Which city is cheaper, Paris or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Zurich vs. Paris for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Music
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Should you visit Zurich or Paris?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zurich and Paris. 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
Zurich is a liberal, beautiful, and historic city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.
Paris
Paris is a bustling, energetic, and beautiful city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.
How is Zurich different from Paris?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Is Zurich or Paris better for Museums and Historical Sights?
Plenty of people visit the sights and museums in both Zurich and Paris.
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.
Travelers visit Paris from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. One of the most world famous landmarks is the Eiffel Tower. The city is also home to the world renowned Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Palais Garnier Opera House.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Food?
Both Zurich and Paris offer a number of unique 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.
For foodies, Paris is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. There are countless local restaurants, markets, and patisseries to explore. Make sure you try the steak tartare, pate, and macarons.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Nightlife?
Both Zurich and Paris are comparable when it comes to partying.
Zurich offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.
Paris is a must-see party destination. Head to Pigalle or the Latin Quarter for some of the city's best nightlife. There are all-night parties, cabarets, and exclusive night clubs that you can experience.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Music?
Both Zurich and Paris offer a variety of live music venues.
The music scene in Zurich is very popular with diverse venues. There are many nightclubs that offer a variety of music types including electronic music, rock, and even reggae.
Paris is known as a music capital around the world. Some of the most famous music venues include Le Pop In, La Mécanique Ondulatoire, and Les Disquaires.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Shopping?
Both Zurich and Paris are good 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.
People travel from around the world to go shopping in Paris. Some of the best areas for shopping are Boulevard Haussmann and the Grands Boulevards, the Marais, and Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysées.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Families?
Both Zurich and Paris are 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.
Paris is a very family-friendly destination. Check out Jardin du Luxembourg, or one of the city's many playgrounds. Also grab a treat at one of the city's many patisseries. And of course, there's Disneyland Paris.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Couples?
Zurich and Paris both fun 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.
Paris makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. A city filled with romance, you really can't find a more ideal destination for a European honeymoon or a couple's getaway.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Students?
Zurich and Paris are both good 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 Paris. The city is one of the most popular destinations for international and study abroad students.
Is Zurich or Paris better for Public Transit?
Both Zurich and Paris offer public transit options.
Zurich has some very good public transit options. The system is made up of streetcars and buses.
The thorough and effecient public transit system of Paris can take you anywhere. The city's metro system is very comprehensive. There's also a bus system that you can use to get around.
Is Zurich or Paris a more walkable city?
Zurich and Paris both are comparable 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.
Paris is very walkable. Some streets can feel a bit overwhelming, but there are many parts of the city that are easily explored on foot.
Zurich and Paris: Pros and Cons
Zurich
Pros- Popular museums and historical sights
- Good music scene
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Impressive beauty
Paris
Pros- Popular museums and historical sights
- Good music scene
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Big city activities
- Impressive beauty
Should I spend more time in Paris or Zurich?
How long in Zurich or Paris?
Both Zurich and Paris have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Paris than Zurich.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Zurich is 2-5 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Paris is 3-7 days.
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How many days in Zurich or Paris? Ideal Length of StayZurich 2-5Paris 3-7
One day in Zurich or Paris?
In Zurich, many people enjoy the live music and food that this beautiful destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the shopping. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
Paris 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.
A weekend in Zurich or Paris?
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Zurich. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
Paris is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Five days in Zurich or Paris?
Zurich is a fun place to experience. Lots of people come for the shopping. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Paris. 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.
A week in Zurich or Paris?
You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful destination of Zurich. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. Lots of people come for the shopping. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Paris is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZurich $206Paris $189
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $206, while the average daily cost in Paris is $189. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Zurich and Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZurich $130Paris $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZurich $260Paris $248
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zurich $28Paris $17
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)$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zurich
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zurich:
- Private Transfer Zurich Airport or City ⇔ Zermatt: $1,374
- Private Taxi Transfer: Zurich Airport ⇔ Zermatt both directions: $1,374
- Private Transfer: Zurich Airport to St. Anton am Arlberg: $1,355
- Private transfer Zurich Airport to Zermatt (Täsch) (1-3 persons): $1,131
- Private transfer Zurich Airport to St. Moritz (1-3 persons): $970
- Private transfer Zurich Airport to Montreux (1-3 persons): $918
- Private Transfer: Zurich Airport to Davos: $887
- Premium Transfer from Zürich Airport or city to Davos or Klosters or back: $862
- Private Transfer: Zurich Airport to Andermatt: $702
- Private Arrival Transfer: from Zurich Airport to Disentis: $693
- Private Arrival transfer: from Zurich Airport to Gstaad Saanen: $693
- Private Arrival Transfer: from Zurich Airport to St. Moritz: $693
Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro$6.57
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Train from Airport$9.24
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Metro tickets$6.98
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Train$21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ultra - Private Transfer from Paris to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's Garden: $9.57
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Orly Airport (ORY) to Paris: $23
- Shared Departure Transfer from Paris to Orly airport: $23
- Paris Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $33
- Semi Private Arrival Transfer: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): $33
- Semi Private Departure Transfer: Paris to ORLY Airport: $33
- Semi Private Departure Transfer: Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): $33
- Private Transfer: Gare du Nord Train Station (Eurostar Terminal): $34
- Private One-Way Transfer: City of Paris: $36
- Paris Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $36
- Paris to Versailles Round-Trip Coach Transfer: $37
- Paris to Versailles Round-Trip Shuttle Transfer by Luxury Bus: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Zurich or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayZurich $48Paris $32
Typical Food prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zurich
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zurich.
