A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Geneva for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Europe / Comparisons /
Jump to  down-arrow

Should you visit Helsinki or Geneva?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Geneva can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.

Geneva

Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.

Which city is cheaper, Geneva or Helsinki?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €112, while the average daily cost in Geneva is €155. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Helsinki and Geneva in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Helsinki €59
    Geneva €107
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Helsinki €118
    Geneva €214

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Helsinki €18
    Geneva €6.93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Private transfer via Marimekko & Iittala with Japanese Speaking Driver: $195
  • Airport transfer in Helsinki: $50
  • Arrival Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki Port to Helsinki City: $62
  • Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki Port to Helsinki City: $62
  • Best Transfer Helsinki: $50
  • Departure Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $99
  • Departure Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki City to Helsinki Port: $62
  • Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $99
  • Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki City to Helsinki Port: $62
  • From Tallinn: Return Day Trip Ferry Transfer to Helsinki: $36
  • Helsinki Airport Transfers : Helsinki to Airport HEL in Business Car: $98
  • Helsinki Airport Transfers: Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL in Luxury Van: $113

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:

  • VIP Transfer: $74
  • Transfer to Chamonix: $448
  • Taxi Transfer Geneva City or Airport ⇔ Zermatt both ways: $1,178
  • Superior Private Transfer from Geneva Hotels to Geneva Airport: $47
  • Superior Private Transfer From Geneva City to Lyon City: $156
  • Saint-Gervais: Private Transfer to or from Geneva Airport: $947
  • Private Transfer from Geneva City to Geneva Airport: $100
  • Private Departure Transfer: Geneva Hotel to Geneva Airport: $37
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Geneva to Geneva International Airport (GVA): $39
  • Private One-Way Transfer to/from Zermatt: $413
  • Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA)- Departure Private Car Transfer: $68
  • Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA) - Departure Private Van Transfer: $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Geneva?

Prices for flights to both Geneva and Helsinki 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
    Helsinki €27
    Geneva €39

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $137

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva

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

  • Old Geneva food tour: $268

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Helsinki €22
    Geneva €22

Tours and Activities in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Skip the Line: Flying Cinema Tour Of Helsinki Experience, single ticket: $15
  • Skip the Line: SEA LIFE Helsinki Entrance Ticket: $19
  • Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $20
  • Sea Life Entrance Tickets: $22
  • Highlights & Hidden Gems Self-Guided Walking Tour: $25
  • Sightseeing Boat Tour in Archipelago of Helsinki: $27
  • City Highlights 1.5-Hour Archipelago Cruise: $28
  • 90-minute Helsinki Boat Sightseeing on Beautiful Canal Route: $28
  • Helsinki Archipelago: Sightseeing Boat Tour: $28
  • Private Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour Valid for 24 Hours: $34
  • City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $37

Tours and Activities in Geneva

Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Annecy Half-Day Tour from Geneva: $80
  • Annecy Half-Day Trip + Geneva City Tour: $128
  • Annecy and Geneva private sightseeing tour: $379
  • Annecy, the Venice of the Alps private tour: $329
  • Chamonix Day Trip and Geneva city tour: $178
  • Chamonix Gold private exclusive tour from Geneva: $619
  • Chamonix Mont Blanc Private Sightseeing Tour: $379
  • Chamonix Mont Blanc Private Tour from Geneva: $387
  • Chocolate Flavors Walking Tour of Geneva: $108
  • Chocolate and cheese factory private tour in Gruyères: $394
  • Europa-Park Theme Park Ticket with Transport from Geneva: $172
  • From Day Trip to Lausanne & Cruise to Montreux: $143

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Helsinki €13
    Geneva €16

Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:

  • Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour: $167
  • Farms, Flights: Finger Lakes Brewery Tour: $180
  • Lavaux Panoramic Wine Tour from Geneva: $289
  • Winter ski tour: Wine tasting tour in Rhine region: $746
  • Swiss Wine Tasting at Lavaux Vineyards: Private Trip From Geneva: $1,097

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Geneva, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Helsinki much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Helsinki would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Helsinki 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Helsinki.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
Sign Up

More City Comparisons
Athens vs. Helsinki
Athens vs. Geneva
Riga vs. Helsinki
Riga vs. Geneva
Moscow vs. Helsinki
Moscow vs. Geneva
Tallinn vs. Helsinki
Tallinn vs. Geneva
Vilnius vs. Helsinki
Vilnius vs. Geneva
Minsk vs. Helsinki
Minsk vs. Geneva
Helsinki vs. Bucharest
Helsinki vs. Istanbul
Helsinki vs. Warsaw
Helsinki vs. Lisbon
Helsinki vs. Copenhagen
Helsinki vs. London
Helsinki vs. Zurich
Helsinki vs. Lucerne
Helsinki vs. Interlaken
Helsinki vs. Bern
Helsinki vs. Stockholm
Helsinki vs. Porto
Helsinki vs. Amsterdam
Helsinki vs. Vienna
Helsinki vs. Salzburg
Helsinki vs. Innsbruck
Share This Page
Pin This Page
Helsinki vs. Geneva Travel Comparison

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.