Should you visit London or Geneva?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Geneva can help you decide which place is right for you.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
Which city is cheaper, Geneva or London?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in London is £145, while the average daily cost in Geneva is £122. 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 London and Geneva in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around £182 in London For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about £168 for a double occupancy room in Geneva.
Food
Food in London costs travelers about £29 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Geneva travelers spend around £30 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.
-
Food
Meals for one day
London £29
Geneva £30
Typical Food prices in London
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to London:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
-
Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
-
Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
-
3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
-
Private Cooking Class with a London Cookbook Author:
$87
-
BYOB Pizza Workshop Supper Club:
$91
-
3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
-
4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
-
Evening City & Food Tour (non-guided):
$110
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
Soho International Food Tour:
$113
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
-
Taste My Swiss City Self-Guided Food Tour:
$77
-
Old Geneva food tour:
$268
Local Transportation
London'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 £20 per person, per day on transportation in London.
The cost of a taxi ride in Geneva is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent £5.44 per person, per day, on local transportation in Geneva.
Typical Local Transportation prices in London
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Accommodation to London St. Pancras Station - Departure Private Transfer:
$62
-
Airport and venues transfer 3:
$1,173
-
All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southeast London:
$217
-
All London Airports Round-trip & Return Private Transfer to Southwest London:
$217
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All London Airports Roundtrip - PrivateTransfer to London Hotel Including Return Trip:
$112
-
Arrival Private Transfers from Airport LCY to London City in Luxury Van:
$109
-
Arrival Private Transfers from London Airport LCY to London in Business Car:
$89
-
Arrival transfer from Heathrow to London Hotel:
$53
-
Arrival, Departure or Round Trip Private Transfer: Central London to Southampton Cruise Port:
$250
-
Arrive & Depart in Style - Luxury Private Transfer - Southampton to London:
$381
-
Bath Day Trip From London With Private Transfer in Range Rover:
$1,134
-
Bus Transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick Airports:
$35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
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Taxi Transfer Geneva City or Airport ⇔ Zermatt both ways:
$1,178
-
Departure Private Transfer Geneva City to Zurich Airport ZRH by Business Car:
$548
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Transfer to Chamonix:
$448
-
Geneva Private Transfer from Geneva city centre to Geneva Airport:
$208
-
Superior Private Transfer From Geneva City to Lyon City:
$156
-
Departure Private Transfer Luxury Car Geneva City to Geneva airport GVA:
$135
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Geneva Airport Transfers : Geneva City to Geneva Airport GVA in Luxury Van:
$121
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Geneva Airport Transfers : Geneva City to Geneva Airport GVA in Business Van:
$116
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Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Geneva City to Geneva airport GVA:
$114
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Private Transfer from Geneva City to Geneva Airport:
$100
-
Geneva Airport Transfers : Geneva City to Geneva Airport GVA in Business Car:
$100
-
Geneva Departure Private Transfers from Geneva City to Geneva Airport GVA:
$95
Is it cheaper to fly into London or Geneva?
Prices for flights to both Geneva and London 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, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in London can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around £26 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in Geneva typically cost an average of £17 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in London
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for London.
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Royal Canadian Regiment Museum: Historic Wolseley Barracks Tour:
$5.64
-
Shakespeare's Italy Virtual Experience:
$6.90
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59-Minutes British Museum Audio-guided Tour:
$8.71
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Banqueting House Entrance Ticket:
$9.22
-
59-Minutes National Gallery Audio-guided Tour:
$9.95
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The Clink Prison Museum Admission Tickets:
$11
-
12 Angry Guests: The Online Jury Experience:
$11
-
British Museum Guided Tour:
$12
-
Private 90-Minute London Kick-Start Tour with a Local:
$13
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Virtual Guided Tour of London's Off the Beaten Track Areas:
$14
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Guided Tour of Handel House:
$14
-
London Old City Highlights Walking Tour in Spanish:
$14
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Annecy Half-Day Tour from Geneva:
$80
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Annecy Half-Day Trip + Geneva City Tour:
$128
-
Annecy and Geneva private sightseeing tour:
$379
-
Annecy, the Venice of the Alps private tour:
$329
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Chamonix Day Trip and Geneva city tour:
$178
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Chamonix Gold private exclusive tour from Geneva:
$619
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Chamonix Mont Blanc Private Sightseeing Tour:
$379
-
Chamonix Mont Blanc Private Tour from Geneva:
$387
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Chamonix, Mont-Blanc Day Tour from Geneva:
$107
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Chocolate and cheese factory private tour in Gruyères:
$394
-
Europa-Park Theme Park Ticket with Transport from Geneva:
$172
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From Yvoire Castle & Lake Geneva Cruise:
$98
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In London, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is £12.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Geneva may vary from person to person, on average a person spends £13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in London
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in London:
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5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Central London 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
The Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
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Camden Pub Crawl:
$14
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The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
3-Hour Pub Tour:
$21
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The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
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2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
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London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
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Sipsmith Distillery Tour and Complimentary Tasting:
$35
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
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Seneca Lake Wine Tasting & Tour:
$167
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Farms, Flights: Finger Lakes Brewery Tour:
$180
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Lavaux Panoramic Wine Tour from Geneva:
$289
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Winter ski tour: Wine tasting tour in Rhine region:
$746
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Swiss Wine Tasting at Lavaux Vineyards: Private Trip From Geneva:
$1,097
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between London and Geneva, we can see that London is more expensive. And not only is Geneva much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Geneva would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Geneva 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Geneva.
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