A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Zurich for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Helsinki or Zurich?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Zurich can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. 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 €194. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Helsinki and Zurich in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Helsinki €59
    Zurich €122
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Helsinki €118
    Zurich €244

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Helsinki €18
    Zurich €26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ultra - Helsinki Private Transfer from City Centre to Helsinki Cruise Port: $8.71
  • Ultra - Helsinki Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Port to City Centre: $8.71
  • Private Airport Transfer: from Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL): $33
  • Private Departure Transfer from Helsinki City Center to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $34
  • From Tallinn: Return Day Trip Ferry Transfer to Helsinki: $36
  • Private Departure Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Vantaa Airport: $40
  • Airport transfer in Helsinki: $50
  • Best Transfer Helsinki: $50
  • VIP Transfer Helsinki Airport: $53
  • VIP car Airport Transfer Helsinki: $56
  • Private Chauffeur Transfer Helsinki: $56
  • 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:


  • City Pass (2)
    €26

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:

  • Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport (ZRH): $96
  • Airport and City Private Transfer: $93
  • Zurich to Zurich Airport (ZRH) - Departure Private Car Transfer: $73
  • Zurich Departure Private Transfers from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH: $100
  • Zurich Departure Private Transfers from Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH: $87
  • Zurich Arrival Private Transfers from Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City: $95
  • Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Luxury Van: $100
  • Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Luxury Car: $133
  • Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich City to Zurich Airport ZRH in Business Car: $91
  • Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Luxury Van: $100
  • Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Zurich City in Luxury Car: $126
  • Zurich Airport Transfers : Zurich Airport ZRH to Lucerne City in Luxury Van: $207

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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Helsinki €27
    Zurich €45

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 Zurich

Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:


  • Breakfast for 2
    €12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.

  • Culinary Tour from Zurich with Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue Dinner: $154
  • Overnight Mount Titlis including 4-course dinner: $545

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Helsinki €22
    Zurich €26

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

Tours and Activities in Zurich

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:

  • 2-Day Alps Tour from Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis: $592
  • 2-Day Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Tour from Interlaken or Grindelwald: $557
  • 2-Day Mt Rigi Tour from Zurich Including Mineral Baths and Lake Lucerne Cruise: $474
  • 2-Day Switzerland Tour from Zurich to Geneva: Mt.Titlis,Interlaken,Bern,Gruyères: $693
  • 2-Day Winter Tour from Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis: $592
  • 2-hour Private Guided Zurich Downtown Tour: $225
  • 3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg: $98
  • 3-Day Glacier Express Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $556
  • 3-Day GoldenPass Line Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $439
  • 4-Day Glacier and Bernina Express Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $768
  • 4-Day Switzerland Tour from Zurich Including Mt. Titlis Cable Car: $1,662
  • 5-Day Famous Mountain Peaks Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $982

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Helsinki €13
    Zurich €21

Sample the Local Flavors in Zurich

Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl Zurich: $29

About these numbers

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.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Helsinki vs. Zurich Travel Comparison

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