Which place is cheaper, Paris or Leuven?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Leuven or Paris?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Leuven or Paris? 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 Paris?
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.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium, The Best Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLeuven €178Paris €232
The average daily cost (per person) in Leuven is €178, while the average daily cost in Paris is €232. 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 Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLeuven €93Paris €151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLeuven €186Paris €302
Compare Hotels in Leuven and Paris
Looking for a hotel in Leuven or Paris? 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 Paris Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Leuven €61Paris €21
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 Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer : Paris to the Palace of Versailles Round-Trip : $44
- Disneyland Private Transfer - Luxury Minivan Service: $185
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer for 1 to 3 Persons in Paris: $196
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $268
- Airport Transfer Service Shuttle Disneyland Paris Taxi: $120
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Business Car: $101
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Luxury EQS: $142
- Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Luxury EQS: $143
- Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $185
- Arrival Private Transfer Paris Airport CDG to Paris by Sedan : $87
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport Charles de Gaulle OR Orly TO La Defense: $23
- Arrival Transfer CDG or ORY Airport to Disneyland París by Van: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Leuven or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris 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 €49Paris €41
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 Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1h30 Cooking Activity in English: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe Paris with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner : $33
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $44
- No Diet Club - A selection of the best pizzas in Paris !: $45
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $49
- Paris : Seine River Bistronomic Dinner Cruise: $52
- Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise: $56
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $58
- No Diet Club - Paris : Night food tour - Montmartre: $67
- 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise with Bistro Dinner: $68
- Paris : No Diet Club Food Tour - Best Spots in Le Marais: $68
- Dinner with Customized Wine Selection: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Leuven €23Paris €77
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 Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Free Walking Tour of Montmartre: $2.14
- Montmartre Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt Tour: $3.21
- Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.26
- Self Guided Tours in Paris with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $4.35
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Père-Lachaise Cemetery audio guide tour: $5.35
- Private Self-guided Audio Tour of the Eiffel Tower: $5.45
- Self-Guided Tour - Père Lachaise Cemetery Audioguide, Paris: $5.45
- Self Guided Latin Quarter Audio Tour in Paris: $5.45
- Private Self Guided Walking Tour in Montmartre Paris: $5.46
- Kid-Friendly Marais: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLeuven €25Paris €24
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $11
- Original Paris Pub Crawl : $16
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $20
- Latin Quarter Guided Pub Crawl to Bars and Clubs: $22
- Paris Bar Crawl: $24
- Paris Latin Quarter Pub Crawl Bars and Clubs: $24
- Paris Pub Crawl: $25
- Audio guided tour and wine tasting at Caves du Louvre: $32
- Paris Craft gin distillery guided Tour & Tasting in English: $32
- Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $33
- Wine Museum Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $39
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leuven and Paris, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Leuven much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leuven would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leuven 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Leuven.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leuven Expensive? and Is Paris Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Leuven or Paris?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Leuven and Paris, 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 Paris?
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 Paris in the Summer?
Both Paris and Leuven during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paris this time of year.
In July, Leuven is generally around the same temperature as Paris. Daily temperatures in Leuven average around 18°C (65°F), and Paris fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
In Paris, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Leuven often gets less sunshine than Paris. Leuven gets 186 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 241 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in July than Paris. Leuven gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Paris receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLeuven 18°C (65°F)Paris 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Paris in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leuven and Paris. Also, many travelers come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Leuven is around the same temperature as Paris in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leuven averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Paris fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
Leuven usually receives less sunshine than Paris during autumn. Leuven gets 114 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 127 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Leuven usually receives more rain than Paris. Leuven gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLeuven 12°C (54°F)Paris 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Paris in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Leuven as well as Paris. Also, many visitors come to Paris in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Paris can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Leuven. In the winter, Leuven is cooler than Paris. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leuven in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Paris averages at about 5°C (40°F).
In the winter, Leuven often gets less sunshine than Paris. Leuven gets 49 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 62 hours of full sun.
Leuven usually gets more rain in January than Paris. Leuven gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLeuven 3°C (38°F)Paris 5°C (40°F)
Should I visit Leuven or Paris in the Spring?
Both Paris and Leuven are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Leuven is generally cooler than Paris. Daily temperatures in Leuven average around 10°C (49°F), and Paris fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Leuven usually receives less sunshine than Paris during spring. Leuven gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Leuven usually receives more rain than Paris. Leuven gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Paris receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLeuven 10°C (49°F)Paris 11°C (52°F)
Typical Weather for Paris and Leuven
| Leuven | Paris | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 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.