Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bern or La Paz?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or La Paz? 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 La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Bern Prices
Switzerland PricesLa Paz Prices
Bolivia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $311La Paz $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $311, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $56. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $171La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $342La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Bern and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Bern or La Paz? 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 La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $35La Paz $9.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
- Private transfer from Bern to Basel with a 2 hour stop in Olten: $226
- Private Transfer Service from Bern to Bern Airport: $134
- Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $243
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- La Paz:Private transfer from La Paz Hotels to El Alto Aiport: $19
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $19
- Transfer from El Alto International Airport - Hotel: $23
- Cholitas Wrestling Tickets and Transfer: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
- Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
- Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Airport Transfer In_night: $47
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
- Private Transfer from Airport to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $110La Paz $28
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bolivian Cooking Class: $30
- Real Street Food Tour La Paz: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $36La Paz $16
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): $60
- Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $174
- Bern Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour With A Guide: $87
- Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $180
- Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $64
- Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $567
- Bern Private Walking Tour: $355
- Bern Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $84
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $8.08
- Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $18
- Bern to Maison Cailler Chocolate Factory to Geneva Airport Tour: $200
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking city tour La Paz: $2.50
- Walking tour of the city of La Paz: $2.50
- La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
- Be a Local Walking Tour: $8.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- La Paz and El Alto: Cable Car Rides and Walking Tour: $10
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- City Walking Tours - Full Day ( SHARED SERVICE ) : $10
- Tour to the Heart of the City of La Paz San Pedro cable car: $12
- Titicaca Lake - Bus Ticket - From La Paz City - Ow: $12
- City Tour Essential Urban Experience: $18
- Tiwanaku; Pre Incan Ruins Tours from La Paz: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $28La Paz $11
Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and La Paz, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is La Paz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and La Paz is in South 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 La Paz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Paz 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 La Paz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or La Paz?
La Paz has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and La Paz, 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.