Should you visit London or Zurich?
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 Zurich 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.
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 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 Zurich is £152. 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 Zurich 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 £192 for a double occupancy room in Zurich.
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.
Zurich food costs typically run travelers around £35 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
London £29
Zurich £35
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:
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Traveling Spoon Nepalese Momos Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
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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
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Evening City & Food Tour (non-guided):
$110
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
Soho International Food Tour:
$113
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.
-
Culinary Tour from Zurich with Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue Dinner:
$154
-
Overnight Mount Titlis including 4-course dinner:
$545
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 average price of local transportation around Zurich is £20 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.
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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Ultra - London Private Airport Transfer from City Centre to Heathrow Airport LHR:
$8.71
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Ultra - London Airport Transfer from City Centre to London Gatwick Airport LGW:
$8.71
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Gatwick Airport to Central London Bus Transfer:
$11
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London Airports: Shared Transfer to London Hotels:
$16
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Luton Airport to Central London Bus Transfer:
$16
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Shuttle transfer from your Hotel To Heathrow Airport - Super Saver:
$18
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Shared departure transfer from your London hotel to the Airport:
$27
-
Private London Departure Transfer - Accommodation to St Pancras Eurostar Station:
$28
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Shared Transfer from London City Center to Heathrow:
$28
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Heathrow Airport to London City Center: Shared Transfer:
$28
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Shared City Center Transfer to London City Airport:
$30
-
Shared Transfer from London City Airport to City Center:
$30
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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Private Transfer Zurich Airport or City ⇔ Zermatt:
$1,374
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Private Taxi Transfer: Zurich Airport ⇔ Zermatt both directions:
$1,374
-
Private Transfer: Zurich Airport to St. Anton am Arlberg:
$1,355
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Private transfer Zurich Airport to Zermatt (Täsch) (1-3 persons):
$1,131
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Private transfer Zurich Airport to St. Moritz (1-3 persons):
$970
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Private transfer Zurich Airport to Montreux (1-3 persons):
$918
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Private Transfer: Zurich Airport to Davos:
$887
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Premium Transfer from Zürich Airport or city to Davos or Klosters or back:
$862
-
Private Transfer: Zurich Airport to Andermatt:
$702
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Private Arrival Transfer: from Zurich Airport to Disentis:
$693
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Private Arrival transfer: from Zurich Airport to Gstaad Saanen:
$693
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Private Arrival Transfer: from Zurich Airport to St. Moritz:
$693
Is it cheaper to fly into London or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich 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.
Zurich's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around £20 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.
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
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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
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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
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London Old City Highlights Walking Tour in Spanish:
$14
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
-
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
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.
The average person spends about £17 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 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
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Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
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The Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
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Camden Pub Crawl:
$14
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The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
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Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
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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 Zurich
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between London and Zurich, we can see that Zurich 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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