Should you visit Munich or Cologne?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Munich or Cologne, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
Which city is cheaper, Cologne or Munich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Munich is €116, while the average daily cost in Cologne is €126. 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 Munich and Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Munich is about €138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €70. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Cologne the cost is €140 on average.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €15 per day to get around in Munich.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €15 per day to get around in Cologne.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Munich
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
-
Single Zone Trip on Subway
€2.30
-
Inner District Subway Day Pass
€5.20
-
City transport day ticket
€11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Munich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
-
EXCLUSiVE OKTOBERFEST & Munich Sightseeing in Comfort Minivan + extra Transfer:
$429
-
Ellmau: Private Transfer to or from Munich Airport:
$347
-
Exclusive Private Ski Course with success guarantee & Transfer to ski area from Munich:
$496
-
From Munich to Frankfurt Airport - Private transfer - punctual & friendly Driver:
$344
-
Garmisch: Private Transfer to or from Munich Airport:
$377
-
Graz: Private Transfer to or from Munich Airport:
$53
-
Innsbruck: Private Transfer to or from Munich Airport:
$483
-
Kitzbuhel: Private Transfer to or from Munich Airport:
$422
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Friedrichshafen Airport to Munich City - One Way:
$452
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Memmingen Allgau Airport to Munich City - One Way:
$341
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Salzburg Airport to Munich City - One Way:
$322
-
Munich - Budapest Transfer:
$523
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
-
Arrival Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN to Cologne City - Business Car:
$73
-
Arrival Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport to Cologne City by Luxury Van:
$87
-
Private Transfer to/from Cologne Airport (CGN):
$70
-
Departure Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN to Cologne by Business Car:
$73
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Cologne Bonn Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$69
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Düsseldorf International Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$201
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Eindhoven Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$243
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Frankfurt am Main International Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$540
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Mönchengladbach Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$192
-
Luxury Car Arrival Transfer: Cologne-Bonn Airport to Cologne City:
$98
-
Luxury Car Private Departure Transfer: Cologne city to Cologne-Bonn Airport:
$98
-
Luxury Van Private Departure Transfer: Cologne-Bonn Airport:
$87
Is it cheaper to fly into Munich or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne and Munich 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
Munich food costs typically run travelers around €22 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.
In Cologne travelers spend around €40 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Munich €22
Cologne €40
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
Typical Food prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
-
Dinner
€14
-
Donner Kebab
€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
-
Traveling Spoon French Quiche Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Private Gourmet Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne:
$129
-
Private Market Tour and Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne:
$183
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €23 per person, per day in Munich. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €16 per person, per day in Cologne. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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:
-
Haunted City Exploration Game and Tour:
$5.64
-
Old Town Walking Tour in Spanish:
$16
-
CityTourCard Public Transport & Discounts:
$16
-
SEA LIFE Munich Admission Ticket:
$18
-
Day Ticket to Sea Life:
$21
-
Nymphenburg Palace/Munich Residenz Guided Tour:
$21
-
Crypts, Roof Terraces, & Hidden Things Walking Tour:
$21
-
24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Express Tour of Munich:
$21
-
Spooky Theatrical Performances and Old Town Tour:
$32
-
Munich Card (Group) with public transport: Save at attractions & tours!:
$33
-
Mysterious Old Town Theatrical Tour:
$33
-
City Tour & FC Bayern Munich Soccer Arena Tour:
$34
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
English guided tour (other languages offered):
$6.22
-
1-hour Rhine River Panorama Cruise:
$12
-
Entertaining History Tour:
$12
-
Tour in German - West to East from Rudolfplatz:
$12
-
Tour of Germany's Oldest Metropolis (in German):
$14
-
Historical Crime Tour in German:
$14
-
Guided Tour of the Melaten Cemetery:
$14
-
Guided Highlights Tour with a Local:
$14
-
Melaten Cemetery Tour in German:
$14
-
2000 Years of Sex & Crime City Tour (in German):
$14
-
90-Minute Tour in German from Cathedral to Old Town:
$15
-
Cologne Sightseeing round-trip Cruise:
$15
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Munich may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €29 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Cologne may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 comparing the travel costs between Munich and Cologne, we can see that Cologne 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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