Which place is cheaper, Zurich or Pretoria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pretoria or Zurich?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Pretoria or Zurich? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Pretoria or Zurich?
Pretoria
Located in Gauteng Province, Pretoria is the administrative capital city of South Africa, making it home to many government buildings and three universities. It is actually one of three capital cities, being home to the executive branch, with Cape Town as the legislative capital and Bloemfontein as the judicial capital. Within South Africa, Pretoria is also known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of jacaranda trees lining its streets, parks, and gardens.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPretoria $50Zurich $271
The average daily cost (per person) in Pretoria is $50, while the average daily cost in Zurich is $271. 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 Pretoria and Zurich in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPretoria $25Zurich $171
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPretoria $50Zurich $342
Compare Hotels in Pretoria and Zurich
Looking for a hotel in Pretoria or Zurich? 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.
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: Zurich Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pretoria $12Zurich $36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pretoria
Also for Pretoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gauteng, South Africa: Airport transfers, shuttle services: $27
- Shuttle Transfer from Gauteng to Greater Kruger: $61
- One Way Private Transfer from Airports and Hotels in Sandton: $89
- Sun City Private Transfer: $250
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Zurich
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
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City Pass (2)$29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Zurich:Transfer and Ticket to Lindt Home of Chocolate Museum: $110
- Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $161
- Private Transfer to/from Zurich Airport: $109
- One-Way Private Airport Transfer: $133
- 1-Way Private Transfer from the airport to Zurich: $190
- Zurich Private Airport and Hotels Transfer, One-way or Round-Trip: $148
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to/from Zurich City: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to/from Lucerne: $254
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer to Greater Zurich Area: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer from Greater Zurich Area: $110
- Zurich Airport: Private Transfer Zurich Airport to Lucerne: $320
- Zurich Airport: Private Lucerne Transfer by Mercedes: $395
Is it cheaper to fly into Pretoria or Zurich?
Prices for flights to both Zurich and Pretoria 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
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Food Meals for one dayPretoria $15Zurich $62
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pretoria $14Zurich $36
Tours and Activities in Pretoria
For Pretoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- History Bicycle Tour of Soweto: $40
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg from Pretoria, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
- Apartheid Museum Tour in Johannesburg, every FRIDAY afternoon: $51
- Soweto and Johannesburg Tours: $55
- Soweto Township Tour from Johannesburg - Friday Special: $58
- Soweto & Johannesburg - walking, Bike , E-scooter, Tuk Tuk Tour : $58
- Pretoria Tour-Voortrekker Monument, Town, Union Buildings: $59
- Cullinan Diamond Mine Surface Guided Tour from Pretoria, every MONDAY: $61
- Soweto Pub-Crawl Tour: $61
- Taste of Africa Food tasting Experience & Optional Beer Tasting: $61
- Johannesburg exploration tour(Jo-burg/Soweto & Apartheid museum): $66
- Private Johannesburg and Soweto with Apartheid museum tour: $69
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- (STTZ01) - Zurich Open Top Bus Sightseeing Tour : $24
- 007-Elegance: Exclusive Private Tour Schilthorn from Zürich: $633
- 3 Hours Private Tour Around Zurich: $222
- 3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg: $100
- Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Zürich: $656
- Alpine Majesty:Zürich to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $808
- Beer Tasting Tour in Zurich: $128
- Best Intro Tour of Zurich with a Local: $155
- Best of Zürich & Surroundings: Walking Tour, Cable Car and Ferry: $89
- Best of Zürich: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.95
- Best of Zurich Tour with Felsenegg Cable Car and Ferry Ride : $73
- Bike Private Tour with Pickup and Drop off From Zurich: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPretoria $31Zurich $30
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 Nightlife Tour with Shots and Snacks: $33
- Informative wine tasting with Italian appetizers in the secure wine cellar: $155
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pretoria and Zurich, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Pretoria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Pretoria is in Africa and Zurich is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Pretoria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pretoria 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 Pretoria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pretoria Expensive? and Is Zurich Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pretoria or Zurich?
Pretoria has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Pretoria and Zurich, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.