Which place is cheaper, Munich or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zurich and Munich. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Zurich is a historic, liberal, and beautiful city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and live music.
Munich is a multicultural, economically thriving, and bustling city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and shopping.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Munich than Zurich, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Munich is more popular for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Zurich is known for its historical sights and impressive beauty. Zurich is popular for its beautiful setting on Lake Zurich as well as its cafes, restaurants, and high prices. Munich is popular for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. It is also home to The Nymphenburg Palace.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich and Zurich. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Plenty of people visit the great sights and museums in both Zurich and Munich.
Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Zurich. Make sure you check out the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fraumünster, as well as the Swiss National Museum.
Munich offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.
Both Zurich and Munich offer a number of great restaurants to choose from.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Zurich. Many restaurants have a strong German influence, but you'll also find traditional Swiss dishes such as cheese and chocolate fondue. There are also several Michelin star restaurants in town.
Munich has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.
Munich is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.
Munich is a world class party destination. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.
Zurich has a large number of nightlife venues. The city has some of the best nightlife in Switzerland. There are a high concentration of bars and clubs around town, or you could check out one of the badis, which are pools that also act as bars during the summer months. They're usually located by the lake.
Munich is a must-visit destination for its live music scene. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its music scene.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Munich The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.
It's worth checking out the music scene in Zurich while you're in town. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.
Zurich is a must-visit destination for its historic old town charm. However, Munich does not have a historic old town.
The rich history of Zurich can be explored in its historical center. The city has an old town that is split into two parts on each side of the Limmat River. The historic districts are filled with churches, squares, and charming areas that are fun to explore. Walking tours are the best way to explore the old town.
Munich does not have a historic old town.
Both Zurich and Munich are world-class shopping destinations.
The abundance of shops in Zurich make it a world-class shopping destination. Visitors often buy chocolate, watches, and jewelry in this city. You'll find brand names and luxury items that are of high quality. Each neighborhood has its own character with stores ranging from traditional to international.
Many people travel to Munich specifically to go shopping. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.
Both Zurich and Munich are great family-friendly destinations.
Zurich is a very kid-friendly city. It's a surprisingly mellow city with a relaxing vibe that makes it easy to explore with kids. Popular family-friendly activities include swimming in the Limmat River, sailing on Lake Zurich, and visiting Josefwiese park, which has a large playground.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Munich. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.
Zurich and Munich both great destinations for a couple.
Zurich is a very popular place to visit for couples. One of the most romantic experiences you can have in town is visiting the Zurich Thermal Baths and Spa. There's an outdoor rooftop thermal pool as well as many ways that you can pamper yourselves.
Munich makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.
Munich is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Munich. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.
Plenty of budget travelers visit Zurich. The city has a number of hostels to choose from, but, like most of Switzerland, the city is expensive in general.
Zurich and Munich are both world-class destinations for students and younger travelers.
Zurich is a very popular place to visit for students. The city offers a number of unique experiences for international students. The academics are good and the university campuses are nice.
Many students frequent Munich. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.
Munich is a must-visit destination for its public transit. Also, Zurich is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.
Munich has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.
The public transit in Zurich can get you to most places easily. The system is made up of streetcars and buses.
Zurich and Munich both are great when exploring on foot.
Zurich is a very walkable city. There are paths that lead along the rivers and the lake connecting the old town areas to other parts of the city.
Munich is a very walkable destination. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.
For even more information, also check out Is Zurich Worth Visiting? and Is Munich Worth Visiting?.
In either Zurich or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Munich has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Munich than Zurich. However, 2-5 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Zurich than Munich. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Zurich, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Munich than Zurich. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Munich that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Zurich if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Munich.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Zurich. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Munich is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Zurich is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Munich is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Zurich. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Munich. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the beautiful destination of Zurich. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the multicultural big city of Munich. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $273, while the average daily cost in Munich is $161. 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 Zurich and Munich in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Zurich or Munich? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Zurich:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Munich:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Munich:
Prices for flights to both Munich 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Munich:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Munich.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
Here are a few typical costs in Munich for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Munich for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Also in Zurich, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Munich:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Munich:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zurich and Munich, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Munich much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Munich would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Munich 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 Munich.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zurich Expensive? and Is Munich Expensive?.
Munich has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and Munich, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Munich. Many visitors come to Zurich in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Munich for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Zurich is around the same temperature as Munich. Typically, the summer temperatures in Zurich in July average around 21°C (70°F), and Munich averages at about 20°C (68°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Munich this time of the year. In Zurich, it's very sunny this time of the year. Zurich usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Munich during summer. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Zurich usually receives more rain than Munich. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Munich. Most visitors come to Zurich for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Munich because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
In October, Zurich is generally a little warmer than Munich. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 13°C (56°F), and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
In the autumn, Zurich often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Munich. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in October than Munich. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Munich and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Zurich because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Munich this time of year.
It's quite cold in Munich in the winter. The weather in Zurich can be very cold. Zurich is much warmer than Munich in the winter. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Zurich usually receives more sunshine than Munich during winter. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Zurich usually receives more rain than Munich. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Munich and Zurich during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Zurich this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Munich for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Zurich is around the same temperature as Munich. Typically, the spring temperatures in Zurich in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (53°F).
In the spring, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Munich. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in April than Munich. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Zurich | Munich | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |