Should you visit Toulon or Arles?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Toulon and Arles can help you decide which place is right for you.
Toulon
Located between Marseille and Nice, Toulon is in the western portion of the French Riviera and in the southeast of Provence. It's economy is heavily reliant on a French naval base in the area. This base is responsible for the creation of thousands of jobs. The city is also a significant tourist destination, with over 150,000 visitors every year.
Arles
Arles is a city (and commune) in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhone department. A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory. The city has a long history, and was considerably important in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. The Arles area is full of culture and rich in history. It has many treasures, points of interest, and colorful sunbaked houses and is a great introduction into the Camarguais culture.
Which city is cheaper, Arles or Toulon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Toulon is €95, while the average daily cost in Arles is €113. 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 Toulon and Arles in more detail.
Accommodation
Toulon's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €126. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €63.
Arles's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €114. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €57.
Food
In Toulon travelers spend around €24 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Arles travelers spend around €41 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Toulon €24
Arles €41
Typical Food prices in Arles
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arles:
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Cooked Clams
€4.50
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Ice Cream
€1.00
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Toulon is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €5.71 per person, per day, on local transportation in Toulon.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €18 per day to get around in Arles.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Toulon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Toulon:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Toulon-Hyères Airport to Toulon City - One Way:
$73
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Private Transfer Toulon Airport to Agay:
$162
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Antibes:
$220
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Bagnols en foret:
$153
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Boulouris:
$149
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Callian:
$166
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Cavalaire:
$112
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Cogolin:
$124
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Draguignan:
$137
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Fayence:
$166
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Frejus:
$137
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Private Transfer from Toulon Hyeres Airport to Gassin:
$112
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arles
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arles:
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Transfer les baux de Provence to Marseille Airport:
$332
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Airport transfer from Arles to Marseille Airport:
$415
Is it cheaper to fly into Toulon or Arles?
Prices for flights to both Arles and Toulon 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
Entertainment and activities in Toulon typically cost an average of €11 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €24 per person, per day in Arles. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Toulon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Toulon are as follows:
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Guided Tour in Port & Old City:
$50
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Full-Day VIP Village Tour of Provence:
$498
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Provence Villages Private Day Tour including Cassis Toulon Shore Excursion:
$998
Typical Entertainment prices in Arles
Here are a few typical costs in Arles for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Castle Entrance Fee
€5.50
Tours and Activities in Arles
Here are a few actual costs in Arles for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Family Tour in the Footsteps of Van Gogh (Self-drive, plan 1 full day):
$35
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Half-Day Stone Monuments of Provence Tour:
$81
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Lavender Tour Full day from Arles:
$130
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Provence in a Day Full-Day Tour from Arles:
$143
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Classic old town Arles from Romans to Vincent Van Gogh - half day private tour:
$168
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Arles private walking tour: Van Gogh and Roman routes:
$249
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Arles 2-Hour Private Walking Tour:
$261
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2-Hour Private Walking Tour:
$285
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Marseille Shore Excursion: Private Arles and Les Baux de Provence Tour:
$454
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Private Tour of Avignon, Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape from Arles:
$460
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Private Tour of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille from Arles:
$469
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Half day Private Tour of Nimes:
$498
Alcohol
The average person spends about €11 on alcoholic beverages in Toulon per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Arles may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Toulon
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Toulon:
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Toulon Shore Excursion - Private Full Day Wine Tour in Provence:
$349
Sample the Local Flavors in Arles
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Arles:
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Full private day Avignon Chateuneuf du pape wine tasting:
$829
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Toulon and Arles, we can see that Arles is more expensive. And not only is Toulon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Toulon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Toulon 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 Arles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arles than you might in Toulon.
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