Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Guatemala City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City?
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.
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $270Guatemala City $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $270, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $44. 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 Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $175Guatemala City $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $350Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Bern and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $36Guatemala City $6.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $198
- Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $220
- Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $235
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
- Antigua Guatemala: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
- Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $25
- San Salvadorz: Convenient bus transfer from/to Guatemala: $34
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Hotels: $43
- From Guatemala City One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey: $54
- From One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $59
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $68
- Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $72
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
- One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
- Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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 $65Guatemala City $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
- Cooking and class with Private Guatemalan Chef : $72
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $90
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $36Guatemala City $1.21
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: $3.32
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.52
- Self-Guided Reading City Tour in Bern: $5.89
- Self-Guided Reading City Tour in Bern: $6.06
- Highlights App Guided Tour with Puzzles: $6.63
- Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.49
- Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.49
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.49
- Self-Guided City Tour with Quizzes on your Phone: $8.85
- Self-Guided Tour of Bern's Fountains, Clocktowers, and Legends: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio City Tour in Bern: $12
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- Guided Walking Tour in Guatemala City: $25
- Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
- Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
- Guatemala City; walking tour: $35
- Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
- Private Tour: Antigua Guatemala Walking Tour from Antigua Guatemala: $35
- UNESCO JEWELS: Antigua Half Day Tour from Guatemala City: $38
- City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
- 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
- Half-Day Guatemala City Tour : $55
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
- Full-Day Tour: Colonial Antigua, Jade Factory and Textile Experience from Guatemala City: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $29Guatemala City $6.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Guatemala City, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Guatemala City is in Central 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Guatemala City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Guatemala City?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Guatemala City, 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.