A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lulea vs. Interlaken for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lulea or Interlaken?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Lulea and Interlaken 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.

Where Should I go: Lulea or Interlaken?

Lulea

Lulea is in northern Sweden, in Norrbotten. It's a mid sized city with about 70,000 residents. It also has a technical university, the Lulea University of Technology, which was created in 1971. The city of Lulea is located at the mouth of Lule River on the Gulf of Bothnia. The city's economy is focused on research, education, trade and services. The university's educational programs appeal to new businesses that range from local companies to multinational corporations. There is also a prominant IT sector in the city.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts with plenty of hiking, skiing, paragliding, and other activities in the region.. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys, too. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden, The Best Adventure Tours to Sweden, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich.


Which place is cheaper, Interlaken or Lulea?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lulea is $105, while the average daily cost in Interlaken is $231. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lulea and Interlaken in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lulea $55
    Interlaken $133
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lulea $110
    Interlaken $266
Compare Hotels in Lulea and Interlaken

Looking for a hotel in Lulea or Interlaken? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Lulea


Hotels in Interlaken


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Lulea Hotel Prices and Interlaken Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lulea $21
    Interlaken $13

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Interlaken

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Interlaken are as follows:


  • Cable Cars (for 2)
    $66

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Interlaken

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

  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Lucerne: $284
  • Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $160
  • Private Group transfer Zurich Airport - Interlaken: $1,312
  • Private Transfer from Interlaken to Zurich: $240

Is it cheaper to fly into Lulea or Interlaken?

Prices for flights to both Interlaken and Lulea 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
    Lulea $35
    Interlaken $64

Typical Food Prices in Interlaken

For Interlaken, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Tea at Interlaken
    $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Interlaken

For Interlaken, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Fondue Cooking Class and Cheese Workshop in Switzerland: $143
  • Cheese and Chocolate Full-Day Food Tour: $733

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lulea $16
    Interlaken $104

Tours and Activities in Interlaken

For Interlaken, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Interlaken Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $15
  • Interlaken Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
  • Hofstetten bei Brienz: Trauffer Erlebniswelt Ticket: $16
  • Private Lake Thun and Lake Brienz Express Tour from Interlaken: $29
  • Funicular Ticket to Harder Kulm: $42
  • Rope Park Climbing Adventure with Entry Ticket: $46
  • Funicular Ticket from Interlaken to Harder: $86
  • Bollywood Tour Gstaad - Express Tour: $90
  • Funicular Ticket from Interlaken to Harder (Top of Interlaken): $102
  • Interlaken Valley Bike Tour: Rivers, Lakes & Forests: $108
  • Bike Tour of the Interlaken Valley: Rivers, Lakes & Forests: $111
  • Waterfalls Day Tour: $119

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lulea $18
    Interlaken $17


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lulea and Interlaken, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. And not only is Lulea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lulea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lulea 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 Interlaken would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Interlaken than you might in Lulea.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lulea Expensive? and Is Interlaken Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lulea or Interlaken?

Lulea has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Lulea and Interlaken, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Lulea or Interlaken?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lulea or Interlaken in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Lulea as well as Interlaken. Also, most visitors come to Interlaken for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Lulea is cooler than Interlaken. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lulea in July average around 15°C (60°F), and Interlaken averages at about 21°C (70°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Interlaken. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lulea this time of the year. In the summer, Lulea often gets more sunshine than Interlaken. Lulea gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 241 hours of full sun.

Lulea usually gets less rain in July than Interlaken. Lulea gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lulea 15°C (60°F) 
    Interlaken 21°C (70°F)

Should I visit Lulea or Interlaken in the Autumn?

Both Interlaken and Lulea are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

Lulea can be very cold during autumn. In October, Lulea is generally much colder than Interlaken. Daily temperatures in Lulea average around 2°C (36°F), and Interlaken fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

Lulea usually receives less sunshine than Interlaken during autumn. Lulea gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Lulea usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Lulea gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lulea 2°C (36°F) 
    Interlaken 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Lulea or Interlaken in the Winter?

Both Interlaken and Lulea during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the skiing and the cuisine are the main draw to Interlaken this time of year.

It's quite cold in Interlaken in the winter. The weather in Lulea can be very cold. Lulea is much colder than Interlaken in the winter. The daily temperature in Lulea averages around -12°C (10°F) in January, and Interlaken fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In the winter, Lulea often gets less sunshine than Interlaken. Lulea gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 55 hours of full sun.

Lulea usually gets less rain in January than Interlaken. Lulea gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lulea -12°C (10°F) 
    Interlaken 3°C (37°F)

Should I visit Lulea or Interlaken in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lulea and Interlaken. Furthermore, many travelers come to Interlaken for the natural beauty.

It's quite cold in Lulea in the spring. In the spring, Lulea is much colder than Interlaken. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lulea in April average around -1°C (31°F), and Interlaken averages at about 12°C (53°F).

Lulea usually receives more sunshine than Interlaken during spring. Lulea gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lulea usually receives less rain than Interlaken. Lulea gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lulea -1°C (31°F) 
    Interlaken 12°C (53°F)

Typical Weather for Interlaken and Lulea

Lulea Interlaken
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -12°C (10°F) 44 mm (1.7 in) 3°C (37°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Feb -12°C (11°F) 32 mm (1.3 in) 5°C (40°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Mar -7°C (19°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Apr -1°C (31°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 12°C (53°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
May 6°C (43°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 16°C (60°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Jun 13°C (55°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 19°C (66°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Jul 15°C (60°F) 50 mm (2 in) 21°C (70°F) 89 mm (3.5 in)
Aug 13°C (56°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (69°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Sep 8°C (46°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 18°C (64°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 2°C (36°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 13°C (56°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Nov -4°C (24°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 7°C (45°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)
Dec -10°C (15°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 4°C (39°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)