Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Zurich?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zurich or Vancouver?
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 Vancouver. 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.
Where Should I go: Zurich or Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Switzerland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Switzerland, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZurich $271Vancouver $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Zurich is $271, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZurich $171Vancouver $87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZurich $342Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Zurich and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Zurich or Vancouver? 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 and Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zurich $36Vancouver $12
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:
- ST. Moritz Luxury Private Transfer to Zurich Airport: $1,425
- SUV LUXURY TRANSFER FROM AIRPORT ZURIGO to MILANO MALPENSA: $1,094
- TRANSFER FROM AIRPORT MILANO MALPENSA TO ZURIGO: $1,094
- Switzerland: Private Transfer to Interlaken & Grindelwald: $994
- Private Transfer from Zurich Airport to Scuol: $866
- Private Transfer from Zurich Airport to Gstaad Saanen: $657
- Private Transfer From Zurich Airport to Adelboden: $648
- TRANSFER VAN LUXURY DA AIRPORT ZURIGO A BASEL: $646
- Private Transfer from Zurich Airport to Disentis: $643
- Privat Transfer Zurich Airport to Interlaken: $641
- Private Transfer Interlaken to Zurich Airport: $641
- Private Transfer From Zurich Airport to Thun: $620
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport$6.40
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
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15 min Taxi Ride$8.78
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SkyTrain DayPass$6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Vancouver Airport-Cypress/Grouse Mountain Private Transfer: $38
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Port - Arrival Transfer: $55
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Canada Place Cruise Terminal to any Hotel: $74
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Whistler - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Zurich or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 $62Vancouver $31
Typical Food Prices in Zurich
Some typical examples of dining costs in Zurich are as follows:
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Breakfast for 2$13
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zurich $36Vancouver $36
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
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.99
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZurich $30Vancouver $16
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zurich and Vancouver, we can see that Zurich is more expensive. And not only is Vancouver much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zurich is in Europe and Vancouver is in North America, 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 Vancouver would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vancouver 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 Vancouver.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zurich Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zurich or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Zurich. When comparing the sizes of Zurich and Vancouver, 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.
When is the best time to visit Zurich or Vancouver?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Zurich or Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zurich as well as Vancouver. The summer months attract visitors to Zurich because of the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zurich is generally a little warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 21°C (70°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zurich this time of the year. In the summer, Zurich often gets less sunshine than Vancouver. Zurich gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
Zurich usually gets more rain in July than Vancouver. Zurich gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZurich 21°C (70°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and Zurich are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Zurich this time of year.
Zurich is a little warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zurich averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Zurich usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver during autumn. Zurich gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In October, Zurich usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Zurich gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZurich 13°C (56°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Zurich during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Zurich for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Zurich. In the winter, Zurich is cooler than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zurich in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Zurich often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vancouver. Zurich gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zurich usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Zurich gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZurich 3°C (37°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Zurich or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zurich and Vancouver. Many visitors come to Zurich in the spring for the natural beauty.
In April, Zurich is generally a little warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Zurich average around 12°C (53°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
Zurich usually receives less sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Zurich gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Zurich usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Zurich gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZurich 12°C (53°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Zurich
| Zurich | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.