Which place is cheaper, Coimbra or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Riga or Coimbra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Coimbra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Coimbra?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal.
-
Riga Prices
Latvia PricesCoimbra Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Coimbra €138
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Coimbra is €138. 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 Riga and Coimbra in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Coimbra €44
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Coimbra €88
Compare Hotels in Riga and Coimbra
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Coimbra? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Riga Hotel Prices and Coimbra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Coimbra €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $258
- Riga Limo Airport Transfer: $174
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $163
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga City to Riga Airport (RIX) - Private Transfer.: $75
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Riga Airport Transfer: $35
- Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga City - Private Transfer.: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers Aveiro or Coimbra to Lisbon Airport: $156
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $158
- Transfer from Lisboa to Coimbra with visit to Fátima Sanctuary, half day: $198
- Private transfer from/to Fátima - Porto, Braga or Guimarães: $209
- Private transfer from Porto Airport to Coimbra: $211
- Private transfer from/to Fatima - Porto, Coimbra or Aveiro: $269
- Private Transfer Coimbra to Aveiro Costa Nova: $293
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Coimbra?
Prices for flights to both Coimbra and Riga 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
-
Food Meals for one dayRiga €57Coimbra €83
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
-
Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $127
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $245
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Erotic Cabaret Show and Dinner: $64
- Bairrada Food Tour: $115
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €14Coimbra €18
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town: $87
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $88
- ATV Quad guided off road tour: $198
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $79
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $46
- Best of Riga Private Walking Tour: $477
- Bobsleigh - Truly Unique Winter Adventure!: $169
- City tour for beginners in Riga: $64
- Compact Rundale Palace and Bauska Castle Private Tour: $220
- Deluxe Riga Tour from Cruise Port: $52
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.50
- Leiria Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $4.43
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.43
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.43
- Highlights Walking Tour With a Certified Guide: $5.82
- TOP Coimbra : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $5.85
- Coimbra Top Attractions Walking Tour: $5.85
- Coimbra Audio Guided Walking Tour 2h25 and 25 Audio Comments: $6.90
- Coimbra’s Timeless Tracks: An Enchanting Train Tour: $8.73
- Pilgrims and Pioneers: A Self-Guided Tour Audio of Tomar: $9.99
- Shepherds and Secrets: Audio Tour of Fátima’s Sacred Sites: $9.99
- Coimbra’s Jewish Heritage An Audio Tour of the Medieval Town: $9.99
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Coimbra €12
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Riga Pub Crawl Nightlife Experience: $37
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Latvian Brewery Visit and Beer Tasting: $52
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $75
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
- Shooting Range and Old Town Pub Crawl: $106
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Guided Wine Tasting with Regional Bites: $31
- Coimbra Food and Wine Tasting Private Guided Walk: $41
- Bairrada Sommelier Experience Wine Tasting and Lunch: $186
When comparing the travel costs between Riga and Coimbra, we can see that Coimbra 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Coimbra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Coimbra?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Coimbra, 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.
When is the best time to visit Riga or Coimbra?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Coimbra in the Summer?
Both Coimbra and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Riga is cooler than Coimbra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Coimbra averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Coimbra. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Coimbra 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Riga or Coimbra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Coimbra. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In October, Riga is generally much colder than Coimbra. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Coimbra fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
Coimbra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Riga usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Coimbra 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Riga or Coimbra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Coimbra. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. Riga is much colder than Coimbra in the winter. The daily temperature in Riga averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Coimbra fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Coimbra. Riga usually gets less rain in January than Coimbra. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Coimbra 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Riga or Coimbra in the Spring?
Both Coimbra and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Riga is much colder than Coimbra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Coimbra averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In April, Riga usually receives less rain than Coimbra. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Coimbra receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Coimbra 15°C (59°F)
Typical Weather for Coimbra and Riga
| Riga | Coimbra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 128 mm (5 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
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.