Which place is cheaper, Bad Gastein or Zermatt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zermatt or Bad Gastein?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
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 Zermatt and Bad Gastein can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Zermatt or Bad Gastein?
Zermatt
Located at the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a Swiss village best known for its skiing, climbing, and hiking opportunities. It has become a popular mountain resort town due to its location and also features a number of boutique shops, hotels, and restaurants that cater to the vacationers who come to enjoy the many winter activities of the Alps.
Bad Gastein
Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZermatt $223Bad Gastein $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Zermatt is $223, while the average daily cost in Bad Gastein is $130. 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 Zermatt and Bad Gastein in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZermatt $126Bad Gastein $66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZermatt $252Bad Gastein $132
Compare Hotels in Zermatt and Bad Gastein
Looking for a hotel in Zermatt or Bad Gastein? 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: Zermatt Hotel Prices and Bad Gastein Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zermatt $53Bad Gastein $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zermatt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zermatt:
- 3-Hour Private Transfer from Zermatt and Saa to Geneva Airport: $235
- Breuil-Cervinia to Milan Malpensa Airport MXP-Departure Transfer: $118
- Cervinia, Italy to Malpensa Airport (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $127
- Private Transfer Zurich Airport to Zermatt Tasch Station: $1,087
- Zermatt to Malpensa Airport (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into Zermatt or Bad Gastein?
Prices for flights to both Bad Gastein and Zermatt 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 dayZermatt $57Bad Gastein $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zermatt
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zermatt.
- Evening Tapas Tour with Dinner and Drinks: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zermatt $56Bad Gastein $23
Tours and Activities in Zermatt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zermatt are as follows:
- Sion Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $16
- Sunnegga Funicular Ticket for Iconic Matterhorn Viewpoint: $51
- Sunnegga Funicular Ticket for Iconic Matterhorn Viewpoint: $63
- Matterhorn Glacier Paradise Cable Car Ticket: $104
- Gornergrat Bahn Cogwheel Train Ticket: $108
- Tapas tour in Zermatt: $111
- Alpine Village Tour 2 hours: $126
- Mount Gornergrat: Zermatt's Spectacular Summit Ticket: $152
- Ticket for Zermatt Matterhorn Glacier Paradise: $154
- Majestic Matterhorn: Zermatt to Glacier Paradise Cableway Ticket: $181
- Mount Gornergrat Spectacular Summit Train Ticket: $183
- Romance and Charms of Zermatt – Walking Tour: $221
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZermatt $28Bad Gastein $8.42
Sample the Local Flavors in Zermatt
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Zermatt:
- Wine Tasting in Valais: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zermatt and Bad Gastein, we can see that Zermatt is more expensive. And not only is Bad Gastein much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bad Gastein would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bad Gastein 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 Zermatt would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zermatt than you might in Bad Gastein.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zermatt Expensive? and Is Bad Gastein Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zermatt or Bad Gastein?
Zermatt has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Zermatt and Bad Gastein, 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.