Should you visit Stuttgart or Hamburg?
Should I visit Stuttgart or Hamburg? 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.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is a large city in southern Germany, notably famous for being the headquarters to some auto industry giants such as Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. The population of the city proper is about 600,000 and there are two and half million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to the 10th century and today it is a large city that still maintains a small town vibe. The local residents are quite friendly and eager to welcome you to their city. They are also very accommodating if you do not speak German, so you can always expect a little help with translation if it is needed.
Hamburg
Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.
Which city is cheaper, Hamburg or Stuttgart?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Stuttgart is €129, while the average daily cost in Hamburg is €93. 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 Stuttgart and Hamburg in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €156 in Stuttgart For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Hamburg's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €86. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €43.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Stuttgart cost around €29 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €12.
The price of a meal in Hamburg can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €28 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Stuttgart €29
Hamburg €28
Typical Food prices in Stuttgart
For Stuttgart, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Stuttgart
For Stuttgart, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Stuttgart - wine and food tour with city highlights:
$288
Typical Food prices in Hamburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:
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Pink Thai Soup Dinner and Spring Rolls
€15
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Currywurst and Pommes Frites
€5.00
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Donner Kebab and Coke
€6.00
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Traditional Hamburg Dinner w/ Beer
€15
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Donner Kebab Lunch
€4.00
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Sandwich and Coffee Break
€6.00
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Fish Sandwich from Fish Market
€3.50
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Coffee and Donut
€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.
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Historic Reeperbahn Tour with Optional Dinner in Hamburg:
$38
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St. Georg Hamburg - Food Tour:
$45
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HafenCity & Elbphilharmonie - Food Tour:
$50
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Sternschanze Hamburg - Food Tour:
$53
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St. Pauli - Food Tour:
$53
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Eat Like A Local : Hamburg Private Food Tour With Tastings:
$146
Local Transportation
Stuttgart'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 €20 per person, per day on transportation in Stuttgart.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €23 per day to get around in Hamburg.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Stuttgart
Also for Stuttgart, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Frankfurt am Main International Airport to Stuttgart City - One Way:
$694
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Karlsruhe Baden-Baden Airport to Stuttgart City - One Way:
$297
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Mannheim-City Airport to Stuttgart City - One Way:
$337
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Memmingen Allgau Airport to Stuttgart City - One Way:
$388
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Stuttgart Airport to Stuttgart City - One Way:
$73
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Private Airport Transfer: Stuttgart Airport (STR) to Stuttgart:
$48
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Private Airport Transfer: from Stuttgart to Stuttgart Airport (STR):
$48
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Private Arrival Transfer from Stuttgart Airport to Stuttgart City:
$37
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Private Departure Transfer from Stuttgart City to Stuttgart Airport:
$37
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Private Stuttgart Airport - Stuttgart City Round-Trip Transfer:
$73
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Private Transfer from Stuttgart Airport STR to Heidelberg City by Minivan:
$207
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Private Transfer from Stuttgart Airport to Stuttgart City:
$100
Typical Local Transportation prices in Hamburg
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hamburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:
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Round Trip Private Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City by Sedan Car:
$124
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Round Trip Private Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City by Luxury Van:
$311
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Round Trip Private Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City by Luxury Car:
$280
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Round Trip Private Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg City by Business Car:
$228
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Private Transfer: Hamburg to Hamburg Airport (HAM):
$65
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Private Transfer: Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Hamburg:
$65
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Private Transfer: HAM Hamburg Airport to Hamburg City Center:
$40
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Private Transfer from Hamburg to Bremen:
$591
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Private Transfer from Hamburg Airport to Accommodation in Hamburg:
$93
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Private Transfer from Accommodation in Hamburg to Hamburg Airport:
$86
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Private Round-Trip Transfer: Hamburg HAM Airport - Hamburg City Center:
$85
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Private Departure Transfer from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport:
$42
Is it cheaper to fly into Stuttgart or Hamburg?
Prices for flights to both Hamburg and Stuttgart 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
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Stuttgart can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €31 per person, per day in Hamburg. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Stuttgart
For Stuttgart, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Stuttgart Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$39
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Panoramics of Stuttgart . City Tour:
$111
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Stuttgart Private Walking Tour:
$226
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Black Forest & Autobahn Driving Holiday - 560 KM - Self-Drive Tour:
$2,186
Typical Entertainment prices in Hamburg
Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Hamburg
Here are a few actual costs in Hamburg for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2-Hour Walking Tour: Hamburg Speicherstadt and HafenCity:
$160
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5-Day Independent Hamburg to Heidelberg Coach Tour:
$486
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5-Day Overnight Coach Tour from Hamburg to Munich:
$534
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5-Day Overnight Coach Tour from Hamburg to Stuttgart:
$726
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Alternative Hamburg Private Alternative Street Art Tour:
$274
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Best of Hamburg - Private tour:
$368
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Bird Watching Adventure Tour in Hamburg, South Africa:
$272
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City Tour of Hamburg with Hop-On, Hop-Off Ticket:
$22
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City Walking Tour DEADLY KIEZ:
$22
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City Walking Tour JEWISH HAMBURG:
$22
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City tour through Hamburg:
$24
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Craft Beer Tastings Tour in Hamburg:
$50
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Stuttgart spend on average €17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Hamburg may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Hamburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Hamburg:
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Hamburg Pub Crawl: 4 Bars, 1 Shot per Bar:
$14
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Corona Pub Crawl with special drinks:
$62
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Private guided Club & Pub tour - Pub Crawl:
$358
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Stuttgart and Hamburg, we can see that Stuttgart is more expensive. And not only is Hamburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hamburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hamburg 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 Stuttgart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Stuttgart than you might in Hamburg.
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