Should you visit Mainz or Baden-Baden?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Mainz and Baden-Baden can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Mainz
On the Rhine River, the ages of the medieval stand before you in their half-timbered constructions, giving this quaint, old town a hint of the spellbinding. A time capsule of Germany, Mainz is enriched by its vast history as well as its cosmopolitan air. Dating back to around 38 BC, Mainz was built by Romans and founded as the the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors. With its history spanning more than 2,000 years, Mainz is rich in its exquisite architecture, such as its stunning cathedrals, medieval market squares, and Renaissance fountains. However, Mainz also has been blessed with the joys and comforts of modernization, giving way to fantastic shopping centers, tasty restaurants, and absolutely fascinating museums. A media hub and regional capital, Mainz is also known as the wine capital of Germany as its civilians have a long history of winegrowing throughout the city. Whether you seek to oogle at artifacts at the Gutenberg Museum or sit a spell at one of the town's fine eateries, the possibilities are endless in Mainz!
Baden-Baden
Baden Baden is the perfect spa town in Germany that lets you dip your toes in the culture, relax, and mingle with the locals all while soaking your weary travel bones in the nourishing mineral waters or sweating out the toxins from one too many German beers.
For a detailed guide on Baden Baden, including the bathhouses and spa etiquette, what else to do in and near Baden Baden and more, you can check out my complete guide to Baden Baden for the perfect spa weekend getaway.
Where is Baden Baden?
Baden Baden is located about 2 hours directly South of Frankfurt, making it the perfect day trip. Alternately, Baden Baden is still an easy day trip from Bavaria or other nearby regions of Germany or you can even create a whole weekend in the Black Forest, complete with Cuckoo Clock shopping and more. It's also not far from Stuttgart.
Which city is cheaper, Baden-Baden or Mainz?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mainz is €113, while the average daily cost in Baden-Baden is €123. 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 Mainz and Baden-Baden in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around €120 for a double occupancy room in Mainz If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
A hotel room in Baden-Baden is about €140 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
Food in Mainz costs travelers about €33 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.
The average traveler spends about €33 per day in Baden-Baden for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Mainz €33
Baden-Baden €33
Local Transportation
To get around in Mainz, the average visitor spends €29 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Baden-Baden is €27 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mainz
Also for Mainz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Departure Transfer: Mainz, Wiesbaden, Königstein to FRA Airport:
$56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Baden-Baden
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Baden-Baden:
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Private transfert to Baden-Baden from Zurich or the opposite way:
$560
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Private transfert to Baden-Baden from Basel - Mulhouse or the opposite way:
$386
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Private transfert from Baden-Baden airport to Colmar or the opposite way:
$336
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Private transfer from Baden-Baden to Füssen or the opposite way:
$933
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Baden-Baden to Karlsruhe Airport (FKB) - Departure Private Van Transfer:
$34
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Baden-Baden to Karlsruhe Airport (FKB) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$60
Is it cheaper to fly into Mainz or Baden-Baden?
Prices for flights to both Baden-Baden and Mainz 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.
Entertainment
In Mainz, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
Baden-Baden's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €27 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Mainz
For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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KD Rhine HoHo Cruise from Mainz:
$42
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Rhine River Hop On Hop Off Cruise on Castle Route:
$42
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E-Bike Mainz City Tour:
$49
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1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Landesmuseum Mainz:
$149
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1 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Museum of Ancient Seafaring Mainz:
$149
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1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Cathedral and Diocesan Museum Mainz:
$149
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1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Chagall Windows in Saint Stephan’s Mainz:
$149
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1 Hour Private Guided Tour: Gutenberg Museum Mainz:
$149
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Mainz Private Walking Tour:
$190
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Mainz Private Walking Tour:
$195
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2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Chagall Windows and Mainz Cathedral:
$199
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2 Hour Private Guided Walking Tour: Gutenberg and Mainz Cathedral:
$199
Tours and Activities in Baden-Baden
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Baden-Baden are as follows:
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Baden - Baden Walking Tour:
$439
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Baden-Baden Private Walking Tour:
$199
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Private Black Forest Tour: Baden-Baden to Freiburg:
$248
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Romantic tour in Baden-Baden:
$496
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The best of Baden-Baden walking tour:
$496
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The best of Passau walking tour:
$496
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Mainz spend on average €17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about €9.60 on alcoholic beverages in Baden-Baden per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Mainz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mainz:
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E-Bike Mainz Wine Tour / Wine Tasting:
$86
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Personal wine tours in the heart of Germany from Frankfurt region - Mainz:
$299
When comparing the travel costs between Mainz and Baden-Baden, we can see that Baden-Baden is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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