Which place is cheaper, Hamburg or Leuven?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leuven or Hamburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Leuven or Hamburg? 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 Hamburg?
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.
Hamburg
Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeuven €178Hamburg €117
The average daily cost (per person) in Leuven is €178, while the average daily cost in Hamburg is €117. 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 Hamburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeuven €93Hamburg €54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeuven €186Hamburg €108
Compare Hotels in Leuven and Hamburg
Looking for a hotel in Leuven or Hamburg? 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 Hamburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leuven €61Hamburg €29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Airport Transfer Brussels To Brussels: $87
- Airport Transfer Brussels To Ghent: $146
- Airport Transfer: Airport BRU to Brussels by Business Car: $82
- Airport Transfer: Brussels Airport BRU to Brussels by Luxury Van: $86
- Arrival Private Transfer from Brussels Airport BRU to Ghent City by Business Car: $147
- Arrival Transfer: Airport BRU to Brussels by Business Car: $82
- Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- Brussels Airport BRU to Brussels City all area - Private Airport transfer 1-3pax: $75
- Brussels Airport BRU to Brussels City all area - Private Airport transfer 1-7pax: $86
- Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> Brussels (1 to 8 PLACES): $34
- Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> SPA (1 to 8 PLACES): $156
- Brussels Airport Transfer <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hamburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:
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Short Distance Ubahn Ticket€1.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hamburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:
- Hamburg hotels to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $118
- Arrival Private Transfer from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg: $41
- Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City: $108
- Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City: $86
- Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport XFW to Hamburg City: $76
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport HAM: $108
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport HAM: $86
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport XFW: $76
- Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport XFW: $92
- Fredericia Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Hamburg city: $585
- Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $235
- Hamburg Airport (HAM): Private Transfer to Hamburg hotels: $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Leuven or Hamburg?
Prices for flights to both Hamburg 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 €49Hamburg €35
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 Hamburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:
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Pink Thai Soup Dinner and Spring Rolls€15
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Currywurst and Pommes Frites€5.00
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Donner Kebab and Coke€6.00
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Traditional Hamburg Dinner w/ Beer€15
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Donner Kebab Lunch€4.00
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Sandwich and Coffee Break€6.00
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Fish Sandwich from Fish Market€3.50
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Coffee and Donut€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.
- St. Pauli kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Elphi Plaza und HafenCity kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $59
- Original Musical Dinner Cruise 2024: $117
- Hamburg Private Food Tours with a Local: 100% Personalized : $186
- St. Pauli: Guided Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $481
- Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $588
- Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $588
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leuven €23Hamburg €39
Tours and Activities in Leuven
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Offline Access: $5.99
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $52
- Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $52
- Guided Small-Group Cycling Tour of Mechelen: $60
- Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $63
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $229
- Soothing Corners of Leuven - Romantic Tour: $288
- Special Christmas Journey in Leuven - Walking Tour: $395
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hamburg
Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Tower at St. Michael's Church€3.50
Tours and Activities in Hamburg
Here are a few actual costs in Hamburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Selfguided Audiotour "Speicherstadt and HafenCity": $3.20
- Selfguided Audiotour "Old Town and City Center": $3.20
- Deutsche Hafen & St.Pauli Bezahl-Was-ihr-wollt Tour zu Fuß: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.21
- Harbor&St. Pauli Pay-What-You-Want 2-Hour Walking Tour: $3.21
- English Hamburg City Center Pay-What-You-Want Walking Tour: $3.21
- German Hamburg Historic City Center Pay-What-You-Want Tour: $3.21
- English Harbor&St.Pauli Pay-What-You-Want Walking Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- The Local Tour of Hamburg Historic Centre: $3.26
- Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.28
- Exclusive Self-Guided Audio Tour in St. Pauli: $4.60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeuven €25Hamburg €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Hamburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hamburg:
- Night Pub Crawl through The Repperbahn: $21
- Weekend Night Pub Crawl through the Reeperbahn: $34
- Pub Crawl - Ultimate party pub crawl incl. One-hour drinks flat rate: $44
- Hamburg Pub Crawl including 1 hour flatrate for beer: $51
- Bachelor(ette) Premium Party with Pub Crawl: $401
- Private Pub Crawl Tour: $401
- Private Premium Pub Crawl: $513
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leuven and Hamburg, we can see that Leuven is more expensive. And not only is Hamburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hamburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hamburg 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 Hamburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leuven Expensive? and Is Hamburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leuven or Hamburg?
Hamburg has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Leuven and Hamburg, 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 Hamburg?
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.
Should I visit Leuven or Hamburg in the Summer?
Both Hamburg and Leuven are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Hamburg for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Leuven is around the same temperature as Hamburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Leuven in July average around 18°C (65°F), and Hamburg averages at about 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Hamburg. Leuven usually receives less sunshine than Hamburg during summer. Leuven gets 186 hours of sunny skies, while Hamburg receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leuven usually receives less rain than Hamburg. Leuven gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Hamburg receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeuven 18°C (65°F)Hamburg 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Hamburg in the Autumn?
Both Hamburg and Leuven during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Hamburg in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Leuven is generally a little warmer than Hamburg. Daily temperatures in Leuven average around 12°C (54°F), and Hamburg fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the autumn, Leuven often gets more sunshine than Hamburg. Leuven gets 114 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hamburg receives 101 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in October than Hamburg. Leuven gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hamburg receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeuven 12°C (54°F)Hamburg 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Hamburg in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Leuven and Hamburg. Also, most visitors come to Hamburg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Hamburg can be very cold during winter. Leuven can get quite cold in the winter. Leuven is much warmer than Hamburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Hamburg fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).
Leuven usually receives more sunshine than Hamburg during winter. Leuven gets 49 hours of sunny skies, while Hamburg receives 42 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leuven usually receives more rain than Hamburg. Leuven gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Hamburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeuven 3°C (38°F)Hamburg 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Hamburg in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Leuven as well as Hamburg. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Hamburg because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Leuven is a little warmer than Hamburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Leuven in April average around 10°C (49°F), and Hamburg averages at about 8°C (46°F).
In the spring, Leuven often gets less sunshine than Hamburg. Leuven gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hamburg receives 161 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in April than Hamburg. Leuven gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Hamburg receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeuven 10°C (49°F)Hamburg 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Hamburg and Leuven
| Leuven | Hamburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 57 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 72 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.