- Culinary Tour from Zurich with Traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue Dinner: $154
- Overnight Mount Titlis including 4-course dinner: $545
Typical Food prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream$8.21
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Breakfast$7.18
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Breakfast for 2$30
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Dinner on River Cruise$88
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Dinner$59
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Cheese$13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Paris en Scene Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $49
- Paris River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $60
- Italian dinner on the river Seine: $61
- Seine River Cruise with French Dinner on Champs-Elysees Avenue: $61
- Seine River Cruise & Dinner on Champs Elysées Avenue: $62
- Choux cooking class for kids in Paris: $62
- Capitaine Fracasse Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $67
- Paris Small-Group Gourmet Food Tour With Optional Lunch and Wine Tasting: $75
- Bistro Parisien Dinner and Seine River Sightseeing Cruise Combination: $75
- NO DIET CLUB - Unique Bike and Food tour in Paris !: $75
- Romantic Cruise with 3-course Dinner on Seine River: $76
- Fondue Cooking Party - Winter is Coming: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zurich $28Paris $63
Tours and Activities in Zurich
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zurich are as follows:
- 2-Day Alps Tour from Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis: $592
- 2-Day Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Tour from Interlaken or Grindelwald: $557
- 2-Day Mt Rigi Tour from Zurich Including Mineral Baths and Lake Lucerne Cruise: $474
- 2-Day Switzerland Tour from Zurich to Geneva: Mt.Titlis,Interlaken,Bern,Gruyères: $693
- 2-Day Winter Tour from Mt Pilatus and Mt Titlis: $592
- 2-hour Private Guided Zurich Downtown Tour: $225
- 3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg: $98
- 3-Day Glacier Express Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $556
- 3-Day GoldenPass Line Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $439
- 4-Day Glacier and Bernina Express Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $768
- 4-Day Switzerland Tour from Zurich Including Mt. Titlis Cable Car: $1,662
- 5-Day Famous Mountain Peaks Self-Guided Tour from Zurich: $982
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Louvre Entry for Two$18
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Admission to Pantheon$5.13
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Catacombs (2)$24
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Secret Montmartre, smartphone audioguided tour: $0.98
- Trendy Marais, smartphone audioguided walking tour: $0.98
- Marais HiddenTreasures, audioguided walking tour: $0.98
- Paris Criminal Past, audioguided walking tour: $0.98
- Test Day tour: $1.00
- BEST OF ROYAL DAYS & LIFE : 3 audioguided tours: $1.85
- BEST OF PARIS : 3 smartphone audioguided tours: $1.85
- Legends of Paris Night Free Walking Tour in Spanish: $3.72
- Visit the Eiffel Tower at your own pace Self-guided audio tour: $4.96
- Flâneurs of Belleville: Explore the art of city walking on an audio walking tour: $5.00
- One Hour Père Lachaise Cemetery Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.43
- Marais: Explore this historic neighbourhood on a kid-friendly audio walking tour: $5.49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZurich $23Paris $20
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 Zurich: $29
Typical Alcohol prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
-
Wine$14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Pub Crawl in Latin Quarter: $37
- Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris: $40
- Guided tour and wine tasting in a historic cellar in the center of Paris: $41
- Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $47
- Organic wine tasting in Paris: $56
- Wine Tasting In Paris: $83
- Paris Art of Pairing Cheese and Wine Tasting in a Cheese Cellar: $87
- Paris Wine Tasting Session with Expert Sommelier: $89
- Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $97
- Paris Wine Tasting plus Cheese & Cured Meat Lunch with an Expert Sommelier Guide: $97
- Paris Evening Wine Tour and Tasting: $112
- Montmartre Hill Sweet & Savory French Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $112
When comparing the travel costs between Zurich and Paris, 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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