Should you visit Helsinki or Munich?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Helsinki and Munich 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.
Munich
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria and a top travel destination within Germany. It has stunning architecture and a cultural scene that rivals Berlin. It has some of the country's top museums, festivals, and concerts. Munich is most famous for its Oktoberfest, which is easily the busiest time of year in the city. The architecture is what surprises most travelers. It's quite impressive and truly adds to the character of the city. Although much of Munich was destroyed during World War II, the city has successfully rebuilt most of the buildings in their previous style. Much of the city remains as it was in the 1800s. There are two major research universities in Munich, helping to make it a center for engineering, business, and the sciences.
Which city is cheaper, Munich 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 Munich is €116. 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 Munich 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.
A hotel room in Munich is about €138 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €15 per day to get around in Munich.
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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Munich
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
-
Single Zone Trip on Subway
€2.30
-
Inner District Subway Day Pass
€5.20
-
City transport day ticket
€11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Munich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
-
Winter in European Alps: Private Scenic Transfers Munich ↔ Ski Resort:
$256
-
Ultra - Munich Private Airport Transfer from City Centre to Munich Airport MUC:
$9.41
-
Transfer to Munich:
$112
-
Transfer from Munich to Prague: Private sightseeing daytrip with two stops:
$220
-
Transfer from Munich to Linz: Private sightseeing daytrip with 2 stops:
$242
-
Transfer from Munich to Frankfurt: Private sightseeing daytrip with 2 stops:
$285
-
Transfer from Munich to Berlin: Private sightseeing daytrip with 2 stops:
$355
-
Transfer Munich ↔ Kaprun,Zell am See,Flachau,Stubai,Kitzbuhel,Innsbruck & Other:
$256
-
Skiing in Alps: Private Sightseeing Routes from / to Munich Ski Resort Transfer:
$256
-
Salzburg: Private Transfer to or from Munich Airport:
$302
-
Round Trip Munich Airport (MUC) Transfer to Munich City Center:
$114
-
Private transfer from Munich to Vienna with 2-hour Sightseeing Stop in Hallstatt:
$369
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Munich?
Prices for flights to both Munich 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
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.
Munich food costs typically run travelers around €22 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Helsinki €27
Munich €22
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
Typical Food prices in Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Munich:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Munich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Munich.
-
Viktualienmarkt 2-Hour Gourmet Food Tour: Munich:
$40
-
3-Hour Food Tour Through Haidhausen:
$44
-
Munich Traditional Bavarian Culture, Beer And Food Tour Including Traditional Bavarian Dress:
$200
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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €23 per person, per day in Munich. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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
Typical Entertainment prices in Munich
Here are a few typical costs in Munich for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Munich
Here are a few actual costs in Munich for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Express Tour of Munich:
$21
-
3-Day Prague Overnight Tour Including Round-Trip by Coach from Munich:
$502
-
5-Day Munich to Stuttgart Overnight Tour by Coach:
$518
-
6-Nght Independent Munich Rail Tour to Vienna via Salzburg:
$844
-
7-Day Imperial Triangle Tour Rail Tour from Munich to Vienna and Prague:
$901
-
Big Hat Tours:
$286
-
Bodyflying: Indoor Skydiving Experience for 2 People:
$136
-
Christmas Private Daytrip -Nuremberg to Munich & back with 4/6/8h of Sightseeing:
$285
-
CityTourCard Public Transport & Discounts:
$16
-
Dachau Concentration Camp Tour:
$498
-
Dachau Memorial Site Tour:
$51
-
EXCLUSiVE MUNiCH & Surroundings ALL-IN-ONE Culture, Nature and History Tour:
$322
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 Munich may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €29 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Munich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Munich:
Sample the Local Flavors in Munich
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Munich:
-
Munich's Original Pub Crawl:
$28
When comparing the travel costs between Helsinki and Munich, we can see that Munich is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Related Articles for Helsinki
Related Articles for Munich