Should you visit Helsinki or Lucerne?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Helsinki and Lucerne 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.
Lucerne
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.
Which city is cheaper, Lucerne 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 Lucerne is €145. 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 Lucerne 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.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Lucerne, €186 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Lucerne, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €93, such as in a hostel.
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.
While meal prices in Lucerne can vary, the average travelers spends about €42 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Lucerne should cost around €17 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Lucerne is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Helsinki €27
Lucerne €42
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
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.
Lucerne's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €8.47 per person, per day on transportation in Lucerne.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL):
$622
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Private Transfer: Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM) to Helsinki:
$622
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM):
$622
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Helsinki Private Panoramic Tour with Airport Transfer:
$375
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Helsinki Private Departure Airport Transfer:
$203
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Airport Private transfer via Marimekko & Iittala with Japanese Speaking Driver:
$195
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Private arrival OR departure transfer in Helsinki (airport or hotel pick up):
$185
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Helsinki airport transfer to all Helsinki area hotels:
$166
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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:
$110
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Helsinki Private Transfer : Port of Helsinki to Helsinki City in Luxury Van:
$104
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Private Airport Transfer in Helsinki region:
$102
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucerne
Also for Lucerne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Lucerne City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Luxury Van:
$207
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Lucerne City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Business Car:
$118
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ZRH Airport - Lucern City (Transfer Service):
$287
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Transfers Zurich Airport - Lucerne:
$431
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Private transfer from Lucerne City to Zurich Airport:
$271
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Private transfer from Lucerne City to Lucerne Train Station:
$110
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Private Transfer from Lucerne City to interlaken City:
$174
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Departure Private Transfer Lucerne-Basel-Bern to Zurich Airport by Luxury Van:
$251
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Departure Private Transfer Lucerne-Basel-Bern to Zurich Airport by Business Car:
$191
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Lucerne?
Prices for flights to both Lucerne 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.
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.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lucerne can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €23 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
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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2 Days tour to Moominworld and Turku Castle from Helsinki:
$955
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2-Hour Guided Tuk Tuk Tour in Helsinki:
$274
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2-Hours Helsinki Professional Photography Walking Tour:
$70
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2-Hours Photogenic Helsinki Walking Tour with a Local:
$67
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3.5 Hour Helsinki Highlights Private Tour:
$350
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5-hour sightseeing in Helsinki and Winterworld:
$199
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Architecture Tour of Helsinki with a city planner:
$68
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Artificial Intelligence City Tour of Helsinki:
$37
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City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop On Hop Off Tour:
$37
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City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$37
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Classic style boating & Island experience with BBQ:
$187
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Daily Small Group Porvoo Tour:
$153
Typical Entertainment prices in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Lucerne
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lucerne.
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3 Days Swiss Alpine Rails and Trails Tour:
$2,452
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5 day Private Tour of Central Switzerland including Luzern, Grindelwald & Zurich:
$7,504
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ALL TRANSPORT INCLUSIVE Mt. Pilatus Guided Golden Roundtrip Tour:
$280
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Appenzell and Liechtenstein Tour from Luzern:
$627
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Artisan Cheesemaking and Chocolate factory with Tasting Private Tour from Luzern:
$424
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Artisan Cheesemaking and Tasting Private Tour from Lucerne:
$328
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Chocolate World Experience and Tasting Private Tour from Luzern:
$226
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Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Luzern:
$399
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Golden Round Trip from Mt. Pilatus Self-Guided Tour:
$113
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Grindelwald Adventure Tour with Cliff walk & Bachalpsee hiking tour from Lucerne:
$1,443
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Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Private Photo Tour from Lucerne:
$1,489
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Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Private Tour from Luzern:
$536
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Helsinki spend on average €13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Lucerne, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €15.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucerne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucerne:
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Chocolate, Cheese and Wine Tour in Luzern region:
$627
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Lucerne, we can see that Lucerne 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 Lucerne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucerne than you might in Helsinki.
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