Should you visit Rouen or Marseille?
Should I visit Rouen or Marseille? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Rouen
Rouen is a city on the River Seine in the north of France. It is the capital of the region of Normandy. It was formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Medieval Europe. The city has had a turbulent history. It was devastated by fire and plague several times during the Middle Ages, and was occupied by the English during the Hundred Years War. The young French heroine Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) was tried for heresy and burned at the stake in the central square in 1431. And during WWII, Allied bombing raids laid waste to large parts of the city, especially south of the cathedral.
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
Which city is cheaper, Marseille or Rouen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Rouen is €87, while the average daily cost in Marseille is €117. 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 Rouen and Marseille in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €42. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Rouen the cost is €84 on average.
The prices for places to stay in Marseille can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €56, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €112.
Food
The average traveler spends about €28 per day in Rouen for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
The average traveler spends about €34 per day in Marseille for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Rouen €28
Marseille €34
Typical Food prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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3-Hour Shore Excursion Walking Food Tour:
$85
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Cool Food Tour and Street art Marseille:
$106
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Great Marseille Food Tour Experience:
$107
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Walking Food Tour with Tastings:
$108
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Food Tour Excursion in Provence !:
$771
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Rouen is €27 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.
Marseille's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €23 per person, per day on transportation in Marseille.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rouen
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rouen:
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Private Transfer: Rouen to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):
$444
Typical Local Transportation prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Marseille Private Transfer from City Centre to Marseille Cruise Port:
$9.41
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Ultra - Marseille Private Transfer from Marseille Cruise Port to City Centre:
$9.41
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Ultra - Marseille Private Airport Transfer from Cruise Port to Marseille Airport:
$9.41
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Ultra - Marseille Private Airport Transfer from City Centre to Marseille Airport:
$9.41
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Private Arrival Transfer from Marseille Cruise Port to Marseille City Center:
$29
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Private Departure Transfer from Marseille City Center to Marseille Cruise Port:
$29
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Private Business Car Arrival Transfer: Marseille Cruise Port to Marseille city:
$41
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Private Business Car Departure Transfer: Marseille city Marseille Cruise Port:
$41
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Private Airport Transfer: from Marseille to Marseille Airport (MRS):
$50
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Private Transfer from Marseille Cruise Port Terminal to Marseille Airport (MRS):
$51
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Private Business Van Departure Transfer: Marseille city to Marseille Cruise Port:
$55
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Private Business Car Transfer: Marseille city or Port to Marseille Airport MRS:
$60
Is it cheaper to fly into Rouen or Marseille?
Prices for flights to both Marseille and Rouen 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
Rouen's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €14 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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Marseille can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €30 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Rouen
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rouen are as follows:
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Private Tour: D-Day Beaches from Rouen:
$560
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Private Tour: Rouen, Bayeux, and Falaise Day Trip from Rouen:
$498
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Rouen Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$61
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Rouen Private Walking Tour:
$230
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Welcome to Private Walking Tour with a Local:
$34
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Marseille Walking Tour - The Other Side:
$1.24
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Marseille Walking Tour - La Panier:
$1.24
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Mucem Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket:
$12
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Le Panier - Walking Tour of Marseille's Historic Neighborhood:
$15
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City Segway Tour - Explore the Panier neighborhood in an unexpected way:
$25
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Marseille Segway Tour - Explore the Panier neighborhood in an unexpected way:
$25
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Panier Neighborhood 1-Hour Segway Tour:
$34
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City Segway Tour - Discover the beauty of the Pharo Palace and its neighborhood:
$37
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Marseille Segway Tour - Discover the beauty of the Pharo Palace and its neighborhood:
$37
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Marseille Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$39
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Marseille Smalll Group Electric Bike Tour:
$41
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Calanques Picnic Cruise:
$44
Alcohol
The average person spends about €6.29 on alcoholic beverages in Rouen per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Marseille spend on average €22 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
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Aix en Provence Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille:
$137
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Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille:
$137
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Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille:
$137
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Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence:
$137
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Marseille Shore Excursion - Private Full Day Wine Tour in Provence:
$348
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Provence wine tour of vineyards & the best foods & wine of Provence private tour:
$404
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Provence Private Wine Tasting Tour from Marseille:
$435
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Wine tour of Châteauneuf du Pape, gastronomy, wines & joie de vivre private tour:
$435
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Aix en Povence Private Half Day Tour including Wine Tasting from Marseille:
$523
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Coteaux d'Aix: Ste Victoire Wine Tour & Cezanne Mill Visit:
$567
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Bandol Wine Tour - 4 hour Private tour:
$650
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Coteaux D'Aix : Half Day Wine Tour:
$650
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rouen and Marseille, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Rouen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rouen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rouen 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Rouen.
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