Which place is cheaper, Calgary or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Calgary?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Calgary? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bern or Calgary?
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.
Calgary
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and, located at the edge of the prairie and foothills, it is a gateway to the Rocky Mountains. If you're headed to Banff or Jasper, this is likely to be your first stop. It's also Canada's fourth largest city and worth a few days visit. Calgary's economy is diverse, but includes energy, financial services, film and television, transportation, technology, manufacturing, and much more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $252Calgary $156
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, while the average daily cost in Calgary is $156. 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 Bern and Calgary in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $163Calgary $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $326Calgary $148
Compare Hotels in Bern and Calgary
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Calgary? 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: Bern Hotel Prices and Calgary Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $34Calgary $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Calgary
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Calgary:
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Sunshine Village : $60
- Private Transfer from Calgary Airport to Calgary Hotels: $63
- Alberta Transfer: Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, Calgary: $67
- Calgary Int Airport (YYC) to Fernie - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Calgary Downtown Transfers: $88
- Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Airport (YYC) - Calgary Downtown: $91
- Transfer in private minivan from Calgary Downtown - Calgary Airport (YYC): $91
- Arrival Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary in Business Car: $108
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport to Downtown: $111
- Calgary hotel or address to Calgary Airport (YYC) - Departure Private Transfer: $115
- Private Transfer: Calgary Airport YYC to Calgary by Luxury SUV: $119
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Calgary Airport (YYC) -Calgary Downtown: $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Calgary?
Prices for flights to both Calgary and Bern 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 dayBern $60Calgary $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.
- Cooking delicious Spanish paella in Switzerland.: $66
Typical Food Prices in Calgary
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Calgary:
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Bread, Chips, Cheese$8.16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Calgary
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Calgary.
- Light Brunch & Food Tour at Calgary Farmers' Market WEST: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Calgary $16
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.39
- Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $7.48
- Escape Game and Tour: $8.61
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends: $9.99
- Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- City Sightseeing Self-Guided Walking Tour Game: $15
- Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Calgary
Here are a few typical costs in Calgary for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Stampede Admission (for 2)$22
Tours and Activities in Calgary
Here are a few actual costs in Calgary for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Bow River Trail Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Downtown Calgary a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- 3-Hour Tips Based Walking Tour of Calgary: $5.46
- 3-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Rocky Mountains: Smartphone Driving and Walking Audio Tours: $15
- Calgary Downtown: 2-Hour Introductory Walking Tour: $22
- Heritage Park Historical Village Admission Ticket: $26
- Calgary self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt: $38
- Sheep & Spirits: Diamond Valley Hiking Experience: $39
- 3-Hour Sightseeing Bus Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Calgary $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Calgary
Also in Calgary, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Calgary Brewery and Wine Tours at Award Winning Venues: $83
- Calgary Brewery Tour: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Calgary, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Calgary much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Calgary is in North America, 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 Calgary would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Calgary 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 Calgary.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Calgary Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Calgary?
Calgary has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Calgary, 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.
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.