Should you visit Bern or Paris?
Should I visit Bern or Paris? 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.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
Which city is cheaper, Paris 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 Paris is $210. 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 Paris 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.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $276 in Paris For the most convenient locations and nicer 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.
Food in Paris costs travelers about $36 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bern $48
Paris $36
Typical Food prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
-
Ice Cream
$9.13
-
Breakfast
$7.99
-
Breakfast for 2
$34
-
Dinner on River Cruise
$98
-
Dinner
$65
-
Cheese
$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Authentic Dinner at Parisian's Home:
$41
-
Paris en Scene Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise:
$49
-
3-course Dinner Cruise with Panorama on Seine River:
$49
-
Italian Dinner Cruise on the River Seine:
$57
-
Paris River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$60
-
Special Dinner in French Cuisine near Notre Dame:
$61
-
Italian dinner on the river Seine:
$61
-
Seine River Cruise with French Dinner on Champs-Elysees Avenue:
$61
-
Paris Food Tour: Bustronome Gourmet Tour of Paris:
$61
-
Choux cooking class for kids in Paris:
$62
-
Romantic Cruise with 3-course Dinner on Seine River:
$63
-
Capitaine Fracasse Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise:
$67
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.
To get around in Paris, the average visitor spends $19 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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
-
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 Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro
$7.31
-
Train from Airport
$10
-
Metro tickets
$7.76
-
Train
$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Ultra - Private Transfer from Paris to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's Garden:
$9.57
-
1-Way Transfer between Disneyland And CDG Airport:
$18
-
Roissy CDG and Orly Semi-Private Transfers:
$19
-
Shared Departure Transfer from Paris to Orly airport:
$23
-
Shared Arrival Transfer from Orly Airport (ORY) to Paris:
$23
-
From Luxury Transfers to La Vallee Village:
$31
-
Beauvais Airport to Paris Shared Transfer Service:
$33
-
Paris Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$33
-
Semi Private Departure Transfer: Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):
$33
-
Semi Private Arrival Transfer: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):
$33
-
Semi Private Departure Transfer: Paris to ORLY Airport:
$33
-
Private Transfer: Gare du Nord Train Station (Eurostar Terminal):
$34
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris 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.
In Paris, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $70 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
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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
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Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
-
Bern Old City Walking Tour:
$491
-
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
-
2-Hour Historical Walking Tour:
$162
-
4-Hour City Tour with Private Guide:
$231
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two
$21
-
Admission to Pantheon
$5.71
-
Catacombs (2)
$26
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
-
Paris Criminal Past, audioguided walking tour:
$0.98
-
Marais HiddenTreasures, audioguided walking tour:
$0.98
-
Secret Montmartre, smartphone audioguided tour:
$0.98
-
Trendy Marais, smartphone audioguided walking tour:
$0.98
-
Test Day tour:
$1.00
-
BEST OF PARIS : 3 smartphone audioguided tours:
$1.85
-
BEST OF ROYAL DAYS & LIFE : 3 audioguided tours:
$1.85
-
Legends of Paris Night Free Walking Tour in Spanish:
$3.72
-
Visit the Eiffel Tower at your own pace Self-guided audio tour:
$4.96
-
Flâneurs of Belleville: Explore the art of city walking on an audio walking tour:
$5.00
-
One Hour Père Lachaise Cemetery Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.43
-
Marais: Explore this historic neighbourhood on a kid-friendly audio walking tour:
$5.49
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 Paris, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $22.
Typical Alcohol prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
-
Paris Pub Crawl with Free Club Entry and Free Shots:
$18
-
New Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Wine Tasting with Professional Sommelier:
$29
-
Introductory French Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$29
-
Wine Tasting at the Cellars of Bercy Village:
$36
-
Pub Crawl in Latin Quarter:
$37
-
French Wine Experience with Wine Tasting:
$37
-
Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris:
$40
-
Guided tour and wine tasting in a historic cellar in the center of Paris:
$41
-
Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex:
$47
-
Organic wine tasting in Paris:
$56
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Wine Shopping & Wine Tasting Class in the 5th:
$61
When comparing the travel costs between Bern and Paris, we can see that Paris is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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