Should you visit London or Munich?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Munich can help you decide which place is right for you.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Munich
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria and a top travel destination within Germany. It has stunning architecture and a cultural scene that rivals Berlin. It has some of the country's top museums, festivals, and concerts. Munich is most famous for its Oktoberfest, which is easily the busiest time of year in the city. The architecture is what surprises most travelers. It's quite impressive and truly adds to the character of the city. Although much of Munich was destroyed during World War II, the city has successfully rebuilt most of the buildings in their previous style. Much of the city remains as it was in the 1800s. There are two major research universities in Munich, helping to make it a center for engineering, business, and the sciences.
Which city is cheaper, Munich or London?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in London is £145, while the average daily cost in Munich is £98. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for London and Munich in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around £182 in London For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Munich is about £116 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Local Transportation
London's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend £21 per person, per day on transportation in London.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around £13 per day to get around in Munich.
Typical Local Transportation prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Accommodation to London St. Pancras Station - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Airport and venues transfer 3:
$1,173
-
All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southeast London:
$217
-
All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southwest London:
$217
-
All London Airports Roundtrip - PrivateTransfer to London Hotel Including Return Trip:
$112
-
Arrival Private Transfers from Airport LCY to London City in Luxury Van:
$109
-
Arrival Private Transfers from London Airport LCY to London in Business Car:
$89
-
Arrival transfer from Heathrow to London Hotel:
$53
-
Arrival, Departure or Round Trip Private Transfer: Central London to Southampton Cruise Port:
$250
-
Arrive & Depart in Style - Luxury Private Transfer - Southampton to London:
$381
-
Bath Day Trip From London With Private Transfer in Range Rover:
$1,134
-
Central London To Gatwick Airport (LGW) Private Car Transfer:
$70
Typical Local Transportation prices in Munich
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
-
Single Zone Trip on Subway
£1.93
-
Inner District Subway Day Pass
£4.36
-
City transport day ticket
£9.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Munich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
-
Private Transfer from Munich to Prague:
$1,060
-
Private transfer from Munich to Vienna:
$1,045
-
Private transfer from Baden Baden to München or the opposite way:
$933
-
Private Transfer Munich Airport to Zürich or Basel:
$759
-
Neuschwanstein castle private transfer from Munich:
$739
-
Private transfer from Munich to Ljubljana:
$725
-
Private transfer from Munich to Prague:
$691
-
Private Dachau Concentration Camp Tour with Private Transfer from Munich:
$610
-
One-way Transfer from Munich City Centre to Prague City Centre:
$547
-
Munich - Budapest Transfer:
$523
-
Exclusive Private Ski Course with success guarantee & Transfer to ski area from Munich:
$496
-
Private Transfer from Munich to Salzburg in Mercedes S-Class:
$491
Is it cheaper to fly into London or Munich?
Prices for flights to both Munich and London 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
Food in London costs travelers about £29 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Munich food costs typically run travelers around £18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
London £29
Munich £18
Typical Food prices in London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Private Cooking Class with a London Cookbook Author:
$87
-
BYOB Pizza Workshop Supper Club:
$91
-
Private Cooking Class in Central London with a Food Expert:
$150
-
South London Food Tour With A Local: Borough Market, Southbank & London Bridge:
$150
-
Borough Market Visit & Cooking Class in Central London with a Food Professional:
$164
-
3.5-Hour Shoreditch Street Food Tour:
$261
-
Private Food Tour, Cooking Class and Market Visit in London with a Food Expert:
$315
Typical Food prices in Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Munich:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Munich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Munich.
-
Viktualienmarkt 2-Hour Gourmet Food Tour: Munich:
$40
-
3-Hour Food Tour Through Haidhausen:
$44
-
Munich Traditional Bavarian Culture, Beer And Food Tour Including Traditional Bavarian Dress:
$200
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in London can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around £26 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around £19 per person, per day in Munich. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
-
Haunted Exploration Game and Tour:
$5.63
-
Royal Canadian Regiment Museum: Historic Wolseley Barracks Tour:
$5.64
-
Self-Guided Tour with Over 100 Sights:
$5.64
-
Shakespeare's Italy Virtual Experience:
$6.90
-
Queen and Freddie Mercury Exploration Game and Tour:
$7.88
-
59-Minutes British Museum Audio-guided Tour:
$8.71
-
59-Minutes National Gallery Audio-guided Tour:
$9.95
-
12 Angry Guests: The Online Jury Experience:
$11
-
The Clink Prison Museum Admission Tickets:
$11
-
Virtual Guided Tour of London's Off the Beaten Track Areas:
$14
-
Guided Tour of Handel House:
$14
-
Tiger King: The Murder Mystery Experience:
$15
Typical Entertainment prices in Munich
Here are a few typical costs in Munich for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Munich
Here are a few actual costs in Munich for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Express Tour of Munich:
$21
-
3-Day Prague Overnight Tour Including Round-Trip by Coach from Munich:
$502
-
5-Day Munich to Stuttgart Overnight Tour by Coach:
$518
-
6-Nght Independent Munich Rail Tour to Vienna via Salzburg:
$844
-
7-Day Imperial Triangle Tour Rail Tour from Munich to Vienna and Prague:
$901
-
Big Hat Tours:
$286
-
Bodyflying: Indoor Skydiving Experience for 2 People:
$136
-
Christmas Private Daytrip -Nuremberg to Munich & back with 4/6/8h of Sightseeing:
$285
-
CityTourCard Public Transport & Discounts:
$16
-
Dachau Concentration Camp Tour:
$498
-
Dachau Memorial Site Tour:
$51
-
EXCLUSiVE MUNiCH & Surroundings ALL-IN-ONE Culture, Nature and History Tour:
$322
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In London, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is £12.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Munich may vary from person to person, on average a person spends £24 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
-
The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$27
-
Camden Pub Crawl with Drinks:
$27
-
Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Complimentary Tasting:
$35
-
Private:Brewery, Winery, and Cider & Spirit Tastings Tour in SW Ontario:
$101
-
Gin Palace Crawl with Distillery Tour & Tastings:
$107
-
English Sparkling Wine Tours from London:
$392
-
Private London Pub History and Brewery (Full Day Tour):
$621
-
Private visit to Bombay Sapphire Distillery and Stonehenge:
$851
Typical Alcohol prices in Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Munich:
Sample the Local Flavors in Munich
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Munich:
-
Munich's Original Pub Crawl:
$28
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between London and Munich, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Munich much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Munich would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Munich 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Munich.
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