Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zurich or Leuven?
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 Leuven. 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 Leuven?
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.
Leuven
Lying just east of Brussels, Leuven is a Belgian city and capital of the Province of Flemish Brabant known for its breweries, historic architecture, and university. Because of the university, the town is at its busiest during the academic year (September through June), but there is plenty to see and do during all seasons.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZurich $268Leuven $193
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $268, while the average daily cost in Leuven is $193. 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 Leuven in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZurich $170Leuven $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZurich $340Leuven $200
Compare Hotels in Zurich and Leuven
Looking for a hotel in Zurich or Leuven? 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 Leuven Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zurich $36Leuven $66
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:
- Airport Zurich Transfer Mercedes S Class 3pax: $179
- Airport Zurich Transfer Mercedes V-Class 6pax: $168
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City by Luxury Van: $138
- Arrival Transfer: Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich in Luxury Van: $91
- Arrival Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Private Car/Van: $95
- Davos: Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport: $601
- Departure Private Transfer from Zurich to Zurich Airport ZRH by Luxury Van: $138
- Departure Transfer from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Private Car/Van: $95
- EnglishPrivate One Way Transfer Zurich Airport To Davos: $374
- From Zurich Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer To Zurich Hotel: $78
- From Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to Lucerne: $314
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $257
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels hotels-Arrival Private Transfer: $24
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to Brussels city - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Brussels Airport Shuttle Transfer <-> Brussels (1 to 8 PLACES): $34
- Private transfer from Airport(BRU) to Brussels City Center: $44
- Brussels Airport(BRU) to City hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
- Private transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels city Business car: $54
- Brussels Airport Transfer <-> Tomorrowland Boom (1 to 8 Places): $58
- Private Airport Transfer: Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels: $65
- Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $65
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Brussels Airport: $70
- Private Transfer from Brussels Airport to the city of Brussels: $73
- Private Arrival Transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels City by Business Car: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Zurich or Leuven?
Prices for flights to both Leuven 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 $62Leuven $53
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leuven
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leuven.
- Mechelen Small-Group Walking Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $75
- Mechelen Food Tour: $82
- Vegan Walking Food Tour in Mechelen: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zurich $36Leuven $25
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Reading Tour: $5.47
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Zurich Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $6.42
- Escape Game and Tour: $6.42
- Best of Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Fun adventure tour of Outdoor Escape Game: $8.54
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Zürich: Swiss Finance Museum Admission Ticket: $11
- Zurich in the Mirror of the Past: Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- The Dark Side of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $11
- Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: 2-Hours: $14
Tours and Activities in Leuven
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Walking Tour with Offline Access: $5.99
- Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
- Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $52
- Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $52
- Guided Small-Group Cycling Tour of Mechelen: $60
- Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $63
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive City Tour: $74
- Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $229
- Soothing Corners of Leuven - Romantic Tour: $288
- Special Christmas Journey in Leuven - Walking Tour: $395
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZurich $29Leuven $27
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zurich and Leuven, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Leuven much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leuven would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leuven 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 Leuven.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zurich Expensive? and Is Leuven Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zurich or Leuven?
Zurich has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and Leuven, 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 Leuven?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Zurich or Leuven in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Leuven. The music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Zurich this time of year.
Zurich is a little warmer than Leuven in the summer. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Leuven fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In Zurich, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zurich usually receives more sunshine than Leuven during summer. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 186 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zurich usually receives more rain than Leuven. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZurich 21°C (70°F)Leuven 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Leuven in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Leuven. Many travelers come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Zurich is around the same temperature as Leuven. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zurich in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Leuven averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Zurich often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 114 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Leuven. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZurich 13°C (56°F)Leuven 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Leuven in the Winter?
Both Leuven and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Zurich in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Leuven can be very cold during winter. Zurich can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Zurich is generally around the same temperature as Leuven. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 3°C (37°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Zurich usually receives more sunshine than Leuven during winter. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 49 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zurich usually receives more rain than Leuven. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZurich 3°C (37°F)Leuven 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Leuven in the Spring?
Both Leuven and Zurich during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Zurich for the natural beauty during these months.
Zurich is a little warmer than Leuven in the spring. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Leuven fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In the spring, Zurich often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 147 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in April than Leuven. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZurich 12°C (53°F)Leuven 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Leuven and Zurich
| Zurich | Leuven | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 76 mm (3 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.