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

Should you visit Bern or Santo Domingo?

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

Should I visit Bern or Santo Domingo? 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 Santo Domingo?

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.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.

Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.

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


Which place is cheaper, Santo Domingo or Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bern is $343, while the average daily cost in Santo Domingo is $106. 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 Santo Domingo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bern $189
    Santo Domingo $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bern $378
    Santo Domingo $86
Compare Hotels in Bern and Santo Domingo

Looking for a hotel in Bern or Santo Domingo? 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 Santo Domingo


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 Santo Domingo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bern $39
    Santo Domingo $4.88

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:

  • CO2-Offset | Sedan Arrival Transfer from Bern Airport BRN to Bern: $112
  • Private transfer from Bern to Basel with a 2 hour stop in Olten: $230
  • Private direct transfer from Bern to Lucerne: $259

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:

  • Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ): $16
  • Santo Domingo Airport: One-Way or Round Trip Transfers: $20
  • Taxi & Transfer From And To Punta Cana International Airport: $20
  • Experience at the Museo del Ron Dominicano, Private Transfer.: $28
  • Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $29
  • Roundtrip Private Transfer from Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ): $31
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata - Private Transfer: $37
  • Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Santo Domingo - Arrival Transfer: $37
  • Santo Domingo to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Transfer: $37
  • Las Galeras / Samana to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
  • Puerto Plata to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) - Private Transfer: $39
  • Santo Domingo Airport SDQ to Las Galeras/Samana-Arrival Transfer: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Bern or Santo Domingo?

Prices for flights to both Santo Domingo 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 $121
    Santo Domingo $57

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bern

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bern.

  • Bern Bites Food Tour Culinary Exploration of Bern's Old Town: $154

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.

  • Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
  • Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bern $39
    Santo Domingo $15

Tours and Activities in Bern

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

  • Self-Guided Reading City Tour in Bern: $6.24
  • Bern Audio guided walking tour 1h50 and 23 audio commentary: $7.57
  • Thun Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.99
  • Fribourg Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.99
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.99
  • Beautiful Bern's Legends: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Bern Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $12
  • Self-Guided Audio City Tour in Bern: $12
  • Self-Guided Audio City Tour in Bern: $13
  • Zytglogge - Tour through the Clock Tower: $31
  • Discover Bern, Understand Switzerland Walking Tour: $32
  • Bern Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $42

Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:


  • Snorkeling Tour
    $44

Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo

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

  • Tour a las Mejores Playas del Caribe: $5.00
  • The Battle of Santo Domingo 4D Experience: $5.00
  • The Battle of Santo Domingo 4D Experience: $5.00
  • Tainos 4D Experience in Santo Domingo's Colonial City: $6.00
  • Taínos 4D Experience Discover the Legacy of the Caribbean: $6.00
  • Colonial Zone Tour with tasting: $20
  • Colonial Zone Walking Tour with Tastings: $20
  • Ron Barcelo Anejo Experience Factory Tour: $20
  • Chocolate Tour + Optional Workshops: $21
  • Santo Domingo Tuk Tuk Experience: $25
  • Zona Colonial Hictorical Tour with a local artist: $30
  • Colonial Experience Tour: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bern $31
    Santo Domingo $8.03


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

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


Which is Bigger, Bern or Santo Domingo?

Santo Domingo has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bern. When comparing the sizes of Bern and Santo Domingo, 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.