Should you visit Mainz or Dusseldorf?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Mainz and Dusseldorf 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!
Dusseldorf
Dusseldorf is a city in western Germany divided by the Rhine River, with its Altstadt (Old Town) on the east bank and modern commercial areas to the west. Dusseldorf is a university town and a center of art and fashion. This old electoral capital is also a city of wide streets lined by elegant shops, with a ring of parks and gardens encircling its vibrant downtown area. As an important cultural center, Dusseldorf has dozens of museums and in excess of 100 art galleries encompassing everything from internationally renowned facilities, such as the impressive Art Collection North Rhine-Westphalia, to the smaller installations found in the city's trendy Konigsallee area. In the Altstadt, St. Lambertus Church and Schlossturm (Castle Tower) both date to the 13th century. Dusseldorf impresses with boundary-pushing architecture, lively nightlife, and an art scene to rival many higher-profile cities. It's a posh and modern city that likes to have a good time with bar-hopping around the Altstadt, the historical quarter along the Rhine. These tourist attractions, along with the city's location on the Rhine and its numerous wide squares and wonderful riverside walkways, make it a particularly pleasant place to spend time.
Which city is cheaper, Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf is €139. 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 Dusseldorf 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €148 for a double occupancy room in Dusseldorf.
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.
While meal prices in Dusseldorf can vary, the average travelers spends about €54 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Dusseldorf should cost around €22 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Dusseldorf is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Mainz €33
Dusseldorf €54
Typical Food prices in Dusseldorf
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Dusseldorf:
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Salami
€1.99
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Nutella
€1.00
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Yogurt
€1.00
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 cost of a taxi ride in Dusseldorf is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €1.30 per person, per day, on local transportation in Dusseldorf.
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 Dusseldorf
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dusseldorf:
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Round Trip Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) Transfer to Düsseldorf City Center:
$70
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Private Transfer Dusseldorf City to Train Station or Cruise Port by Luxury Van:
$124
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Private Düsseldorf Airport - Düsseldorf City Round-Trip Transfer:
$73
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Private Departure Transfer from Düsseldorf City to Düsseldorf Airport:
$37
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Private Arrival Transfer from Düsseldorf Airport to Düsseldorf City:
$37
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Private Airport Transfer: from Dusseldorf to Dusseldorf Int. Airport (DUS):
$29
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Private Airport Transfer: Dusseldorf International Airport (DUS) to Dusseldorf:
$29
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Niederrhein Airport to Düsseldorf City - One Way:
$241
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Niederrhein Airport to Duisburg City - One Way:
$174
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Mönchengladbach Airport to Düsseldorf City - One Way:
$87
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Mönchengladbach Airport to Duisburg City - One Way:
$137
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Eindhoven Airport to Düsseldorf City - One Way:
$194
Is it cheaper to fly into Mainz or Dusseldorf?
Prices for flights to both Dusseldorf 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.
Entertainment and activities in Dusseldorf typically cost an average of €20 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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 Dusseldorf
Here are a few actual costs in Dusseldorf for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Segway Tour in Dusseldorf:
$92
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Best Intro Tour of Dusseldorf with a Local:
$61
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Discover Dusseldorf in 60 Minutes with a Local - Walking Tour:
$34
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Dusseldorf Private Walking Tour:
$185
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Dusseldorf Walking tour:
$317
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Dusseldorf’s Art and Culture Tour with a Local Guide:
$41
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Düsseldorf Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Rhine River Sightseeing Cruise:
$30
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Düsseldorf Old town - guided tour:
$258
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Düsseldorf Segway Tour: Classical City Experience:
$86
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Düsseldorf Segway Tour: Rhine River Experience:
$92
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Düsseldorf Sightseeing round-trip Cruise:
$15
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Düsseldorf: 1-hour Panorama Rhine River Cruise:
$12
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Mainz spend on average €17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Dusseldorf may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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
Typical Alcohol prices in Dusseldorf
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Dusseldorf are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Dusseldorf
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Dusseldorf:
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Brewery Tour Düsseldorf in English (inc. 4 beer):
$30
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4-Hour Pub Crawl Tour in Dusseldorf including Drinks:
$33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mainz and Dusseldorf, we can see that Dusseldorf is more expensive. And not only is Mainz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mainz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mainz 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 Dusseldorf would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dusseldorf than you might in Mainz.
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