Should you visit Bucharest or Bern?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Bucharest and Bern. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Bern or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $124, while the average daily cost in Bern is $198. 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 Bucharest and Bern in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $112 for a double occupancy room in Bucharest.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $128. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Bern the cost is $256 on average.
Food
The price of a meal in Bucharest can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $52 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $21 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
The price of a meal in Bern can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $47 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bucharest $52
Bern $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
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Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours:
$80
-
Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest:
$199
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Walking Food Tour in the Old Town of Bucharest:
$199
-
Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience:
$223
-
Private Dracula Castle Tour by night and Romanian traditional dinner:
$331
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Bucharest is $23 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The cost of a taxi ride in Bern is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bern.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
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Best transfer from Bucharest Airport to City Center:
$3.72
-
Bucharest airport transfer:
$12
-
Private transfer from Bucharest Otopeni Airport to Bucharest:
$12
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Bucharest Airport to Bucharest City:
$14
-
Private Departure Transfer from Bucharest City to Bucharest Airport:
$14
-
Bucharest - Private Airport Transfer:
$15
-
Bucharest Airport Transfer:
$16
-
Otopeni Airport Transfer to Bucharest:
$16
-
Private One-Way BUCHAREST-OTP Airport Transfer:
$16
-
Bucharest Airport Transfer by Minivan:
$17
-
Private Bucharest Airport Transfer:
$17
-
Bucharest Giurgiu Port Shared Transfer:
$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
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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
Entertainment
Bucharest's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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.
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Museum of Senses Bucharest Entrance Ticket:
$11
-
One Hour Epic Escape Room Adventure Mystery in Bucharest:
$14
-
Half-day tour to the Mogoșoaia Palace by train from Bucharest:
$20
-
3-Hour Guided Tour of Communist Bucharest:
$20
-
Skip the line: Bucharest Parliament Palace Ticket:
$23
-
Self-Guided Ruse from Bucharest Tour:
$24
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Skip the Line: Palace of the Parliament - Bucharest:
$25
-
Dracula's Transylvania Virtual Private 2-Hour Live Guided Tour:
$31
-
Bucharest panoramic tour (by car) and city center walking tour, Private tour:
$37
-
Bucharest Panoramic Tour by Night - 3 hours:
$37
-
Ticket to Ferestroika Museum of Family Life during Communism:
$39
-
Wooden Church from Maramures Tour:
$40
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
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Bucharest may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.26 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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.
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Private Wine Tasting at Bucharest's First Wine Bar:
$65
-
Bucharest City Tour and Wine Tasting – 2.5 hours:
$88
-
Bike & Wine tour in Dealu Mare wineland:
$96
-
Wine tasting at the mansion, Dracula's grave from Snagov & Mogosoaia Palace:
$100
-
Traditions in Village Museum and Wine Tasting Tour:
$100
-
Romanian Wine Tasting:
$106
-
Planetarium in salt mine, Wine tasting and Dracula's grave, Private Tour:
$124
-
Wine tasting in lord mansions, nearby Bucharesti, the Romans wine road:
$124
-
Wine tasting - 1 Day Tour:
$129
-
Private Full Day Tour to The Peles Castle & Wine Tasting - 9 Hours:
$134
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Salt Mine, Mud Volcanoes, and Wine Tasting Private Day Tour from Bucharest:
$139
-
Constanta and Wine Tasting - Private Day Tour from Bucharest:
$143
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Bern, we can see that Bern is more expensive. And not only is Bucharest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bucharest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bucharest 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 Bucharest.
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