Should you visit Zurich or Bern?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Zurich and Bern. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Bern
The capital city of Switzerland, Bern, is a surprisingly small city with a population of only about 130,000. It's located on a peninsula that is created by the turns of the River Aare. The city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it has a wonderfully preserved old town area. There are about four miles worth of quaint walkways that are lined with clock towers and fountains.
Which city is cheaper, Bern or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $209, while the average daily cost in Bern is $196. 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 Zurich and Bern in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $264 for a double occupancy room in Zurich.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $127. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Bern the cost is $254 on average.
Food
Zurich food costs typically run travelers around $48 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.
The price of a meal in Bern can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $47 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $19 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Zurich $48
Bern $47
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.
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Culinary Tour from Zurich with Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue Dinner:
$154
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Overnight Mount Titlis including 4-course dinner:
$545
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Zurich is $28 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.
The cost of a taxi ride in Bern is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $26 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bern.
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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Ultra - Zurich Private Transfer from Train Station to Zurich City Centre:
$9.41
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Ultra - Zurich Private Airport Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Train Station:
$9.41
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Ultra - Zurich Private Airport Transfer from Train Station to Zurich Airport ZRH:
$9.41
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Ultra - Zurich Private Transfer from Zurich City Centre to Train Station:
$9.41
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Ultra - Zurich Private Airport Transfer from City Centre to Zurich Airport ZRH:
$9.41
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Ultra - Zurich Private Airport Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to City Centre:
$9.41
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Ultra - Davos Private Airport Transfer from Zurich Airport ZRH to Davos:
$9.41
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Zurich Airport to Hotel:
$31
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Shared Departure Transfer: Hotel to Zurich Airport:
$31
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Private Arrival Transfer from ZRH Zurich Airport to Zurich City:
$39
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Private Departure Transfer from Zurich City to ZRH Zurich Airport:
$39
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Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Zurich Airport:
$39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bern
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bern:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Bern City - One Way:
$105
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Private Transfer from Bern City Center to Zurich City Center:
$318
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Private transfer from Bern City to Zurich Airport:
$416
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Basel City - One Way:
$586
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Bern Belp Airport to Zurich City - One Way:
$661
Is it cheaper to fly into Zurich or Bern?
Prices for flights to both Bern and Zurich 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
Zurich's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $28 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.
Entertainment and activities in Bern typically cost an average of $26 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
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Zurich Private Tour: Albert Einstein Old Town Exploration Game:
$7.45
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Historical Zürich: An audio tour through the city of a thousand fountains:
$9.99
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Museum Rietberg Zurich Entrance Ticket:
$21
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Zurich Old Town Walking Tour:
$30
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Shopping and History Tour of Zurich:
$30
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Zürich Historic District Tour:
$30
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Swiss Chocolate Walking Tour of Zurich:
$36
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Zurich City Tour Experience:
$40
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Zurich Highlights Tour:
$40
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Zurich Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
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Private Tuk-Tuk City Tour:
$49
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The Best of Zurich Including Panoramic Views in a Small Group Walking Tour:
$58
Tours and Activities in Bern
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bern are as follows:
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Bern Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$45
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Bern Capital City Small Group Tour:
$90
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Best Introduction Tour of Bern with a Local:
$91
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Schilthorn Piz Gloria (James Bond Location) Small Group Tour from Bern:
$179
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GAILY TOUR in BERN - Gay & Lesbian Tour:
$187
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Bern Capital City Private Tour:
$194
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Zermatt Village Matterhorn Area plus Mt. Gornergrat Small Group Tour from Bern:
$227
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Adventure: Diamond Skull Virtual Reality:
$230
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Private tour of the best of Bern - Sightseeing, Food & Culture with a local:
$249
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Layover in Bern a Private Tour with a local: Best Highlights of Bern:
$249
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Zermatt Village Matterhorn Area plus Mt. Gornergrat Private Tour from Bern:
$305
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Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Small Group Tour from Bern:
$329
Alcohol
The average person spends about $23 on alcoholic beverages in Zurich per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about $21 on alcoholic beverages in Bern per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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 Zurich and Bern, 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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