A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leiden vs. Montpellier for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leiden or Montpellier?

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 Montpellier can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Leiden or Montpellier?

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.

Montpellier

Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and also has been the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. Graceful and easy-going, Montpellier is a stylish metropolis with elegant buildings, grand hotels, private mansions, stately boulevards and shady backstreets, and gorgeous white-sand beaches on its doorstep. Unlike many southern towns, Montpellier has no Roman heritage. Instead it was founded in the 10th century by the counts of Toulouse and later became a prosperous trading port as well as a scholarly center - Europe's first medical school was established here in the 12th century. The population swelled in the 1960s when many French settlers left independent Algeria and relocated here, and it's now France's fastest-growing city and one of its most multicultural areas. Students make up over a third of the population, giving it a spirited vibe.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France, and The Best 2-Week Tours in France.


Which place is cheaper, Montpellier or Leiden?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Leiden is €133, while the average daily cost in Montpellier is €118. 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 Montpellier in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leiden 78
    Montpellier 69
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leiden 156
    Montpellier 138
Compare Hotels in Leiden and Montpellier

Looking for a hotel in Leiden or Montpellier? 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.

Hotels in Leiden


Hotels in Montpellier


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 Montpellier Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leiden 26
    Montpellier 26

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 Montpellier

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montpellier:

  • Transfer from Sète Port to Marseille Provence Airport MRS: $131
  • Transfer Montpellier Airport and Beziers Airport: $49
  • Private Transfer from Sète Cruise Port to Marseille city hotels: $131
  • Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport Transfer: $64
  • Montpellier Private Transfer from Montpellier city centre to Montpellier Airport: $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Leiden or Montpellier?

Prices for flights to both Montpellier 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Leiden 39
    Montpellier 31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montpellier

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montpellier.

  • Guided Food Tour With Local Snacks and Wine: $91
  • Montpellier Food Tour: $93
  • From Pic Saint-Loup Wine and Food Tour: $102
  • Cooking workshop: $106
  • Private cooking class with specialized chefs Montpellier: $108
  • Fusion Food Cooking Class: $428

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leiden 17
    Montpellier 12

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 Montpellier

Here are a few actual costs in Montpellier for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • CityTour and Photo Portraits Souvenirs in Montpellier: $38
  • From Half-Day Vineyard & Pic Saint-Loup Tour: $80
  • From Wine and Olive Tour: $75
  • Highlights of Sète : history, food and wine experience: $174
  • Legendary Montpellier, flexible legends and storytelling tour: $16
  • Montpellier - Private Historic Walking tour: $428
  • Montpellier Private Guided Walking Tour: $307
  • Montpellier Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $270
  • Montpellier Wine and Oyster Tour: $86
  • Half-Day Hiking Tour of Pic Saint Loup & Picnic: $64
  • Personalized Day-Tour of the South of France: $1,059
  • Photoshoot Experience: $159

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leiden 26
    Montpellier 15

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Montpellier

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montpellier:

  • The Châteaux of Grès de Montpellier & Wine Tasting: $80
  • Small-Group Half-Day Châteaux of Montpellier Wine Tour: $84
  • Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Wine Tour from Montpellier: $84
  • Wine tour in Pic Saint-Loup area: $142
  • Half-Day Wine Tour with Lunch: $155
  • Montpellier : half day wine tour in Camargue: $159
  • Private Half-Day Languedoc Wine Tour from Sète: $240
  • Sète: Private Half–Day Wine Tour: $353


When comparing the travel costs between Leiden and Montpellier, 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 Montpellier Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Leiden or Montpellier?

Montpellier has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Leiden and Montpellier, 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 Montpellier?

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 Montpellier in the Summer?

Both Montpellier and Leiden during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Montpellier for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Leiden is cooler than Montpellier in the summer. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Montpellier fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Montpellier, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Leiden. In the summer, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Montpellier. Leiden gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montpellier receives 351 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets more rain in July than Montpellier. Leiden gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Leiden 17°C (62°F) 
    Montpellier 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Montpellier in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leiden and Montpellier. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Montpellier because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Leiden is cooler than Montpellier. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leiden in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Montpellier averages at about 15°C (60°F).

Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Montpellier during autumn. Leiden gets 99 hours of sunny skies, while Montpellier receives 187 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Montpellier receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Leiden usually receives less rain than Montpellier. Leiden gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Leiden 11°C (51°F) 
    Montpellier 15°C (60°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Montpellier in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Leiden as well as Montpellier. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Montpellier this time of year.

The weather in Leiden can be very cold. In January, Leiden is generally much colder than Montpellier. Daily temperatures in Leiden average around 2°C (36°F), and Montpellier fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

In the winter, Leiden often gets less sunshine than Montpellier. Leiden gets 46 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montpellier receives 147 hours of full sun.

Leiden usually gets less rain in January than Montpellier. Leiden gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Leiden 2°C (36°F) 
    Montpellier 7°C (44°F)

Should I visit Leiden or Montpellier in the Spring?

Both Montpellier and Leiden are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Montpellier for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Leiden is much colder than Montpellier in the spring. The daily temperature in Leiden averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Montpellier fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Montpellier. Leiden usually receives less sunshine than Montpellier during spring. Leiden gets 166 hours of sunny skies, while Montpellier receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Leiden usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montpellier. Leiden gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Montpellier receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Leiden 8°C (46°F) 
    Montpellier 13°C (55°F)

Typical Weather for Montpellier and Leiden

Leiden Montpellier
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 2°C (36°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Feb 3°C (37°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 10°C (50°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Apr 8°C (46°F) 52 mm (2 in) 13°C (55°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
May 12°C (54°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
Jul 17°C (62°F) 75 mm (3 in) 23°C (73°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Aug 17°C (62°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 42 mm (1.7 in)
Sep 14°C (57°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 19°C (67°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Oct 11°C (51°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 15°C (60°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Nov 6°C (43°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 10°C (51°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Dec 3°C (38°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 7°C (45°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)