Which place is cheaper, Brussels or Southampton?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Southampton or Brussels? 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.
Southampton is a up-and-coming, waterfront, and dynamic port city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Brussels is a cosmopolitan, authentic, and colorful city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Brussels than Southampton. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Brussels is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Southampton attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Brussels is more touristy than Southampton and is popular for its beautiful architecture, grand squares, diverse population, and delicious waffles. It is also well known for La Grand Place (Grote Markt). Southampton is famous for its popularity as a cruise ship port as well as its focus watersports.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Brussels and Southampton. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Brussels is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.
Brussels offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Popular sights include Saint-Michel Cathedral, Place Royale, and the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts. The city is filled with impressive architecture, fascinating art museums, and innovative science and technology museums.
If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Southampton. Museums are a favorite activity in town. There are a surprising number of options including SeaCity Museum, the Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery.
Brussels is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Brussels has a huge number of terrific restaurants. While the city is most known for its waffles and fries, the diversity of dishes and international restaurant selection continues to grow. There are Lebanese, Japanese, and Indian restaurants among others. Popular local dishes include moules-frites, waterzooi (a stew), and stoemp (made with mashed potatoes and vegetables).
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Southampton area. While most people used to pass through Southampton on their way somewhere else, the city now offers a dynamic food scene with local restaurants mixed with international options and even fine dining.
If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find nice options in both Southampton and Brussels.
If you're looking for night time activities Southampton has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is filled with restaurants, pubs, and bars as well as a few nightclubs mixed in.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Brussels. The city's nightlife is quieter and more mellow than some other major cities around Europe. That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of dance clubs and bars where you can hang out. Keep your wits about you after the sun goes down as some areas are a bit rougher than others.
Brussels is a great city for its old town. However, Southampton does not have a historic old town.
Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Brussels. The old town in the city center is where you'll find the greatest concentration of historic sights. The area is surrounded by tree-lined boulevards and is easy to explore.
Southampton does not have a historic old town.
Brussels is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its shopping areas.
Known for shopping, Brussels draws large crowds to its stores. Although it's famous for diamonds, the city also has many shopping streets where you can find designer brands, vintage shops, and other unique boutiques that are fun to explore.
Many visitors go to Southampton to go shopping. The city has two indoor shopping centers, as well as a range of markets and several independent vendors.
Brussels is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its family-friendly activities.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Brussels is very family-friendly. The city has a number of unique kid-friendly activities including a Mini-Europe Museum, a Comic Strip Museum, and Train World. The city is also a chocolate lover's dream with many factories and chocolate shops around town.
Southampton is a family-friendly place to visit. This cruise port city offers a handful of fascinating activities for kids including learning about the Mayflower and the Titanic. There are also many parks and gardens as well as the Mayflower Theater, which regularly has kid-family productions.
With fun activities for couples, both Southampton and Brussels make for a superb place to visit.
Southampton is a great port city if you're traveling as a couple. Museums, parks, gardens, and chartered boats all offer a romantic experience for couples visiting the area.
Brussels is a very popular place to visit for couples. From beautiful buildings and museums to shopping, dining, and chocolate shops, there are plenty of romantic spots around town. There's a vibrant nightlife scene and many diverse restaurants that couples can enjoy exploring.
Brussels is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
Many backpackers visit Brussels. The city has an active nightlife and a number of hostels that are great for backpackers, but do take note that some areas can get a bit rough at night, so make sure you understand where you are.
Southampton is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
Brussels is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Southampton is not popular with students.
Brussels is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The city has a number of universities that attract students from around the world. The multicultural setting is great for students of the world.
Southampton is not popular with students.
Brussels is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Southampton is not known for its public transit.
Public transit in Brussels is top-notch. Transit options include train, tram, metro, bus, and waterbuses.
Public transit is generally limited in Southampton. There are buses around town that make some areas accessible even without a car.
Brussels is a great city for its high level of walkability. Also, Southampton is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its ease of walking around.
Brussels is a very walkable city. If you stay in the historical area, it's easy to walk around and many boulevards are being converted to pedestrian areas.
Southampton is a somewhat walkable port city. It's possible to walk in parts of Southampton but in general it's easier to take a taxi.
For even more information, also check out Is Southampton Worth Visiting? and Is Brussels Worth Visiting?.
In either Southampton or Brussels, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Brussels than Southampton because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Southampton, and 1-5 days is enough time in Brussels.
Families should spend more time in Brussels than Southampton. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Brussels, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Brussels than Southampton. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Brussels that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Brussels than Southampton if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Brussels.
The port city of Southampton offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Brussels is a historic city where you can fill many days. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Most people visit for the shopping. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Southampton is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this port city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Southampton, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Brussels is a multicultural big city where you can fill many days. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Southampton is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Brussels is a multicultural city where you can fill many days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.
Southampton is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This port city offers something for everyone.
Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Brussels. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people visit for the shopping. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Southampton is £132, while the average daily cost in Brussels 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Southampton and Brussels in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Southampton or Brussels? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Southampton:
Also for Southampton, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Brussels are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Brussels:
Prices for flights to both Brussels and Southampton 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Southampton:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Brussels:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Brussels.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Southampton.
Here are a few actual costs in Brussels for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Brussels are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Brussels:
When comparing the travel costs between Southampton and Brussels, we can see that Southampton 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 Southampton Expensive? and Is Brussels Expensive?.
Brussels has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Southampton. When comparing the sizes of Southampton and Brussels, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Southampton as well as Brussels. Most visitors come to Southampton for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Brussels because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Brussels. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 18°C (64°F), and Brussels fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In the summer, Southampton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Brussels. Southampton gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brussels receives 186 hours of full sun.
Southampton usually gets less rain in July than Brussels. Southampton gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Brussels and Southampton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Southampton because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Brussels this time of year.
Southampton is around the same temperature as Brussels in the autumn. The daily temperature in Southampton averages around 12°C (53°F) in October, and Brussels fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Brussels during autumn. Southampton gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Brussels receives 114 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Southampton usually receives less rain than Brussels. Southampton gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Brussels and Southampton during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Southampton this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Brussels for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Brussels. It's quite cold in Southampton in the winter. In the winter, Southampton is a little warmer than Brussels. Typically, the winter temperatures in Southampton in January average around 4°C (40°F), and Brussels averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Southampton often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Brussels. Southampton gets 52 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Brussels receives 49 hours of full sun.
Southampton usually gets less rain in January than Brussels. Southampton gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Southampton and Brussels. Many travelers come to Southampton for the natural beauty. Furthermore, many visitors come to Brussels in the spring for the activities around the city.
In April, Southampton is generally around the same temperature as Brussels. Daily temperatures in Southampton average around 9°C (48°F), and Brussels fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Southampton usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Brussels during spring. Southampton gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Brussels receives 147 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Southampton usually receives less rain than Brussels. Southampton gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Brussels receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Southampton | Brussels | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
Mar | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
May | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Jun | 16°C (61°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Aug | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Sep | 15°C (59°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Oct | 12°C (53°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |