Which place is cheaper, England or Northern Ireland?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Northern Ireland or England?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Northern Ireland or England, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Northern Ireland or England?
Northern Ireland
You may think you know Northern Ireland, but guess again. This once turbulent and dangerous country has calmed down and continues to pleasantly surprise visitors from all over the world.
Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, or Great Britain. Northern Ireland joins England, Scotland and Wales in the UK. This is still a point of controversy within this region depending on whom you are talking to. Unionists, or those who prefer being a part of Great Britain, will proudly call themselves British and try very much to differentiate themselves from their Irish neighbors. Republicans, or those who would prefer to be a part of the Republic of Ireland, call themselves Irish. Nowhere is this more prominent than in the historic city of Londonderry. That is what Unionists call the city, as the "London" was added after Northern Ireland joined the UK. On the other hand, you'll hear Republicans refer to the city as its original Derry.
Dress in layers, as it's not uncommon to experience every season in an hour in Northern Ireland. This part of the British Isles arguably receives more rain than anywhere.
More difficult than the weather, however, are the accents of the locals. While it may not sound like it at times, they are speaking English. Simply ask them to slow down so you can better understand their very thick accents.
England
England is a destination people dream of – probably because England itself can be a dream. With double decker buses, quaint cottages and royal families, this country is the land of fairytales and folklore.
Do not confuse England for the United Kingdom or Great Britain. The UK, or Great Britain, is a constituent nation made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This country of 52 million people has gained an awful reputation for being gray, cold and rainy. In truth, the temperatures never reach either extreme and the rain isn't as frequent as you'd think.
While most everyone in England speaks English, be ready for thick accents. Typically divided by northern, southern and London accents, many can be very difficult to understand and may as well be a language of their very own.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Historical Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorthern Ireland £131England £0.00
The average daily cost (per person) in Northern Ireland is £131, while the average daily cost in England is £0.00. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Northern Ireland and England in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorthern Ireland £68England -
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorthern Ireland £136England £0.00
Compare Hotels in Northern Ireland and England
Looking for a hotel in Northern Ireland or England? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Northern Ireland £14England -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in England
Also for England, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- National Express | Stansted Airport to London Stratford Transfer (Single) : $18
- National Express | Luton Airport to Central London Transfers: $18
- Departure Private Transfer Argostoli to Kephalonia Airport EFL in Business Car: $20
- National Express | Stansted Airport to London Stratford Transfer (Return): $25
- Lake District Ski Club to Newcastle Airport - Departure Transfer: $33
- Newcastle Airport to Lake District Ski Resort Arrival Transfer: $33
- National Express | Between Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airports Bus Transfers: $34
- Southampton to Southampton Airport (SOU) - Departure Transfer: $35
- Southampton Airport (SOU) to Southampton Cruise-Arrival Transfer: $35
- Southampton Cruise Terminals to Southampton city - Arrival Private Transfer : $35
- Transfer from Southampton Port to Southampton Airport (SOU): $35
- East Midlands Airport EMA to Loughborough City Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Northern Ireland or England?
Prices for flights to both England and Northern Ireland 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
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Food Meals for one dayNorthern Ireland £49England -
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in England
For England, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Borough Market Food Tour - Self Guided: $6.47
- Dinner and Live DJ at A Fancy Restaurant: $16
- (Thur 7pm) Comedy Magic Show includes 1x Pizza & 2 glasses of Prosecco: $25
- Hard Rock Cafe Manchester with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Pistachio LOVERS Italian Dinner Experience: $35
- Tea and Doughnuts: Borough Market Walking Food Tour: $44
- Breakfast Food Tour in York: $51
- Private Italian Dinner with a Romantic Night Experience: $63
- Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking and Food Tour: $70
- 2 Hours Sicilian Wine Tasting and Dinner at Manchester: $76
- Small-Group Vegan Food Tour of Harrogate: $76
- Harrogate Walking Food Tour: $76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Northern Ireland £18England -
Tours and Activities in England
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for England.
- London's Hidden Gems Self Guided City Tour: $3.26
- London Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.27
- Liverpool Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.27
- Carfax Tower Entry Ticket: $3.81
- Manchester Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
- Eccentric Lewes: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
- A Hope Street Stroll: A self-guided tour from the Metropolitan Cathedral to LIPA: $5.20
- Hadrian's Wall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour along the Ruins: $5.20
- Brighton rocks: An audio tour of the city's music history along Brighton Beach: $5.40
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in London: $5.44
- Bloomsbury's Contribution to Health Care History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.48
- Secret London: An audio tour about the heritage of the city's Russian immigrants: $5.54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorthern Ireland £7.77England -
Sample the Local Flavors in England
Also in England, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bristol’s Best Brewery Taprooms: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Historic Pub Walking Tour of London: $13
- FunnyBoyz Liverpool - Drag Shows, Tributes, Brunches & Bar Crawls: $19
- Central London Pub Crawl: $23
- 1 Big Night Out Weekday Pub Crawl: $23
- Camden Pub Crawl in London: $25
- Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 11am Ticket: $25
- Shakespeare Distillery Tour - 1pm Ticket: $25
- Shoreditch Pub Crawl in London: $25
- Brighton Bar Crawl: $27
- Pub Crawl of Central London: $29
- The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Northern Ireland and England, we can see that Northern Ireland is more expensive. And not only is England much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to England would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in England 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 Northern Ireland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Northern Ireland than you might in England.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Northern Ireland Expensive? and Is England Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Northern Ireland or England?
England has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Northern Ireland. When comparing the sizes of Northern Ireland and England, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.