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

Should you visit Bern or Montevideo?

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

Should I visit Bern or Montevideo? 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 Montevideo?

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.

Montevideo

As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.

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


Which place is cheaper, Montevideo or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is $64. 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 Montevideo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $163
    Montevideo $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $326
    Montevideo $80
Compare Hotels in Bern and Montevideo

Looking for a hotel in Bern or Montevideo? 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 Bern


Hotels in Montevideo


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 Montevideo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $34
    Montevideo $7.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • Private Transfer From Bern to Zurich, English Speaking Driver: $228
  • Private Transfer From Bern To Basel With a 2 Hour Stop in Olten: $214
  • Private Direct Transfer From Bern to Basel: $192
  • Private Car Departure Transfer from Bern to Bern Airport BRN: $73

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo

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

  • Transfer in private vehicle from Montevideo Airport (MVD) -Montevideo City: $19
  • Carrasco Airport Transfer: $20
  • Private Transfer from Montevideo Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $26
  • Private Transfer from Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo Port: $30
  • Shared 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $35
  • Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
  • Transfer from Montevideo to Carrasco Airport: $45
  • Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
  • 1 - way - Transfer from Carrasco Interational Airport to Montevideo: $51
  • Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport MVD: $72
  • TRANSFER FROM OR TO THE AIRPORT (4 to 12 paxs): $80
  • Carrasco International Airport (MVD) to Montevideo hotels - Round-Trip Transfer: $98

Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Montevideo?

Prices for flights to both Montevideo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bern $60
    Montevideo $14

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo

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

  • The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $85
  • El Milongon Dinner & Show: Candombe, Tango and Folklore: $98

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $34
    Montevideo $21

Tours and Activities in Bern

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

  • 007 Elegance:Exclusive Private Tour to Schilthorn from Bern: $633
  • Alpine Heights: Small Group Tour to Jungfraujoch from Bern: $598
  • Beautiful Bern's Old Town: Self Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Bern : Highlights & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $81
  • Bern : Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide (Private tour): $59
  • Bern Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour: $7.00
  • Bern Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour with a Local: $157
  • Bern Historical UNESCO Old Town Private Tour: $162
  • Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $60
  • Bern Old City Walking Tour: $464
  • Bern Old Town - Private Historic Walking Tour: $537
  • Bern Private Walking Tour: $336

Tours and Activities in Montevideo

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

  • Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
  • Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
  • Tourist Bus "Discover Montevideo": $25
  • Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $25
  • Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
  • Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
  • City tour Montevideo: $27
  • Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $28
  • Shared Montevideo Tour for Cruisers: $30
  • Old City Walking Tour with Private Photographer: $30
  • Walking Tour with Photographer and Audioguide: $31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $27
    Montevideo -

Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:

  • Half Day Tour at Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $120
  • The best wine tour: $140
  • Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
  • Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $210


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Montevideo, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Montevideo 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.

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


Which is Bigger, Bern or Montevideo?

Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Montevideo, 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.


When is the best time to visit Bern or Montevideo?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Montevideo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bern has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Bern or Montevideo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Bern as well as Montevideo. Many visitors come to Bern in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bern is generally cooler than Montevideoin January. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bern this time of the year. In the summer, Bern often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin January. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 296 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in July than Montevideoin January. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July and January
    Bern 21°C (70°F) 
    Montevideo 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Bern or Montevideo in the Autumn?

Both Montevideo and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bern for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Bern is cooler than Montevideo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F)in April.

Bern usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 171 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Montevideoin April. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October and April
    Bern 13°C (55°F) 
    Montevideo 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Bern or Montevideo in the Winter?

Both Montevideo and Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Bern can be very cold. In the winter, Bern is much colder than Montevideo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Montevideo averages at about 11°C (52°F)in July.

In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin July. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 135 hours of full sun.

Bern usually gets less rain in January than Montevideoin July. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January and July
    Bern 3°C (37°F) 
    Montevideo 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Bern or Montevideo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Montevideo. The natural beauty are the main draw to Bern this time of year.

In April, Bern is generally much colder than Montevideoin October. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Montevideo this time of the year. Bern usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.

Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Montevideoin October. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April and October
    Bern 11°C (52°F) 
    Montevideo 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Montevideo and Bern

Bern Montevideo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (37°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Feb 4°C (40°F) 51 mm (2 in) 23°C (73°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Mar 8°C (46°F) 50 mm (2 in) 21°C (70°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Apr 11°C (52°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 17°C (63°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
May 15°C (60°F) 76 mm (3 in) 14°C (57°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Jun 19°C (65°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 11°C (52°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Jul 21°C (70°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 11°C (52°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Aug 20°C (69°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 13°C (55°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Nov 7°C (45°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 19°C (66°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Dec 4°C (38°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 22°C (72°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)