Which place is cheaper, Bad Gastein or Geneva?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Geneva or Bad Gastein?
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 Geneva and Bad Gastein. 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: Geneva or Bad Gastein?
Geneva
Geneva is the second largest city in Switzerland and was previously the home for the United Nations Headquarters. The UN is now housed in New York City, but there is still a very strong presence in Geneva. Geneva is not known to be as energetic as some other European cities, but if you search it out, then you're sure to find some interesting places and lively nightlife. It's a very international city, in part because of the heavy UN presence, giving it an interesting feel. It is a French speaking city, and advertisements, signs, and television are all done in French.
Bad Gastein
Located in the High Tauern Mountains south of Salzburg, Bad Gastein is a spa and ski town known for hotels and villas built into steep and forested slopes. While the town is most visited in the winter for skiing purposes, it is also a home base for many hiking opportunities throughout the summer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Austria, and The Best Christmas Market Tours in Austria.
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Geneva Prices
Switzerland PricesBad Gastein Prices
Austria Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGeneva $288Bad Gastein $172
The average daily cost (per person) in Geneva is $288, while the average daily cost in Bad Gastein is $172. 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 Geneva and Bad Gastein in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGeneva $168Bad Gastein $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGeneva $336Bad Gastein $144
Compare Hotels in Geneva and Bad Gastein
Looking for a hotel in Geneva or Bad Gastein? 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: Geneva Hotel Prices and Bad Gastein Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Geneva $11Bad Gastein $47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Geneva
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Geneva:
- Airport Transfer: Geneva to Geneva Airport GVA by Luxury Van: $112
- Chamonix: Private Transfer from Geneva with Wi-Fi and Water: $293
- From One-Way Transfer from Geneva Airport to Morzine: $23
- Geneva Airport (GVA) Private Transfer to Geneva/Lausanne/Chamonix: $48
- Geneva Airport (GVA) to Geneva - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
- Geneva Airport (GVA) to Geneva - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $186
- Geneva Private Transfer from Geneva Airport to City centre: $171
- Geneva Private Transfer to Val D' Isére or Tignes: $287
- Geneva Ski Station Transfer to Val Thorens: $142
- Geneva hotel to Geneva Gare Cornavinof Station CFF Transfer: $106
- Geneva to Annecy Private Transfer: $161
- Geneva to Geneva Airport (GVA)- Departure Private Transfer: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Geneva or Bad Gastein?
Prices for flights to both Bad Gastein and Geneva 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 dayGeneva $105Bad Gastein $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Geneva
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Geneva.
- City Tour and Fondue Cooking Class, Swiss Folklore: $223
- Taste Geneva – A Full Food Tour of Swiss Flavors by Do Eat Better: $226
- Geneva City Tour with Cooking Class: $227
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Geneva $35Bad Gastein $25
Tours and Activities in Geneva
Here are a few actual costs in Geneva for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Brunswick Monument to the Botanical Garden: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
- The Many Faces of Self-Guided Audio City Tour: $13
- Geneva (International District) City Sights Self-Guided Tour: $18
- Guided Tour of Capital of Peace ( Outside ): $20
- 50-Minute Lake Geneva Cruise: $24
- Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva: $24
- Unusual Audio Tour of Geneva: $30
- Open-Top Sightseeing Bus Tour: $33
- International & Panoramic Tours Geneva: $33
- Scenic Lake Cruise with Snacks and Wine: $36
- (STTG04) - Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif: $37
- Hop-on Hop-Off Bus & Scenic Mini-Train Tour: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGeneva $26Bad Gastein $9.22
Sample the Local Flavors in Geneva
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Geneva:
- Geneva Countryside Wine tasting, Aperitif, Castle By E-bike: $175
- Swiss Vineyard Wine Tasting Tour in Vaud: $263
- Lavaux, Chexbres, and Valais Wine Tasting Tour: $450
- Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting by TukTuk: $541
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Bad Gastein, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Bad Gastein much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bad Gastein would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bad Gastein 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Bad Gastein.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Geneva Expensive? and Is Bad Gastein Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Geneva or Bad Gastein?
Geneva has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bad Gastein. When comparing the sizes of Geneva and Bad Gastein, 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.
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.