Which place is cheaper, Berlin or Leuven?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leuven or Berlin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Leuven or Berlin? 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.
Where Should I go: Leuven or Berlin?
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.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeuven €178Berlin €137
The average daily cost (per person) in Leuven is €178, while the average daily cost in Berlin is €137. 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 Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeuven €93Berlin €64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeuven €186Berlin €128
Compare Hotels in Leuven and Berlin
Looking for a hotel in Leuven or Berlin? 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: Leuven Hotel Prices and Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leuven €61Berlin €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Brussels Shuttle Transfer <-> Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (1 to 8 PLACES) : $280
- Private transfer from Brussels Airport - Maastricht MB E-CLASS 3 PAX: $279
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Antwerp City by Luxury Van: $273
- Transfer Brussels Airport <-> Namur MB V Class 1-7 PAX (ONE WAY): $240
- Transfer from Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB S-CLASS 3 PAX: $235
- Private transfer from Brussels Airport <-> Gent MB S-CLASS 3 PAX: $221
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Mechelen City by Luxury Van: $216
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $201
- Private transfer from BRU Airport - Brussels GO BACK MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $190
- Private transfer from Brussels Airport <-> Gent MB E-CLASS 3 PAX: $185
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Mechelen by Business Car: $177
- Transfer From Brussels Airport to Charleroi Airport: $175
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket€1.40
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Bahn Ticket€3.00
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Short Taxi Ride€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City by Luxury Van: $141
- Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City in Business Car: $133
- Arrival Private Transfer from Brandenburg Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Car: $141
- Arrival Transfer from Berlin Train Station to Berlin by Sedan: $72
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Van: $112
- Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $63
- Berlin Airport Arrival Transfer to Potsdam Hotels: $173
- Berlin Airporttransfer, Driver, Chauffeur, Limousinenservice: $107
- Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Car: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Leuven or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayLeuven €49Berlin €52
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
Typical Food Prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
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Sandwich and Coffee To Go€5.00
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Turkish Sandwich€2.00
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Currywurst€2.00
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2 Pho Noodles€9.00
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Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)€60
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Mauer Park (2)€11
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Coffees at Impala€7.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- English Stand-Up Comedy with Pizza and Shots: $19
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte: $28
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $34
- Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Berlin Mitte kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- No Diet Club - Street Food Tour with many Tastings !: $59
- Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner: $63
- Sicilian Cooking Workshop with unlimited drinks: $70
- Evening Food Tour by Bike: $70
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $76
- Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leuven €23Berlin €22
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Berlin Zoo (2)€20
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- Self-Guided Photo Tour with Digital hybrid Photobook: $0.53
- Berlin Walking Tour: $2.62
- Berlin Alternative Street Art Tour: $2.62
- Selfguided Audiotour "Old Berlin": $3.20
- Selfguided Audiotour "Center of Power": $3.20
- Third Reich and Holocaust Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.21
- Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin: $3.21
- Rude Bastards tour of Medieval Berlin: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
- Museum Island Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.74
- Berlin tour - Free offer - in Italian: $3.74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeuven €25Berlin €16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Show€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original One80 Berlin Pub Crawl: $16
- VIP Pub Crawl with Drinks and Challenges: $16
- brewery tour with beer tasting: $19
- Vagabund Brauerei Beer Tasting & Guided Brewery Tour: $24
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Club Entry: $24
- Berlin Pub Crawl and Nightlife Clubbing tour: $26
- The Showgirls of Burlesque: $46
- Showgirls of Burlesque Entry Ticket: $69
- Berlin:sunset boat trip with Argentine wine tasting and food: $214
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $250
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $255
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $401
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leuven and Berlin, we can see that Leuven is more expensive. And not only is Berlin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Berlin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Berlin 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 Berlin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leuven Expensive? and Is Berlin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leuven or Berlin?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Leuven and Berlin, 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 Leuven or Berlin?
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 Leuven or Berlin in the Summer?
Both Berlin and Leuven during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Berlin in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Leuven is around the same temperature as Berlin in the summer. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 18°C (65°F) in July, and Berlin fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Berlin, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Leuven often gets less sunshine than Berlin. Leuven gets 186 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 227 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in July than Berlin. Leuven gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeuven 18°C (65°F)Berlin 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Berlin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leuven and Berlin. Furthermore, most visitors come to Berlin for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.
In the autumn, Leuven is a little warmer than Berlin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leuven in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Berlin averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Leuven usually receives more sunshine than Berlin during autumn. Leuven gets 114 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 106 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Leuven usually receives more rain than Berlin. Leuven gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeuven 12°C (54°F)Berlin 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Berlin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leuven as well as Berlin. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Berlin because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Berlin can be very cold. Leuven can be very cold during winter. In January, Leuven is generally much warmer than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Leuven average around 3°C (38°F), and Berlin fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).
In the winter, Leuven often gets more sunshine than Berlin. Leuven gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 42 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in January than Berlin. Leuven gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeuven 3°C (38°F)Berlin -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Berlin in the Spring?
Both Berlin and Leuven are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Berlin this time of year.
Leuven is a little warmer than Berlin in the spring. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 10°C (49°F) in April, and Berlin fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
Leuven usually receives less sunshine than Berlin during spring. Leuven gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 160 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leuven usually receives more rain than Berlin. Leuven gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeuven 10°C (49°F)Berlin 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Berlin and Leuven
| Leuven | Berlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 51 mm (2 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.