Which place is cheaper, Leiden or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zurich or Leiden?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zurich and Leiden. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Zurich or Leiden?
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
Leiden
Leiden is a city in the province of South Holland. It is south of the Netherlands capital, Amsterdam, and has a population of about 190,000. It is known for its university, museums, markets, and of course, canals. Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands and is a sister school of Oxford, which is England's oldest university.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZurich $268Leiden $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $268, while the average daily cost in Leiden is $144. 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 Zurich and Leiden in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZurich $170Leiden $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZurich $340Leiden $168
Compare Hotels in Zurich and Leiden
Looking for a hotel in Zurich or Leiden? 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: Zurich Hotel Prices and Leiden Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zurich $36Leiden $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Zurich:Transfer and Ticket to Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum: $110
- Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $160
- Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport: $108
- One-Way Private Airport Transfer: $132
- 1-Way Private Transfer from the airport to Zurich: $189
- Zurich to Lucerne one way Private Transfer : $299
- Zurich City to Zurich Airport one way Private Transfer : $103
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to/from Zurich City: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to/from Lucerne: $253
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to Greater Zurich Area: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer from Greater Zurich Area: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer Zurich Airport to Lucerne: $329
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leiden
Also for Leiden, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zero Emission Tesla Taxi Transfer from Leiden Area to the Airport: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Zurich or Leiden?
Prices for flights to both Leiden and Zurich 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 dayZurich $62Leiden $42
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zurich $36Leiden $19
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- 007-Elegance: Exclusive Private Tour Schilthorn from Zürich: $629
- 2 Hour Private Walking Tour to Explore the Gems of Zürich: $276
- 3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg: $101
- Adventure to Mount Pilatus Gold and Silver tour: $157
- Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Zürich: $652
- Alpine Majesty:Zürich to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $803
- Beer Tasting Tour in Zurich: $129
- Best Intro Tour of Zurich with a Local: $125
- Best of Zürich & Surroundings: Walking Tour, Cable Car and Ferry: $90
- Best of Zurich Tour with Felsenegg Cable Car and Ferry Ride : $74
- Best of Zurich and Surroundings - Extended City Sightseeing Tour: $88
- Bike Private Tour with Pickup and Drop off From Zurich: $114
Tours and Activities in Leiden
For Leiden, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Highlights Walking Tour in Leiden with Audio and GPS Guide: $7.55
- Hortus Botanicus Entry Ticket: $9.59
- Guided City Canal Cruise: $13
- The Hidden Stories of Leiden - Self-guided audio tour: $14
- Self-Guided City Trail Kids Tour in Noordwijk (4-8 years): $21
- Windmill cruise through Warmond: $21
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Sea Tour: $26
- 90 minutes Walking tour and Escape room in Leiden: $27
- Discover Leiden with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $27
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Leiden Tour: $32
- Self-guided city trail - JOLA's Schnipseljagd Noordwijk Tour: $32
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZurich $29Leiden $28
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour with Shots and Snacks: $31
- eTukTuk Hot Stone BBQ and Wine Tour Zürich: $129
- Informative wine tasting with Italian appetizers in the secure wine cellar: $156
Sample the Local Flavors in Leiden
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Leiden:
- Leiden Private Self-Guided Pub Crawl Pub Quiz: $21
- Leiden Private Self Guided Pub Crawl: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zurich and Leiden, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Leiden much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leiden would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leiden 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich than you might in Leiden.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zurich Expensive? and Is Leiden Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zurich or Leiden?
Zurich has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Leiden. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and Leiden, 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 Zurich or Leiden?
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.
Should I visit Zurich or Leiden in the Summer?
Both Leiden and Zurich during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Zurich is a little warmer than Leiden. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zurich in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Leiden averages at about 17°C (62°F).
In Leiden, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zurich. In the summer, Zurich often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 204 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in July than Leiden. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZurich 21°C (70°F)Leiden 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Leiden in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Leiden. Many visitors come to Zurich in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Zurich is generally a little warmer than Leiden. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 13°C (56°F), and Leiden fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Zurich usually receives more sunshine than Leiden during autumn. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zurich usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leiden. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZurich 13°C (56°F)Leiden 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Leiden in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Leiden. Most visitors come to Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
The weather in Leiden can be very cold. Zurich can be very cold during winter. Zurich is a little warmer than Leiden in the winter. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Leiden fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Zurich often gets more sunshine than Leiden. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leiden receives 46 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in January than Leiden. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZurich 3°C (37°F)Leiden 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Leiden in the Spring?
Both Leiden and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Zurich because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Zurich is much warmer than Leiden. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zurich in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Leiden averages at about 8°C (46°F).
Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Leiden during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Leiden receives 166 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Zurich usually receives more rain than Leiden. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Leiden receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZurich 12°C (53°F)Leiden 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Leiden and Zurich
| Zurich | Leiden | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.