Should you visit Bern or Reykjavik?
Should I visit Bern or Reykjavik? 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.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
Which city is cheaper, Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik is $214. 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 Reykjavik 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.
The prices for places to stay in Reykjavik can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $121, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $242.
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 Reykjavik cost around $26 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 $10.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bern $48
Reykjavik $26
Typical Food prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)
$193
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Exclusive dinner with a local family:
$112
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Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market:
$123
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Dinner with an Icelandic Artist in Reykjavik Home:
$151
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Secret Lagoon, Buffet Dinner, and Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik:
$159
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South Coast: Volcanoes, waterfalls & Viking dinner at the Viking house:
$179
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Private Reykjavik Food Tour:
$198
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South Coast: Small group glacier hike, fire & ice with dinner at Viking lodge:
$199
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Cook and Dine Icelandic Cooking Class Gourmet Lunch or Dinner:
$204
-
Kopar Fine Dining Dinner and Northern Lights Cruise from Reykjavik:
$229
-
West Iceland Private Food Tour from Reykjavik:
$723
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 Reykjavik, the average visitor spends $40 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:
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Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport:
$416
-
Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center:
$318
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way:
$661
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Bern City - One Way:
$105
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Basel City - One Way:
$586
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Reykjavik Private Airport Transfer from Cruise Port to Keflavík Airport:
$8.71
-
Airport Express Shared Departure transfer from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport:
$28
-
Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport One Way:
$31
-
Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik:
$33
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Airport Express Shared Departure Transfer from Reykjavik Hotels to Keflavik Airport:
$37
-
Airport Transfer in Iceland from Reykjavik City to Keflavik Airport with Hotel Pick Up:
$43
-
Door to Door Premium Airport transfer from Reykjavik Hotels to Keflavik International Airport:
$63
-
Return Economy Airport Transfer between Keflavik International Airport and Reykjavik City:
$66
-
Transfer to & from Blue Lagoon:
$78
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Secret Lagoon with transfer:
$80
-
Keflavik International Airport Private Taxi Transfer:
$81
-
3-Hour Lava Caving Tour Including Transfers from Reykjavik:
$84
Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $63 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
-
Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
-
Bern Old Town- Private Tour:
$435
-
Bern Private Walking Tour:
$366
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Bern Private Walking Tour with Professional Guide:
$497
-
Best Introduction Tour of Bern with a Local:
$91
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GAILY TOUR in BERN - Gay & Lesbian Tour:
$187
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Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Bern:
$399
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Guided tour “Love stories of Bern”:
$496
Typical Entertainment prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum
$12
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Wine and Spa
$32
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Admission Ticket to Viking World Museum:
$14
-
Aurora Reykjavík, The Northern Lights Center Entrance Ticket:
$16
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Skip the Line: Volcano House Admission Ticket:
$17
-
Tales from Iceland Admission Ticket:
$18
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Skip the Line: Admission Ticket - The Culture House Reykjavik:
$19
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Skip the Line: The National Museum of Iceland Ticket:
$20
-
Whales Of Iceland Admission Ticket:
$26
-
Bryggjan Brugghús Craft Beer Tour:
$27
-
Reykjavik Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Reykjavik Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$32
-
Perlan Wonders of Iceland - Ice cave & Nature Exhibition Ticket:
$36
-
Reykjavik Escape Game Experience - Hangover:
$36
-
Reykjavik Escape Game Experience - Taken:
$36
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.
Typically, people visiting Reykjavik spend on average $24 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
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Private Reykjavik Pub Crawl:
$181
-
Reykjavik Food & Wine Tour:
$249
When comparing the travel costs between Bern and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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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