Should you visit Helsinki or Zurich?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Helsinki and Zurich 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.
Zurich
Zurich has the biggest connection for trains in Switzerland. It also has the country's biggest and busiest airport. Because of its importance as a transportation center, it is likely to be the first place you visit in Switzerland. It is the financial capital of the country (although, contrary to what you may have thought, not the political capital). It has many international companies, and is home to the country's stock exchange.
Which city is cheaper, Zurich 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 Zurich is €179. 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 Zurich 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 €226 for a double occupancy room in Zurich.
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.
Zurich food costs typically run travelers around €41 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Helsinki €27
Zurich €41
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
Typical Food prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.
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Culinary Tour from Zurich with Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue Dinner:
$154
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Overnight Mount Titlis including 4-course dinner:
$545
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 average price of local transportation around Zurich is €24 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ultra - Helsinki Private Transfer from City Centre to Helsinki Cruise Port:
$8.71
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Ultra - Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Port to City Centre:
$8.71
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Private Airport Transfer: from Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL):
$33
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Private Departure Transfer from Helsinki City Center to Helsinki Airport (HEL):
$34
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Private Departure Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Vantaa Airport:
$40
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Airport transfer in Helsinki:
$50
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Best Transfer Helsinki:
$50
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VIP Transfer Helsinki Airport:
$53
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Private Chauffeur Transfer Helsinki:
$56
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VIP car Airport Transfer Helsinki:
$56
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Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Helsinki City to Helsinki Port:
$62
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Arrival Private Transfer Business Car Helsinki Port to Helsinki City:
$62
Typical Local Transportation prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
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Zurich to Zurich Airport (ZRH) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$73
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Zurich Departure Private Transfers from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH:
$100
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Zurich Departure Private Transfers from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH:
$87
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Zurich Arrival Private Transfers from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City:
$95
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Luxury Van:
$100
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Luxury Car:
$133
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Business Car:
$91
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Luxury Van:
$100
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Luxury Car:
$126
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Lucerne City in Luxury Van:
$207
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Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Lucerne City in Business Car:
$118
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Zurich Airport Transfer: Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Zurich:
$91
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich 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.
Zurich's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €24 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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 Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
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2-Day Alps Tour from Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis:
$592
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2-Day Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Tour from Interlaken or Grindelwald:
$557
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2-Day Mt Rigi Tour from Zurich Including Mineral Baths and Lake Lucerne Cruise:
$474
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2-Day Switzerland Tour from Zurich to Geneva: Mt.Titlis,Interlaken,Bern,Gruyères:
$693
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2-Day Winter Tour from Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis:
$592
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2-hour Private Guided Zurich Downtown Tour:
$225
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3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg:
$98
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3-Day Glacier Express Self-Guided Tour from Zurich:
$556
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3-Day GoldenPass Line Self-Guided Tour from Zurich:
$439
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4-Day Glacier and Bernina Express Self-Guided Tour from Zurich:
$768
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4-Day Switzerland Tour from Zurich Including Mt. Titlis Cable Car:
$1,662
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5-Day Famous Mountain Peaks Self-Guided Tour from Zurich:
$982
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Helsinki spend on average €13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about €20 on alcoholic beverages in Zurich per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Zurich, we can see that Zurich 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 Zurich would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zurich than you might in Helsinki.
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