Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Leuven?
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 Leuven can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Leuven?
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.
Leuven
Lying just east of Brussels, Leuven is a Belgian city and capital of the Province of Flemish Brabant known for its breweries, historic architecture, and university. Because of the university, the town is at its busiest during the academic year (September through June), but there is plenty to see and do during all seasons.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Leuven €178
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Leuven is €178. 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 Leuven in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Leuven €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Leuven €186
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Leuven
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Leuven? 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 Leuven Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Leuven €61
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Brussels APT-HTL(BRU): $81
- Transfer from Brussels city (any hotel or address) to BRU Airport : $109
- Transfer from Brussels city (any hotel or address) to BRU Airport: $131
- Transfer from Brussels Airport->Brussels MB E-CLASS 3 PAX: $109
- Transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels MB V Class 7 PAX: $130
- Transfer from Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB S-CLASS 3 PAX: $235
- Transfer from BRU Airport to Brussels city (any hotel or address): $130
- Transfer from BRU Airport to Brussels city (any hotel or address): $109
- Transfer From Brussels Airport to Charleroi Airport: $175
- Transfer Brussels airport <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $104
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Brussels MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $130
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $201
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Leuven?
Prices for flights to both Leuven 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 €39Leuven €49
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leuven
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leuven.
- Mechelen Small-Group Walking Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $75
- Mechelen Food Tour: $82
- Vegan Walking Food Tour in Mechelen: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Leuven €23
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
Tours and Activities in Leuven
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Small-Group Cycling Tour of Mechelen: $60
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Offline Access: $5.99
- Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $52
- Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $229
- Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $63
- Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $52
- Soothing Corners of Leuven - Romantic Tour: $288
- Special Christmas Journey in Leuven - Walking Tour: $395
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Leuven €25
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 Leiden and Leuven, we can see that Leuven 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 Leuven would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leuven 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 Leiden Expensive? and Is Leuven Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Leuven?
Leiden has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Leuven, 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 Leuven?
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 Leiden or Leuven in the Summer?
Both Leuven and Leiden during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Leiden is generally around the same temperature as Leuven. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
It's quite sunny in Leiden. In the summer, Leiden often gets more sunshine than Leuven. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 186 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Leuven. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Leuven 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Leuven in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Leuven.
Leiden is cooler than Leuven in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Leuven fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Leuven during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 114 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Leiden usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leuven. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Leuven 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Leuven in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Leuven.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Leuven. It's quite cold in Leiden in the winter. In the winter, Leiden is much colder than Leuven. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Leuven averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 49 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Leuven. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Leuven 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Leuven in the Spring?
Both Leuven and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Leiden is generally cooler than Leuven. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Leiden usually receives more sunshine than Leuven during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 147 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leiden usually receives less rain than Leuven. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Leuven 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Leuven and Leiden
| Leiden | Leuven | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 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.