Should you visit Helsinki or Vienna?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Helsinki and Vienna 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.
Vienna
Vienna is the largest city and capital of Austria. It has a population of over 1.7 million and is a cultural, political and economic center for the country. The historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and some complain that it feels more like a museum than a real city. Outside of the historical center though, is a young and vibrant city with a huge music scene, many street performers, and eclectic and fun restaurants and nightclubs.
Which city is cheaper, Vienna 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 Vienna is €113. 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 Vienna 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.
The prices for places to stay in Vienna can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €68, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €136.
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 Vienna travelers spend around €27 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
Vienna €27
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 Vienna
For Vienna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Performance Of The Lipizzans At Spanish Riding School:
$37
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Christmas Day Dinner Cruise to Korneuburg:
$43
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Boxing Day Dinner Cruise to Korneuburg:
$43
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Naschmarkt Guided Food Tour:
$44
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Vienna Small-Group Food Tour of Naschmarkt:
$46
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Naschmarkt Food Tour:
$50
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Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise:
$51
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Evening Dinner Cruise:
$63
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Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise:
$68
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The Austrian Taste Dinner:
$74
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Traditional Dinner Show at the Wiener Rathauskeller:
$74
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Skip the Line: Austrian Dinner Show Ticket in Vienna:
$85
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Vienna than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €15 on transportation in Vienna on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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VIP car Airport Transfer Helsinki:
$56
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VIP Transfer in Helsinki:
$71
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VIP Transfer Helsinki Airport:
$53
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VIP Airport transfers in Helsinki region:
$102
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VIP Airport transfers by new cars in Helsinki:
$102
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Ultra - Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Port to City Centre:
$8.71
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Ultra - Helsinki Private Transfer from City Centre to Helsinki Cruise Port:
$8.71
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Private arrival OR departure transfer in Helsinki (airport or hotel pick up):
$185
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Private Transfer: Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM) to Helsinki:
$622
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL):
$622
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM):
$622
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Private Departure Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Vantaa Airport:
$40
Typical Local Transportation prices in Vienna
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Vienna:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vienna
Also for Vienna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Winter in European Alps: Private Scenic Transfers Vienna ↔ Ski Resort:
$315
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Wachau Valley Ship Cruise with Bus Transfer from Vienna:
$62
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Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and Airport Transfer by Bus:
$40
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Airport Transfer to/from Bratislava:
$86
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Vienna → Salzburg - 2h of Sightseeing - Comfortable Premium Car Private Transfer:
$337
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Vienna → Munich - 2h of Sightseeing - Comfortable Premium Car Private Transfer:
$366
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Vienna → Budapest - 2h of Sightseeing - Comfortable Premium Car Private Transfer:
$263
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Vienna to Prague - Private Transfer with 2 hours of Sightseeing:
$249
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Vienna to Budapest: Private Wine and Sightseeing Tour (One-Way Transfer):
$425
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Vienna to Budapest Wine Transfer Tour:
$315
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Vienna to Budapest - Private Transfer with 2 hours of Sightseeing:
$237
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Vienna city tours. Airport transfers:
$187
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Vienna?
Prices for flights to both Vienna 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 expenses in Vienna, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €31 per day, per person.
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
Tours and Activities in Vienna
For Vienna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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"The Third Man" Film Location Tour:
$23
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( Night Tour ) With Private Guide + wine or prosecco:
$162
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13 hours Private Full-Day Prague Tour from Vienna:
$1,058
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2day private tour of wine region in Czech Republic from Vienna:
$1,260
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6-Day Private Tour of Slovakia's Top National Parks from Vienna:
$1,115
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7 Day Rail Tour - Austria:
$793
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7-Day Highlights of Slovakia Tour from Vienna:
$1,274
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Alpine Panoramic Private Tour to Salzburg and Hallstatt incl. Admont from Vienna:
$1,605
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Austrian Lakes and Salzburg Full Day Private Tour from Vienna:
$457
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Authentic Experience: When in Vienna, do as the Viennese do!:
$625
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Backstage Classical Music Tour:
$670
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Belvedere: World-Class Art & Aristocratic Utopias Tour:
$105
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Helsinki spend on average €13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Vienna spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Vienna
Also in Vienna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Alternative Pub Crawl:
$17
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CLASSICAL TOUR Individual cellar tour with audio guide and 1 free wine tasting:
$17
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Local Wine Tasting in a Historic Roman Wine Cellar:
$31
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Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour in German:
$63
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Wine Tasting Tour:
$90
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From Half-day Countryside Wine Tour:
$130
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Wachau Valley Day Tour with Wine Tasting:
$141
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Romantic Old Vienna City Walk and Wine Tasting:
$351
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Private tour to Lednice castle and chateau Valtice with wine tasting from Vienna:
$498
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Private Tour: Wachau Valley Tour, Melk Abbey Visit, and Wine Tastings from Vienna:
$560
When comparing the travel costs between Helsinki and Vienna, we can see that Vienna 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.
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