Which place is cheaper, Leuven or Birmingham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Birmingham or Leuven?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Birmingham and Leuven can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Birmingham or Leuven?
Birmingham
Birmingham, England, is often known as Britain's second-largest city. It is located in the western Midlands of England. Birmingham is nearly in the center of England, so almost all rail and motorways cross here. The city gained popularity and status during the industrial revolution and is still one of the main cities for industrial production and power, ranging from electricity to metal. Because of its importance as an industrial hub, it is one of the most populated cities in England. In more recent years, Birmingham has done a lot to add to the overall cultural scene of the city with the addition of museums and art.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Belgium, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Belgium.
-
Birmingham Prices
UK PricesLeuven Prices
Belgium Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBirmingham £161Leuven £187
The average daily cost (per person) in Birmingham is £161, while the average daily cost in Leuven is £187. 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 Birmingham and Leuven in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBirmingham £66Leuven £81
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBirmingham £132Leuven £162
Compare Hotels in Birmingham and Leuven
Looking for a hotel in Birmingham 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: Birmingham Hotel Prices and Leuven Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Birmingham £25Leuven £54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Birmingham
Also for Birmingham, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport BHX to Birmingham in Business Car: $70
- Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Birmingham - Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Birmingham Airport : Bus transferring to/from Birmingham: $5.79
- Birmingham Airport : Bus transferring to/from Leicester: $11
- Birmingham Private Transfer from Birmingham Airport to City centre: $125
- Birmingham Private Transfer from Birmingham city centre to Birmingham Airport: $127
- Birmingham to Birmingham Airport BHX - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Departure Private Transfers from Birmingham to Airport BHX in Business Car: $70
- Private Birmingham Arrival Transfer - Airport to Hotel / Accommodation: $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leuven
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leuven:
- Round Trip Private Transfer Brussels Airport BRU to Antwerp City by Luxury Van: $299
- Transfer from Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB S-CLASS 3 PAX: $257
- Private transfer from BRU Airport - Brussels GO BACK MB E-CLASS 3 PAX: $257
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Namur MB E Class 1-3 PAX (ONE WAY): $245
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Antwerp MB V-CLASS 7 PAX: $221
- Private transfer DE BRU Airport - - > Gent MB E-CLASS 3 PAX: $203
- Transfer From Brussels Airport to Charleroi Airport: $191
- Arrival Private Transfer from Brussels Airport BRU to Ghent City by Luxury Van: $182
- Private transfer from BRU Airport to Brussels city with Mercedes V class 7 pax: $167
- Transfer Brussels Airport -> Brussels MB V Class 7 PAX (ONE WAY): $167
- Transfer Brussels Airport (BRU) -> City Center 7 PAX (ONE WAY): $167
- Transfer from Brussels Airport to Brussels MB V Class 7 PAX: $167
Is it cheaper to fly into Birmingham or Leuven?
Prices for flights to both Leuven and Birmingham 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
-
Food Meals for one dayBirmingham £66Leuven £74
Typical Food Prices in Birmingham
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Birmingham:
-
Two Subs at Birmingham Bus Station£5.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Birmingham
For Birmingham, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Self Guided Half Day Food Tour in Birmingham: $94
- Delicious Healthy Cooking Classes: $121
- Traditional Mediterranean Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $149
- Spanish Tapas and Paella Cooking Class (Includes 5-Course Meal): $149
- Italian Cooking Class With Tiramisu in Birmingham: $149
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Leuven
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Leuven.
- Mechelen Food Tour: $96
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Birmingham £48Leuven £20
Tours and Activities in Birmingham
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Birmingham.
- Birmingham Ghost Hunt: Haunted Self-Guide Tour & Quest: $5.94
- Birmingham Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.41
- Photography Walking Tour in Birmingham: $6.80
- Birmingham Bricks and Canals Self Guided Tour with App: $7.51
- Birmingham Self-Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- On the Origins of Charles Darwin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Shrewsbury: $12
- Birmingham Private Self-Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Winterbourne House and Garden Admission Ticket: $13
- Skip the Line: House and Garden Admission Ticket : $13
- Birmingham Historical Tour: $16
- 2.5-Hours Walking Tour of Birmingham into Black Heritage Madiba: $19
- Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 2pm): $19
Tours and Activities in Leuven
Here are a few actual costs in Leuven for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Belgium Mechelen Guided Tour Guide: $31
- Lost Lanes and Secret Gardens Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Mechelen Small-Group Running Tour: $69
- Mechelen Small-Group Walking Tour with a small meal /snack: $90
- Private 2 Hour Walking Tour of Mechelen : $299
- Pub Trail Mechelen: an adventure full of surprises: $13
- Small-Group Chocolate Tour in Mechelen: $81
- Small-Group Mechelen City Guided Walking Tour: $69
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBirmingham £11Leuven £22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Birmingham and Leuven, we can see that Leuven is more expensive. And not only is Birmingham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Birmingham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Birmingham 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 Leuven would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Leuven than you might in Birmingham.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Birmingham Expensive? and Is Leuven Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Birmingham or Leuven?
Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Leuven. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham 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 Birmingham or Leuven?
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 Birmingham or Leuven in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as Leuven. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Birmingham is around the same temperature as Leuven. Typically, the summer temperatures in Birmingham in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Leuven averages at about 18°C (65°F).
In the summer, Birmingham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leuven. Birmingham gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 186 hours of full sun.
Birmingham usually gets less rain in July than Leuven. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyBirmingham 17°C (63°F)Leuven 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Birmingham or Leuven in the Autumn?
Both Leuven and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the shopping scene and the music scene.
In October, Birmingham is generally around the same temperature as Leuven. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 11°C (52°F), and Leuven fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Leuven during autumn. Birmingham gets 103 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 114 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Leuven. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBirmingham 11°C (52°F)Leuven 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Birmingham or Leuven in the Winter?
Both Leuven and Birmingham during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Leuven. It's quite cold in Birmingham in the winter. Birmingham is around the same temperature as Leuven in the winter. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Leuven fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Birmingham often gets more sunshine than Leuven. Birmingham gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leuven receives 49 hours of full sun.
Birmingham usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Leuven. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBirmingham 3°C (38°F)Leuven 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Birmingham or Leuven in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and Leuven.
In the spring, Birmingham is around the same temperature as Leuven. Typically, the spring temperatures in Birmingham in April average around 9°C (48°F), and Leuven averages at about 10°C (49°F).
Birmingham usually receives less sunshine than Leuven during spring. Birmingham gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Leuven receives 147 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Birmingham usually receives less rain than Leuven. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Leuven receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilBirmingham 9°C (48°F)Leuven 10°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Leuven and Birmingham
| Birmingham | Leuven | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.