Should you visit Bern or Rome?
Should I visit Bern or Rome? 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.
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
Which city is cheaper, Rome or Bern?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $203, while the average daily cost in Rome is $159. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $131. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Bern the cost is $262 on average.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Rome is $162. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
The price of a meal in Bern can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $49 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $20 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
In Rome travelers spend around $45 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bern $49
Rome $45
Typical Food prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)
$17
-
4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
$3.65
-
Cafe e doce
$4.88
-
Pizza (Fast Food)
$3.23
-
Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
$39
-
Cheese and bread
$12
-
Espresso
$2.44
-
Dinner
$71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
-
Tours from Home: Pizza Cooking Class with Italian Chefs:
$15
-
Interactive Cooking Experiences with Renowned Chefs All Over the World (in EST):
$22
-
Live from Tagliatelle & Chicken Fricassee Online Cooking Class:
$23
-
Gelato Cooking Class:
$33
-
Virtual Cooking Class: Carbonara, Amatriciana, Pesto & "pasta al dente":
$40
-
5-Course Lunch or Dinner with Roman Jewish Dishes:
$44
-
Street Food Tour with Local Guide:
$44
-
Rome by Night: Bike Tour with Pizza:
$45
-
1.5-Hour Campo de' Fiori to Jewish Quarter Food Tour:
$48
-
2.5-Hour Self-Guided Food Tour in Trastevere:
$48
-
Private Italian dinner in Rome with a selection of local wines:
$51
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour Artisian Rome:
$55
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $21 per day to get around in Rome.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Basel City - One Way:
$586
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Bern City - One Way:
$105
-
Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way:
$661
-
Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center:
$318
-
Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport:
$416
Typical Local Transportation prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
-
Fiumicino Airport – Rome Termini Direct Bus Transfer:
$6.60
-
Return Bus Transfer Between Fiumicino Airport and Rome:
$6.82
-
Rome Left Luggage: Bike Rental, Storage & Airport Transfer:
$7.16
-
Ultra - Private Transfer from Rome City Centre to Civitavecchia Cruise Port:
$9.41
-
Ultra - Rome Private Airport Transfer from city centre to Fiumicino airport FCO:
$9.41
-
Taxi Transfer in the City Center:
$9.46
-
Rome Airport Private VIP Transfer:
$10
-
Private Transfer to/from Fiumicino or Ciampino Airport:
$11
-
Private Transfer Service from Airport to City:
$12
-
Fiumicino Airport Private Luxury Transfers to Rome:
$14
-
Private One-Way Transfer from Ciampino Airport to Rome:
$15
-
Rome Ciampino Airport Transfer to or from Rome Hotels:
$15
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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $35 per person, per day in Rome. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
-
Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
-
Bern Capital City Small Group Tour:
$90
-
Best Introduction Tour of Bern with a Local:
$91
-
Schilthorn Piz Gloria (James Bond Location) Small Group Tour from Bern:
$179
-
GAILY TOUR in BERN - Gay & Lesbian Tour:
$187
-
Bern Capital City Private Tour:
$194
-
Zermatt Village Matterhorn Area plus Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Tour from Bern:
$227
-
Adventure: Diamond Skull Virtual Reality:
$230
-
Private tour of the best of Bern - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local:
$249
-
Layover in Bern a Private Tour with a local: Best Highlights of Bern:
$249
-
Zermatt Village Matterhorn Area plus Mt. Gornergrat Private Tour from Bern:
$305
-
Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Small Group Tour from Bern:
$329
Typical Entertainment prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
$84
-
Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
$40
-
Roma Pass
$37
-
Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
$24
-
Segway Tour
$91
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Highlights of Rome Free Walking Tour:
$3.58
-
35-Minute Rome Pantheon Audio Guide Tour:
$5.71
-
A day as a citizen of ancient Rome - live virtual experience:
$6.22
-
Ticket for Pantheon with Audioguide + City APP:
$6.22
-
Tours from Home: Essential Rome, The Iconic Piazzas:
$10
-
Tours from Home: Colosseum & Gladiators:
$10
-
Leonardo da Vinci Exhibition Entrance Ticket:
$10
-
Ticket to Piazza Navona Undergrounds Stadium of Domitian:
$11
-
Rome Pantheon: 35-Minute Audio Guide Tour:
$11
-
Ancient Rome Virtual Guided Tour (Times in EST):
$11
-
Self-guided Virtual Tour of Colosseum: The Highlights:
$11
-
Piazza Navona 1-Hour Underground Audio Guide Tour:
$11
Alcohol
The average person spends about $22 on alcoholic beverages in Bern per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Rome may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
-
Bottle of Wine
$7.93
-
Pint of Beer
$7.73
-
Beer
$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
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3.5-Hour Castelli Romani Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Roman Countryside Vineyards and Wine Tasting:
$67
-
4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$69
-
Campo De' Fiori Market and Trevi Food & Wine Tour:
$90
-
4-Hour Food and Wine Tasting Tour:
$91
-
Private Rome Food & Wine Tour with Aperitif on Private Roof Top Terrance:
$100
-
Colosseum Fast Track and Wine Tasting Day Tour:
$119
-
Wine Tour Experience from Rome factory Giglio:
$123
-
Small-Group Food and Wine Tour with Pickup:
$131
-
Lunch, Diner and wine tasting in a shaby chic italian restaurant in Rome:
$135
-
From Frascati 3-Hour Private Wine Tasting Tour:
$147
-
Wine Tasting in Frascati from Rome:
$160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bern and Rome, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Rome much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rome would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rome 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 Rome.
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