Which place is cheaper, Plzen or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Riga or Plzen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Plzen? 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 Plzen?
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.
Plzen
Renowned as the home of the pilsner beer, Plzen is a city located in the West Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. Beyond beer, it also features a number of impressive landmarks some of which include St. Bartholomew's Cathedral and the Great Synagogue.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesPlzen Prices
Czech Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Plzen €122
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Plzen is €122. 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 Plzen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Plzen €60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Plzen €120
Compare Hotels in Riga and Plzen
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Plzen? 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 Plzen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Plzen €8.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Riga Airport Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Riga International Airport RIX to Riga City: $38
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $43
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $45
- Departure Private Transfer Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Minivan: $52
- Transfer from Riga center to Airport: $53
- Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga Old city: $53
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $57
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga Cruise Port: $58
- Departure Transfer from Riga to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $71
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Plzen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Plzen:
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague: $94
- Private Transfer from Pilsen to Prague with 2 hours for sightseeing: $124
- Private Transfer from Pilsen(Plzen) to Prague: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Plzen?
Prices for flights to both Plzen 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
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Food Meals for one dayRiga €57Plzen €52
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €14Plzen €21
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- Medieval Quest Experience: $8.15
- Historic Canal Boat Tour with Audio Guide: $8.16
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $8.21
- Canal Boat Tour with Welcome Drink & Audio Guide: $8.21
- Riga Old Town Walking Tour: Stories, Legends & Riga Black Balsam: $9.33
- Old Town Electrobus Tour + Audio Guide & Drink: $9.38
- Panorama Riga Observation Deck Ticket: $9.38
- Evening or Sunset Boat Tour with Welcome Drink: $10
- Rowing boats and Pedal boat rental - River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga Panorama trip – Golden Autumn | River Cruises Latvia: $11
- Riga Golden Autumn Canal & River Cruise | River Cruises LV: $11
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
Tours and Activities in Plzen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Plzen are as follows:
- An Audio Tour of the City of Beer: Pilsen's History and Legends: $7.99
- Experience Pilsen through Digital Audio Guide in English: $11
- Pilsen: Historic Underground Tour with a Glass of Beer: $12
- Pilsen: Panoramic Sightseeing - Bus Tour with audio guide: $19
- Pilsen: Old Town Gastronomy Tour: $35
- Pilsen Walking Tour: Explore Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- Pilsen: Beer & Spirit Tasting Tour: $59
- Pilsen: Old Town Guided Walking Tour: $59
- Prague Walking and Beer Tour Discover Hidden Gems: $114
- Plzeň: Big Bunker Shooting Experience: $186
- Pilsen Private Walking Tour: $245
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Plzen €23
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 Plzen
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Plzen:
- Pilsen: Brewery Museum Entrance with a Glass of Beer: $7.62
- Pilsen: Pilsner Urquell Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $21
- Pilsen Highlights Small-Group Tour and Pilsner Brewery Tour including Lunch and Beer Tasting: $129
When comparing the travel costs between Riga and Plzen, we can see that Plzen 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 Plzen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Plzen?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Plzen. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Plzen, 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 Plzen?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Plzen in the Summer?
Both Plzen and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Riga in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Riga is generally cooler than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 17°C (63°F), and Plzen fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
In July, Riga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Plzen. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Plzen 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Riga or Plzen in the Autumn?
Both Plzen and Riga during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Riga for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
Riga is cooler than Plzen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 7°C (45°F) in October, and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in October than Plzen. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Riga or Plzen in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Plzen. The winter months attract visitors to Riga because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Plzen in the winter. The weather in Riga can be very cold. In the winter, Riga is much colder than Plzen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Riga in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Plzen averages at about -1°C (31°F).
In January, Riga usually receives more rain than Plzen. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Plzen -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Riga or Plzen in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Riga as well as Plzen. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
In April, Riga is generally much colder than Plzen. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 5°C (42°F), and Plzen fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in April than Plzen. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Plzen receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Plzen 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Plzen and Riga
| Riga | Plzen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 23 mm (0.9 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.