Should you visit Potsdam or Mainz?
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 Mainz 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!
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!
Which city is cheaper, Mainz 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 Mainz 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 Potsdam and Mainz 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.
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.
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.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Potsdam €25
Mainz €33
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.
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Potsdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Potsdam:
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Round Trip Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) Transfer to Potsdam City Center:
$114
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Round Trip Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Transfer to Potsdam City Center:
$146
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Private Transfer from Potsdam to Berlin Tegel Airport:
$182
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Private Business Transfer from Hotel in Potsdam to Schönefeld Airport (SXF):
$70
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport to Potsdam City - One Way:
$108
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Departure Airport Transfer from Potsdam Hotels to Berlin BER Airport:
$198
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Berlin Airport Departure Transfer from Potsdam Hotels:
$198
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Potsdam or Mainz?
Prices for flights to both Mainz 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.
In Mainz, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Potsdam
Here are a few actual costs in Potsdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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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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Guided tour “Love stories of Potsdam”:
$496
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Potsdam Private Walking Tour:
$184
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Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour:
$383
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Potsdam and Palace Cecilienhof Walking Tour:
$383
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Potsdam by Boat: Island Cruise:
$29
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Potsdam, City of Kings: Private Walking Tour:
$264
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Havel Lakes Cruise:
$24
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Private City Tour Potsdam Conference 1945:
$433
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Private Half-Day Walking Tour of Potsdam and Sanssouci:
$210
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Private Potsdam City Tour in a Russian vintage minibus:
$446
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
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.
Typically, people visiting Mainz spend on average €17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Potsdam and Mainz, we can see that Mainz 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 Mainz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mainz than you might in Potsdam.
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