Should you visit Bern or Milan?
Should I visit Bern or Milan? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Milan
Milan, known to most of the world as the capital of fashion and style, is also the heart of Italian industry and economics. Between the stock exchange, cathedrals and boutiques, this metropolis is a city-lover's dream come true. It is an escape from the stresses of the real world, and provides a playground for all the world's most lavish luxuries.
Which city is cheaper, Milan or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $200, while the average daily cost in Milan is $151. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bern and Milan in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $129. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Bern the cost is $258 on average.
Travelers usually pay around $174 for a double occupancy room in Milan If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Bern can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $48 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $19 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
On average, meal and food prices in Milan cost around $35 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $14.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bern $48
Milan $35
Typical Food prices in Milan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Milan:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milan
For Milan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Florence: Private Family Food Tour:
$46
-
Dinner and Show at Maison Milano:
$66
-
Home Dinner Experience:
$70
-
Traditional Pasta, Pizza or Risotto Cooking Class:
$70
-
Homemade Tiramisu Cooking Class in Milan:
$72
-
Half-Day Food Tour on Foot:
$78
-
Afternoon Food Tour with Evening Food Tour in Milan:
$78
-
3-Hour Traditional Home Cooking Class:
$84
-
Pasta, Pizza & Dessert Evening Cooking Class:
$89
-
Dining experience at a local's home in Milan with show cooking:
$106
-
Half-Day Italian Cooking Class in Milano:
$106
-
Food Tour of Brera:
$110
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Bern is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $27 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bern.
Milan's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $32 per person, per day on transportation in Milan.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way:
$661
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Basel City - One Way:
$586
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Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport:
$416
-
Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center:
$318
-
Geneva: Premium 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Bern:
$277
-
Premium Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Interlaken:
$250
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Bern City - One Way:
$105
Typical Local Transportation prices in Milan
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Milan:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milan
Also for Milan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Bus Transfer Milan Bergamo Airport to Milan Central Station:
$6.71
-
Ultra - Milan Private Airport Transfer from city centre to Milan train station:
$9.41
-
Ultra - Milan Private Airport Transfer from city Milan centre to Malpensa (MXP):
$9.41
-
Ultra - Milan private transfer from train station to Milan city centre:
$9.41
-
Milan Hotel to Linate Airport: Shared Departure Transfer (max 8 people):
$21
-
From Luxury Transfers to Fidenza Village:
$22
-
Private Departure Van Transfer: Hotel to Linate Airport Milan (LIN):
$31
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Milan Linate Airport to Milan City:
$40
-
Private Departure Transfer from Milan City to Milan Linate Airport:
$40
-
Private Business Transfer from Milan City Center to Linate Airport (LIN):
$41
-
Private Departure Van Transfer: Hotel to Bergamo Airport (BGY):
$46
-
Private Departure Van Transfer: Hotel to Malpensa Airport Milan (MXP):
$46
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Milan?
Prices for flights to both Milan 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Bern typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Milan can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $28 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
-
Adventure: Diamond Skull Virtual Reality:
$230
-
Bern - Walking Tour with Licensed Guide:
$446
-
Bern Capital City Private Tour:
$194
-
Bern Capital City Small Group Tour:
$90
-
Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
-
Bern Old City Walking Tour:
$491
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Bern Old Town- Private Tour:
$435
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Bern Private Walking Tour:
$366
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Bern Private Walking Tour with Professional Guide:
$497
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1-Hour Must-See Express Tour:
$72
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2-Hour Historical Walking Tour:
$162
-
4-Hour City Tour with Private Guide:
$231
Typical Entertainment prices in Milan
For Milan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Stairs to Duomo Rooftop
$7.99
Tours and Activities in Milan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Milan.
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Branca Tower Entrance Ticket:
$6.71
-
Private 1.5-Hour Kickstart Tour:
$9.73
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Crypt of Leonardo Admission Ticket:
$12
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Entry Ticket to the Duomo Terraces:
$12
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Leonardo3 - The World of Leonardo Museum Entrance Ticket:
$13
-
Skip-the-Line Duomo Guided Tour:
$13
-
Bagatti Valsecchi Museum Ticket Entrance:
$14
-
Milan Cathedral: Rooftop Ticket:
$15
-
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: Highline Admission Tickets:
$15
-
Leonardo3 The World of Leonardo: Tickets for the Interactive Exhibition:
$15
-
Leonardo's Vineyard with Guided Tour Option:
$15
-
Milan Dark Ghost Tour on Foot:
$16
Alcohol
The average person spends about $21 on alcoholic beverages in Bern per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Milan, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
Typical Alcohol prices in Milan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Milan:
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Cocktail at a Bar
$9.59
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Beer
$3.82
Sample the Local Flavors in Milan
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Milan:
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Wine Tasting Experience:
$32
-
Wine Tasting Experience in the City Centre:
$40
-
Milan Wine Tasting Experience:
$45
-
Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting Experience in Milan:
$52
-
Brera Wine Tasting Tour:
$54
-
From Franciacorta Wine Tasting and Shopping Tour:
$55
-
Last Supper & Wine Tasting Tour:
$71
-
Wine Tasting with an Italian Sommelier:
$83
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Wine Tastings with Chef Luigi Gandola:
$93
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From Sparkling Wine Tasting Tour:
$100
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Food and Wine Tasting enjoying the New Milan:
$127
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From Half-Day Franciacorta Wine Tour & Tasting:
$137
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Milan, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Milan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Milan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Milan 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 Milan.
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