Should you visit Potsdam or Cologne?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Potsdam and Cologne can help you decide which place is right for you.
Potsdam
Before you lays a treasure chest of historic beauties. From the glimmering Renaissance Orangery Palace that overlooks its sumptuous fountains to the neoclassical Charlottenhof Castle that is surrounded by lush England gardens, you find yourself in none other than Potsdam, Germany. The capital and largest city of the German federal state of Brandenburg, Potsdam borders the German capital Berlin and is located right on the bay of the River Havel. A home for Prussian kings until 1918 and a brainchild of the Enlightenment, Potsdam was constructed thoughtfully and carefully by its architects to create what many to believe as "a picturesque, pastoral dream" and a "balance between both nature and reason." From interconnected lakes to historic landmarks, Potsdam is a city that is bursting with life all year around. With its rich history, it was no wonder various parts of the city were named a World Heritage Site. With its landscape and cityscape rivaling in beauty, Potsdam is simply a breathtaking city that must be explored!
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 Potsdam?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Potsdam is €89, 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 Potsdam and Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
Potsdam's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €96. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €48.
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.
Food
While meal prices in Potsdam can vary, the average travelers spends about €25 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Potsdam should cost around €10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Potsdam is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Potsdam €25
Cologne €40
Typical Food prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner
€14
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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.
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Traveling Spoon French Quiche Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Private Gourmet Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne:
$129
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Private Market Tour and Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking Class in the Heart of Cologne:
$183
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Potsdam is €22 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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €15 per day to get around in Cologne.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Potsdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Potsdam:
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Berlin Airport Departure Transfer from Potsdam Hotels:
$198
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Departure Airport Transfer from Potsdam Hotels to Berlin BER Airport:
$198
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport to Potsdam City - One Way:
$108
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Private Business Transfer from Hotel in Potsdam to Schönefeld Airport (SXF):
$70
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Private Transfer from Potsdam to Berlin Tegel Airport:
$182
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Round Trip Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Transfer to Potsdam City Center:
$146
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Round Trip Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) Transfer to Potsdam City Center:
$114
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
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Arrival Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN to Cologne City - Business Car:
$73
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Arrival Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport to Cologne City by Luxury Van:
$87
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Departure Private Transfer Cologne-Bonn Airport CGN to Cologne by Business Car:
$73
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Cologne Bonn Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$69
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Düsseldorf International Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$201
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Eindhoven Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$243
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Frankfurt am Main International Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$540
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Mönchengladbach Airport to Cologne City - One Way:
$192
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Luxury Car Arrival Transfer: Cologne-Bonn Airport to Cologne City:
$98
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Luxury Car Private Departure Transfer: Cologne city to Cologne-Bonn Airport:
$98
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Luxury Van Private Departure Transfer: Cologne-Bonn Airport:
$87
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Private Airport Transfer: Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn:
$50
Is it cheaper to fly into Potsdam or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne and Potsdam 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
Potsdam's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €20 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.
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.
Tours and Activities in Potsdam
Here are a few actual costs in Potsdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Havel Lakes Cruise:
$24
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City Sightseeing Potsdam Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$25
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City and Palaces Tour Potsdam - Stadt- und Schloesserrundfahrt Potsdam:
$26
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Potsdam by Boat: Island Cruise:
$29
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Private Tour: Discover the Amazing History of Babelsberg Park:
$123
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Private Potsdam Tour - In the Forbidden City:
$173
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Potsdam Private Walking Tour:
$184
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Private Half-Day Walking Tour of Potsdam and Sanssouci:
$210
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Private Walking Tour of Soviet Potsdam through Red Potsdam:
$229
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Potsdam, City of Kings: Private Walking Tour:
$264
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Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour:
$383
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Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour:
$383
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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English guided tour (other languages offered):
$6.22
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Experience KölnCard:
$11
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1-hour Rhine River Panorama Cruise:
$12
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Panorama City Cruise Options:
$13
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Cologne Sightseeing round-trip Cruise:
$15
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Skip-the-Line Ticket to Chocolate Museum in Cologne:
$23
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Skip the Line: Hard Rock Cafe Cologne:
$24
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Cologne Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Rhine River Sightseeing Cruise:
$30
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Cologne Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$38
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Cologne All-inclusive Evening Cruise:
$87
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Cologne Walking tour of Old Town:
$200
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Private tour of the best of Cologne - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local:
$249
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Potsdam may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €5.36 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.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
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Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots:
$24
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Potsdam and Cologne, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Potsdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Potsdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Potsdam 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne than you might in Potsdam.
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