Should you visit Munich or Heidelberg?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Munich or Heidelberg, 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.
Heidelberg
Heidelberg, in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, is a top travel destination in Germany. It's picturesquely situated in the Neckar River Valley and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city has a population of over 148,000 and it's home to Germany's oldest university, the Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat, which has a student population of approximately 28,000.
Which city is cheaper, Heidelberg 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 Heidelberg is €113. 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 Heidelberg in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Munich is about €138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Heidelberg, €148 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Heidelberg, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €74, such as in a hostel.
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.
On average, meal and food prices in Heidelberg cost around €30 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €12.
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Food
Meals for one day
Munich €22
Heidelberg €30
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.
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Munich Traditional Bavarian Culture, Beer And Food Tour Including Traditional Bavarian Dress:
$200
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.
Heidelberg'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 €14 per person, per day on transportation in Heidelberg.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Munich
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
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Single Zone Trip on Subway
€2.30
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Inner District Subway Day Pass
€5.20
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City transport day ticket
€11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Munich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
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Private Transfer from Munich to Prague:
$1,060
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Private transfer from Munich to Vienna:
$1,045
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Private transfer from Baden Baden to München or the opposite way:
$933
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Private Transfer Munich Airport to Zürich or Basel:
$759
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Neuschwanstein castle private transfer from Munich:
$739
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Private transfer from Munich to Ljubljana:
$725
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Private transfer from Munich to Prague:
$691
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Private Dachau Concentration Camp Tour with Private Transfer from Munich:
$610
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One-way Transfer from Munich City Centre to Prague City Centre:
$547
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Munich - Budapest Transfer:
$523
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Exclusive Private Ski Course with success guarantee & Transfer to ski area from Munich:
$496
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Private Transfer from Munich to Salzburg in Mercedes S-Class:
$491
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Heidelberg
Also for Heidelberg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Mannheim-City Airport to Heidelberg City - One Way:
$155
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Private Transfer from Heidelberg City to Frankfurt Airport FRA by Minivan:
$131
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Private Transfer from Heidelberg City to Stuttgart Airport STR by Minivan:
$207
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Private Transfer from Hotel in Heidelberg City to Frankfurt Airport:
$362
Is it cheaper to fly into Munich or Heidelberg?
Prices for flights to both Heidelberg 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.
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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Heidelberg can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €9.18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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:
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3-Day Prague Overnight Tour Including Round-Trip by Coach from Munich:
$502
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5-Day Munich to Stuttgart Overnight Tour by Coach:
$518
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6-Nght Independent Munich Rail Tour to Vienna via Salzburg:
$844
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7-Day Imperial Triangle Tour Rail Tour from Munich to Vienna and Prague:
$901
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Big Hat Tours:
$286
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Christmas Private Daytrip -Nuremberg to Munich & back with 4/6/8h of Sightseeing:
$285
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Dachau Concentration Camp Tour:
$498
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Discover Munich 2-Hour Small Group Walking Tour:
$19
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EXCLUSiVE MUNiCH & Surroundings ALL-IN-ONE Culture, Nature and History Tour:
$322
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EXCLUSiVE NEUSCHWANSTEIN Tour from Munich +Ancient Castle +XXL SUSPENSiON BRiDGE:
$419
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EXCLUSiVE Neuschwanstein DURiNG LOCKDOWN from Munich & virtual Tour of Interior:
$496
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Eagles Nest Private Tour in Mercedes V-Class for up to 6 pax:
$955
Tours and Activities in Heidelberg
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Heidelberg.
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Virtual Tour of Heidelberg:
$25
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Heidelberg old Town Tour.:
$25
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Heidelberg Public Walking Tour:
$34
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Alternative Heidelberg Tour.:
$36
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Heidelberg Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$47
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Food & Fables Tour of Heidelberg:
$48
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Bicycle Tour from Heidelberg to quaint Ladenburg.:
$57
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Kayak-Tour in Heidelberg on river Neckar:
$61
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Beer and Old Town Tour:
$81
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E.Bike Tours around Heidelberg:
$86
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Heidelberg Tour with winetasting.:
$98
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Mannheim Castle Tour:
$98
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.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Heidelberg, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €14.
Typical Alcohol prices in Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Munich:
When comparing the travel costs between Munich and Heidelberg, we can see that Munich 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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