A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Addis Ababa vs. Bern for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Addis Ababa or Bern?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Bern, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Bern?

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.

Bern

The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland.


Which place is cheaper, Bern or Addis Ababa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $35, while the average daily cost in Bern is $324. 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 Addis Ababa and Bern in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Addis Ababa $19
    Bern $178
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Addis Ababa $38
    Bern $356
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Bern

Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Bern? 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.

Hotels in Addis Ababa


Hotels in Bern


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: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Bern Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Addis Ababa $3.40
    Bern $37
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa

Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
  • City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $35
  • Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $146

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • Private direct transfer from Bern to Lucerne: $249
  • Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $238

Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Bern?

Prices for flights to both Bern and Addis Ababa 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 day
    Addis Ababa $13
    Bern $114
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:


  • Slice of Cake
    $0.05

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa

For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
  • Flavors of Ethiopia Explore Traditional Cooking Class : $67
  • Ethiopian Cultural Dinner in Addis Ababa with LIVE Traditional Dance Show: $77
  • Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
  • HALF DAY + DINNER Addis Ababa City Tour: $140
  • Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Coffee Ceremony at a Home in Addis Ababa: $168
  • Cooking Class and City Tour in Addis Ababa: $193

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Addis Ababa $3.51
    Bern $37

Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.

  • Layover in Addis: Tailored Tours for Transit Passengers: $25
  • Explores the Heart of Addis Ababa full day city tour: $50
  • Addis Ababa City Tour. : $52
  • Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
  • Addis Ababa Guided City Tour With Airport & Hotel Pick Up: $60
  • Addis Ababa Half-Day museum Market Food,& Coffee Ceremony Tours: $60
  • Half day Addis Ababa Authentic city tour: $65
  • Addis Ababa Group City Day Tour: $65
  • 4 Hour Addis Cuisine Tasting Tour: $65
  • A Guided Tour of Addis Ababa That Includes a City Viewpoint: $65
  • Addis Ababa +Mount Entoto View Point,Museums Palace Market Tours: $66
  • "Discover An Exclusive Private Tour Experience": $69

Tours and Activities in Bern

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:

  • Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $85
  • Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
  • Bern Exploration Game and City Tour on your Phone: $10
  • Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $169
  • Bern Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour With A Guide: $85
  • Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $178
  • Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $62
  • Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $564
  • Bern Private Walking Tour: $353
  • Bern Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $82
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $7.92
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Addis Ababa $2.90
    Bern $29


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Addis Ababa is in Africa and Bern is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa 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 Bern would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bern than you might in Addis Ababa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Bern Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Bern?

Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Bern, 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.