Which place is cheaper, Antwerp or Leuven?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Leuven or Antwerp? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Antwerp is a very popular tourist destination in Belgium. It's a lovely city in the region of Flanders and its people are known for their friendly, open and welcoming personalities. It's a very relaxed and low stress city, making it an excellent place to spend a few days in the midst of a hectic trip. The city itself is known to have a very high standard of living and a great quality of life. Antwerp is also an economic center in Belgium, because of its importance in the diamond trade. It is known as the "world's leading diamond city" with about seventy percent of all diamonds traded through Antwerp.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Brussels, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belgium.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Leuven is €178, while the average daily cost in Antwerp is €123. 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 Leuven and Antwerp in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Leuven or Antwerp? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antwerp:
Prices for flights to both Antwerp and Leuven 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leuven.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antwerp.
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few actual costs in Antwerp for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Antwerp, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leuven and Antwerp, we can see that Leuven is more expensive. And not only is Antwerp much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antwerp would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antwerp 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 Antwerp.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leuven Expensive? and Is Antwerp Expensive?.
Antwerp has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Leuven and Antwerp, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Antwerp and Leuven are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Antwerp for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
Leuven is around the same temperature as Antwerp in the summer. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 18°C (65°F) in July, and Antwerp fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Antwerp. Leuven usually receives less sunshine than Antwerp during summer. Leuven gets 186 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leuven usually receives more rain than Antwerp. Leuven gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Antwerp and Leuven during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Antwerp in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Leuven is around the same temperature as Antwerp. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leuven in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Antwerp averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Leuven often gets more sunshine than Antwerp. Leuven gets 114 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 105 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets less rain in October than Antwerp. Leuven gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leuven and Antwerp. Also, most visitors come to Antwerp for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Antwerp can be very cold during winter. Leuven can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Leuven is generally around the same temperature as Antwerp. Daily temperatures in Leuven average around 3°C (38°F), and Antwerp fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Leuven usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Antwerp during winter. Leuven gets 49 hours of sunny skies, while Antwerp receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leuven usually receives more rain than Antwerp. Leuven gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Leuven as well as Antwerp. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Antwerp because of the activities around the city.
Leuven is a little warmer than Antwerp in the spring. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 10°C (49°F) in April, and Antwerp fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the spring, Leuven often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Antwerp. Leuven gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Antwerp receives 158 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in April than Antwerp. Leuven gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Antwerp receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Leuven | Antwerp | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
May | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |