Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Leiden or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Cuenca can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Cuenca?
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.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Leiden Prices
Netherlands PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden $189Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is $189, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $53. 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 Leiden and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden $91Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden $182Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Cuenca? 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: Leiden Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden $30Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Historical Private Tour of Delft and Leiden including Transfer: $262
- Premium electric transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $101
- Private Tour of The Hague and Leiden including Transfer: $251
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Leiden 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 dayLeiden $78Cuenca $26
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden $20Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pilgrims and Painters of Leiden A Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.94
- Discover Leiden's Highlights: Your Self-Guided GPS Tour: $8.29
- Pub Trail an adventure full of surprises: $13
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $14
- Cruise through the Historic City Center with Guide: $15
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $15
- The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $23
- Windmill cruise through Warmond: $23
- 90 minutes Self-Guided Walking tour with puzzles in Leiden: $23
- historical and entertaining city tour in German: $24
- Escape Tour Leiden -selfguided citygame- find the secret exit!: $24
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Azuay Cuenca Ecuador Tour: $1,300
- Biking Cuenca City Tour: $50
- Birdwatching Tour Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $130
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
- Birdwatching Tour, Via Gualaceo to the Eastern slope from Cuenca: $130
- Cajas National Park FULL-DAY Tour from Cuenca: $55
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park and Cuenca City private Tour: $110
- Complete excursion Ingapirca & Gualaceo Chordeleg Tour Archaeological Artisanal: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden $30Cuenca $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leiden and Cuenca, we can see that Leiden is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Leiden is in Europe and Cuenca is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Leiden would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leiden than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leiden Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Cuenca?
Cuenca has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Cuenca, 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 Leiden or Cuenca?
Leiden has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cuenca experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Leiden or Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Leiden during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Leiden in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
In July, Leiden is generally cooler than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Cuenca. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Cuenca in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Cuenca. Most visitors come to Leiden for the shopping scene during these months. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Leiden is cooler than Cuenca in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In October, Leiden usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Cuenca. The winter months attract visitors to Leiden because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
It's quite cold in Cuenca in the winter. The weather in Leiden can be very cold. In the winter, Leiden is much colder than Cuenca. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Cuenca averages at about 4°C (39°F).
Leiden usually gets more rain in January than Cuenca. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Cuenca in the Spring?
Both Cuenca and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Leiden is generally cooler than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In April, Leiden usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Leiden
| Leiden | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.