Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bern or Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bern or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Switzerland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Switzerland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBern $252Ottawa $123
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $252, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $123. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBern $163Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBern $326Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Bern and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Bern or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bern $34Ottawa $7.27
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 Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $60Ottawa $17
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bern $34Ottawa $40
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBern $27Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Ottawa, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bern is in Europe and Ottawa 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 Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Ottawa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bern Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bern or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Bern or Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Bern because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Bern is generally around the same temperature as Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 21°C (70°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bern. In the summer, Bern often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa. Bern gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Bern gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBern 21°C (70°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Bern or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bern and Ottawa. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bern this time of year.
Bern is a little warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bern averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Bern usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Bern gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Bern usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Bern gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBern 13°C (55°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Bern or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bern as well as Ottawa. Many travelers come to Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Bern. In the winter, Bern is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bern in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Bern often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Bern gets 65 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ottawa. Bern gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBern 3°C (37°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Bern or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Bern in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Bern is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Bern average around 11°C (52°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
Bern usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Bern gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bern usually receives less rain than Ottawa. Bern gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBern 11°C (52°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Bern
| Bern | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (60°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (69°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (38°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.