vaud, Switzerland. The slopes of Lake Geneva's shores are known for growing wine, while the city of Lausanne sprawls across three hills. The city is also home to the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Museum, and lakeshore Olympic Park, as well as an old town that dates to medieval times.
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLausanne $227Leiden $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Lausanne is $227, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $143. 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 Lausanne and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLausanne $136Leiden $83
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLausanne $272Leiden $166
Compare Hotels in Lausanne and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Lausanne or Leiden? 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: Lausanne Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lausanne $41Leiden $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lausanne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lausanne:
- Taxi, Airport Transfer and Limousine Service in Switzerland: $233
- Private Transfer from Geneva Airport to Évian-les-Bains: $160
- Lausanne accommodation to Geneva Airport (GVA) - Departure Private Transfer: $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Lausanne or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Lausanne 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 dayLausanne $62Leiden $41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lausanne $38Leiden $18
Tours and Activities in Lausanne
Here are a few actual costs in Lausanne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Évian-les-Bains Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $297
- (KTL303) - Winter Tour Montreux and Chaplin's World from Lausanne: $157
- Boat cruise from Lausanne to Evian: $43
- Chaplin's World Entrance Ticket: $34
- Christmas Charms of A Private Walking Tour: $724
- Fascinating Charms of Vevey – Walking Tour for Couples: $180
- From Glacier 3000 Experience Tour: $97
- From Glacier 3000 experience and Montreux: $104
- From Interlaken and Jungfrau Train Experience: $370
- From Spectacular Schilthorn with 007 Experience: $257
- From Swiss Riviera Tour: $152
- Gems of Lausanne Revealed: A Private Walking Tour: $617
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.57
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour: $14
- Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $21
- Windmill cruise through Warmond: $21
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $21
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $32
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $32
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLausanne $27Leiden $28
Sample the Local Flavors in Lausanne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lausanne:
- Swiss cheese and charcuterie wine tasting: $50
Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
- Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
- Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lausanne and Leiden, we can see that Lausanne is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Lausanne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lausanne than you might in Leiden.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lausanne Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lausanne or Leiden?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Lausanne. When comparing the sizes of Lausanne and Leiden, 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.
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.