Travel budget and cost of living in Bern (Switzerland) how much does a trip cost?

Bern travel budget

Bern: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Bern

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Bern for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Bern compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Bern in 2025 is 54% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Bern in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Bern by expense type

Restaurant budget in Bern

Lunch

$ 29/person
($ 20 to $ 38)

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33% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 52/person
($ 44 to $ 106)

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27% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

McDonald's meal

$ 20/person
($ 18 to $ 23)

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57% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 8 for 500ml
($ 4.9 to $ 9.9)

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25% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.4

Imported beer

$ 2.3 for 330ml
($ 1.3 to $ 3.7)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 5.8/cup
($ 3.7 to $ 6.8)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.5

Fizzy drink

$ 5/can
($ 3.7 to $ 6.2)

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86% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 4.6/bottle
($ 3.7 to $ 6.2)

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111% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Bern

1-star hotel

$ 147/night
($ 120 to $ 251)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 172

2-star hotel

$ 192/night
($ 107 to $ 523)

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17% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 164

3-star hotel

$ 215/night
($ 125 to $ 449)

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11% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 242

4-star hotel

$ 265/night
($ 138 to $ 562)

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22% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 341

5-star hotel

$ 442/night
($ 309 to $ 633)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 556

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 210/month
($ 163 to $ 324)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

Room with kitchen

$ 304/month
($ 115 to $ 889)

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18% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 259

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 254/month
($ 123 to $ 501)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 221

Cottage or guest house

$ 199/month
($ 174 to $ 286)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 250

Family room

$ 371/month
($ 184 to $ 936)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 215

Supermarket food budget in Bern

Milk

$ 2.2/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2.4)

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93% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 3.4/500g
($ 1.5 to $ 4.9)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Rice

$ 3.9/kg
($ 1.5 to $ 6.1)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Eggs

$ 6.3/12 eggs
($ 2.6 to $ 8.8)

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59% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Chicken

$ 33/kg
($ 18 to $ 44)

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147% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 3.6/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 6.2)

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37% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Tomatoes

$ 6.4/kg
($ 2.4 to $ 9.7)

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23% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Potatoes

$ 2.5/kg
($ 1 to $ 3.7)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 1
($ 0.7 to $ 2.4)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Bern

Bus ticket

$ 3.7/ticket
($ 3.4 to $ 5.2)

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38% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 4.8/km
($ 4.7 to $ 7)

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160% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.8

Petrol

$ 2.3/litre
($ 2.2 to $ 2.4)

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120% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 8
($ 7.3 to $ 8.6)

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103% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Leisure activity budget in Bern

Cinema

$ 26/ticket
($ 23 to $ 38)

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65% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 44/hr
($ 38 to $ 50)

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92% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Bern

Cigarettes

$ 12/pack
($ 12 to $ 13)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 154
($ 117 to $ 185)

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173% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 57

Summer dress

$ 69
($ 44 to $ 112)

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50% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

London → Bern

$ 954
(fair price: $ 371)

Manchester → Bern

$ 911
(fair price: $ 350)

Dublin → Bern

$ 910
(fair price: $ 358)