Which place is cheaper, Lille or Leiden?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leiden or Lille?
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 Lille can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Leiden or Lille?
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.
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France on the Deule River near France's border with Belgium. It has the fourth largest urban area in France behind Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. Lille (Rijsel in Flemish) may be France's most underrated major city. In recent decades this once-grimy industrial metropolis, with its economy based on declining industries, has transformed itself into a glittering and self-confident cultural and commercial hub. Highlights for the visitor include an attractive old town with a strong Flemish accent, three renowned art museums, stylish shopping, some excellent dining options and a cutting-edge, student-driven nightlife scene. The Lillois have a well-deserved reputation for friendliness – and they're so proud of being friendly that they often mention it.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeiden €133Lille €115
The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Lille is €115. 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 Lille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeiden €78Lille €55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeiden €156Lille €110
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Lille
Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Lille? 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 Lille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leiden €26Lille €28
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 Lille
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lille:
- Toulouse Airport private transfer to Toulouse City center: $38
- Private Round trip transfer to Lille Airport (LIL) : $155
- Private One way transfer Lille Airport (LIL) : $77
- Private Transfer to or from Paris Orly Airport: $642
- Private Transfer to or from Paris CDG: $535
- Private Transfer to or from Lille Airport: $53
- Lille Private Transfer from Lille city centre to Lille Airport (LIL): $57
- Lille Private Transfer from Lille Airport (LIL) to City centre: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Lille?
Prices for flights to both Lille 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 €39Lille €42
Typical Food Prices in Lille
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lille are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€37
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leiden €17Lille €16
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 Lille
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lille are as follows:
- In Flanders Fields and Passchendaele Half Day Morning Tour: $87
- 1 Hour Private Lille Tour by Convertible 2CV with a Local Products Tasting: $65
- 30-Minutes Private Guided Tour of Lille by Convertible 2CV: $32
- Adventure 1h with a 3-seater Buggy: $119
- Christmas Joy in Tournai - Walking Tour: $247
- Discover Tournai while escaping the zombies! Escape game: $22
- Discover Tournai while playing! Escape game - The alchemist: $22
- From IEPER Private 4-hour Tour of the Ypres Battlefield: $265
- From Ypres 4hr Christmas Truce and Monster Mines of Messines PRIVATE Tour: $295
- From Ypres, The Christmas Truce to Passchendaele Ypres Based WW1 private tour: $294
- In Flanders Fields and Passchendaele Grand Tour: $240
- Lille - Private Historic Walking Tour: $425
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeiden €26Lille €17
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 comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Lille, we can see that Leiden is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leiden Expensive? and Is Lille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leiden or Lille?
Lille has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Lille, 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 Lille?
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 Lille in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Lille. Additionally, many travelers come to Lille for the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Leiden is generally around the same temperature as Lille. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 17°C (62°F), and Lille fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lille. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leiden this time of the year. In the summer, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lille. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 202 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Lille. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lille receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeiden 17°C (62°F)Lille 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Lille in the Autumn?
Both Lille and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Lille in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Leiden is cooler than Lille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Lille fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lille during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Leiden usually receives less rain than Lille. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeiden 11°C (51°F)Lille 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Lille in the Winter?
Both Lille and Leiden during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Lille for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Lille can be very cold during winter. Leiden can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Leiden is much colder than Lille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leiden in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Lille averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Leiden often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lille. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 47 hours of full sun.
Leiden usually gets more rain in January than Lille. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lille receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeiden 2°C (36°F)Lille 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Leiden or Lille in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Lille. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Lille because of the natural beauty.
In April, Leiden is generally cooler than Lille. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 8°C (46°F), and Lille fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Leiden usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lille during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leiden usually receives more rain than Lille. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Lille receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeiden 8°C (46°F)Lille 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Lille and Leiden
| Leiden | Lille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.