Should you visit Helsinki or Geneva?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Helsinki and Geneva can help. 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 €140. 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 Helsinki and Geneva in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around €118 for a double occupancy room in Helsinki If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €192 for a double occupancy room in Geneva.
Food
The average traveler spends about €27 per day in Helsinki for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Geneva travelers spend around €35 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
Helsinki €27
Geneva €35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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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.
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Taste My Swiss City Self-Guided Food Tour:
$77
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Old Geneva food tour:
$268
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Helsinki than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €18 on transportation in Helsinki on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Geneva is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €6.25 per person, per day, on local transportation in Geneva.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Private transfer via Marimekko & Iittala with Japanese Speaking Driver:
$195
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Airport transfer in Helsinki:
$50
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Arrival Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki Port to Helsinki City:
$62
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Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki Port to Helsinki City:
$62
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Best Transfer Helsinki:
$50
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Departure Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL:
$99
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Departure Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki City to Helsinki Port:
$62
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Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL:
$99
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Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki City to Helsinki Port:
$62
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Helsinki Airport Transfers : Helsinki to Airport HEL in Business Car:
$98
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Helsinki Airport Transfers: Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL in Luxury Van:
$113
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Helsinki Departure Private Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL:
$97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
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VIP Transfer:
$74
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Transfer to Chamonix:
$448
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Taxi Transfer Geneva City or Airport ⇔ Zermatt both ways:
$1,178
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Superior Private Transfer from Geneva Hotels to Geneva Airport:
$47
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Superior Private Transfer From Geneva City to Lyon City:
$156
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Private Transfer from Geneva City to Geneva Airport:
$100
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Private Departure Transfer: Geneva Hotel to Geneva Airport:
$37
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Private Airport Transfer: from Geneva to Geneva International Airport (GVA):
$39
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Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA)- Departure Private Car Transfer:
$68
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Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA) - Departure Private Van Transfer:
$41
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Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$68
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Geneva Private Transfer from Geneva city centre to Geneva Airport:
$208
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Helsinki, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €22 per day, per person.
Entertainment and activities in Geneva typically cost an average of €20 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 Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Flying Cinema Tour Of Helsinki Experience, single ticket:
$15
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Skip the Line: SEA LIFE Helsinki Entrance Ticket:
$19
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Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$20
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Sightseeing Boat Tour in Archipelago of Helsinki:
$27
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Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour (ticket for 24 hours):
$37
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City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$37
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City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop On Hop Off Tour:
$37
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Artificial Intelligence City Tour of Helsinki:
$37
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Helsinki Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$38
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Private Helsinki Budha Tour Half Day:
$40
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Helsinki Music Walking Tour:
$50
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Helsinki Shared group tour:
$51
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Annecy Half-Day Tour from Geneva:
$80
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Annecy Half-Day Trip + Geneva City Tour:
$128
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Annecy and Geneva private sightseeing tour:
$379
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Annecy, the Venice of the Alps private tour:
$329
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Chamonix Day Trip and Geneva city tour:
$178
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Chamonix Gold private exclusive tour from Geneva:
$619
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Chamonix Mont Blanc Private Sightseeing Tour:
$379
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Chamonix Mont Blanc Private Tour from Geneva:
$387
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Chamonix, Mont-Blanc Day Tour from Geneva:
$107
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Chocolate and cheese factory private tour in Gruyères:
$394
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Europa-Park Theme Park Ticket with Transport from Geneva:
$172
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From Yvoire Castle & Lake Geneva Cruise:
$98
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Helsinki spend on average €13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Geneva may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €15 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
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Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour:
$167
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Farms, Flights: Finger Lakes Brewery Tour:
$180
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Lavaux Panoramic Wine Tour from Geneva:
$289
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Winter ski tour: Wine tasting tour in Rhine region:
$746
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Swiss Wine Tasting at Lavaux Vineyards: Private Trip From Geneva:
$1,097
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.
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