Which place is cheaper, Lille or Leuven?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leuven or Lille?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Leuven or Lille? 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 Lille?
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.
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 Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, 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 dayLeuven €178Lille €115
The average daily cost (per person) in Leuven is €178, 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 Leuven and Lille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeuven €93Lille €55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeuven €186Lille €110
Compare Hotels in Leuven and Lille
Looking for a hotel in Leuven 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: Leuven Hotel Prices and Lille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leuven €61Lille €28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels hotels-Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels city - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> Brussels (1 to 8 PLACES): $34
- Private transfer from Airport(BRU) to Brussels City Center: $44
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to City hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Private transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels city Business car: $54
- Brussels Airport Transfer <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $58
- Private Airport Transfer: Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels: $65
- Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Brussels Airport: $70
- Private Transfer from Brussels Airport to the city of Brussels: $73
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels City by Business Car: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lille
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lille:
- Lille Private Transfer from Lille Airport (LIL) to City centre: $57
- Lille Private Transfer from Lille city centre to Lille Airport (LIL): $57
- Private Transfer to or from Lille Airport: $53
- Private Transfer to or from Paris CDG: $535
- Private Transfer to or from Paris Orly Airport: $642
- Private One way transfer Lille Airport (LIL) : $77
- Private Round trip transfer to Lille Airport (LIL) : $155
- Toulouse Airport private transfer to Toulouse City center: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Leuven or Lille?
Prices for flights to both Lille 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 €49Lille €42
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 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.Leuven €23Lille €16
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
Tours and Activities in Lille
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lille are as follows:
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Highlights Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $4.28
- Lille Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.45
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Lille City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Lille Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $10
- Vieux Lille 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour: $16
- Lille City Tour: $18
- Tournai Self-Guided Sherlock Holmes Murder Mystery Game: $22
- Discover Tournai while escaping the zombies! Escape game: $22
- Discover Tournai while playing! Escape game - The alchemist: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeuven €25Lille €17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leuven and Lille, we can see that Leuven is more expensive. And not only is Lille much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lille would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lille 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 Lille.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leuven Expensive? and Is Lille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leuven or Lille?
Lille has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Leuven 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 Leuven or Lille?
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 Lille in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Leuven and Lille. Also, many visitors come to Lille in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
Leuven is around the same temperature as Lille in the summer. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 18°C (65°F) in July, and Lille fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lille this time of the year. Leuven usually receives less sunshine than Lille during summer. Leuven gets 186 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 202 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Leuven usually receives more rain than Lille. Leuven gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lille receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeuven 18°C (65°F)Lille 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Lille in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Leuven as well as Lille. Also, most visitors come to Lille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Leuven is around the same temperature as Lille. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Leuven in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Lille averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Leuven often gets more sunshine than Lille. Leuven gets 114 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 105 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets less rain in October than Lille. Leuven gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Lille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeuven 12°C (54°F)Lille 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Lille in the Winter?
Both Lille and Leuven are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Lille because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Lille can be very cold. Leuven can be very cold during winter. In January, Leuven is generally around the same temperature as Lille. Daily temperatures in Leuven average around 3°C (38°F), and Lille fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Leuven usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lille during winter. Leuven gets 49 hours of sunny skies, while Lille receives 47 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Leuven usually receives more rain than Lille. Leuven gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lille receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeuven 3°C (38°F)Lille 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Lille in the Spring?
Both Lille and Leuven during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the natural beauty are the main draw to Lille this time of year.
Leuven is a little warmer than Lille in the spring. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 10°C (49°F) in April, and Lille fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the spring, Leuven often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lille. Leuven gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lille receives 158 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in April than Lille. Leuven gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Lille receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeuven 10°C (49°F)Lille 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Lille and Leuven
| Leuven | Lille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.