Which place is cheaper, Saint Petersburg or Abu Dhabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Abu Dhabi and Saint Petersburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg?
Abu Dhabi
It doesn't get more "lifestyles of the rich and famous" than a vacation to Abu Dhabi. The federal capital and center of government for the United Arab Emirates is arguably the most modern city in the world.
Abu Dhabi has a population of 1.5 million and provides a home to several oil companies and embassies, but this place is definitely a playground for the world's fanciest tourists. This city has several large projects underway including Yas Island's Formula 1 track and Ferrari theme park.
Note: homosexuality is still outlawed in the UAE with harsh punishments including deportation, fines, jail time or even a death sentence.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Arab Emirates, and The Best 3-Day Tours in United Arab Emirates.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAbu Dhabi $164Saint Petersburg $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Abu Dhabi is $164, while the average daily cost in Saint Petersburg is $63. 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 Abu Dhabi and Saint Petersburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAbu Dhabi $98Saint Petersburg $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAbu Dhabi $196Saint Petersburg $72
Compare Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Saint Petersburg
Looking for a hotel in Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg? 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: Abu Dhabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Abu Dhabi $20Saint Petersburg $7.22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Abu Dhabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Abu Dhabi are as follows:
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Car Rental$31
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Taxi to Airport$14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Abu Dhabi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Abu Dhabi:
- Warner Bros General Admission with Transfers: $150
- Visit Ferrari World Abu Dhabi From Dubai Included Transfer and Tickets: $235
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Abu Dhabi APT-HTL(AUH): $56
- Transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport(AUH) to Abu Dhabi City Center: $30
- Transfer in private vehicle from Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)- Abu Dhabi City: $42
- Transfer from Abu Dhabi to Dubai City: $150
- Transfer Abu Dhabi City Center to Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): $30
- Tickets to Global Village with Private Transfer: $95
- Snow Park Abudhabi Premium Tickets with Optional Transfers: $120
- Snow Abu Dhabi Tour with Optional Private Transfers: $110
- Qasr al Watan Tour with Optional Private Transfers: $50
- Private transfer: Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) to Abu Dhabi: $41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
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Metro Passes$1.33
Is it cheaper to fly into Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg?
Prices for flights to both Saint Petersburg and Abu Dhabi 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 dayAbu Dhabi $45Saint Petersburg $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Abu Dhabi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Abu Dhabi.
- Abudhabi Desert Safari Buffet Dinner & Live Entertainments Shows: $24
- Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment: $38
- Dubai Marina luxury Dhow Cruise Dinner (catamaran): $45
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari Tour with Shows and BBQ Dinner: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $60
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari With Live Shows And BBQ Buffet Dinner: $60
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with Hot BBQ Dinner : $65
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner and all Camp Activities : $72
- Abu Dhabi Evening Desert Safari & Dinner Under the Stars: $77
- Abu Dhabi Desert Safari 4x4, BBQ Dinner, Camel Ride: $81
- Evening Desert Safari Abu Dhabi with BBQ Dinner & Shows: $81
- Abu Dhabi Afternoon Desert Safari and BBQ Dinner: $90
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Abu Dhabi $39Saint Petersburg $18
Tours and Activities in Abu Dhabi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Abu Dhabi are as follows:
- Abu Dhabi Tour-Sheik Zayed Mosque, Emirates Palace With Louvre Musuem: $115
- Admission Ticket To Qasr Al Hosn Abu Dhabi: $20
- Falcon Hospital Tour with Transportation : $101
- Full Day Abu Dhabi City & Louvre Museum Tour: $90
- Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi Ticket: $26
- Private Full-Day Tour in Abu Dhabi: $279
- 1 Day 2 Yas Island Park Tickets Combo: $130
- 17 Minutes Helicopter Tour in Abu Dhabi: $245
- 2 Days 2 Park- Ferrari World +Yas Waterworld Or Warner Bros World Combo Tickets: $155
- Abu Dhabi 'Hidden Gems' by City Break - walking tours made fun!: $33
- Abu Dhabi City Tour: $95
- Abu Dhabi City Tour & Ferrari World Ticket: $119
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAbu Dhabi $13Saint Petersburg $9.59
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Abu Dhabi and Saint Petersburg, we can see that Abu Dhabi is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Abu Dhabi is in Middle East and Saint Petersburg is in Europe, 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 Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Abu Dhabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Abu Dhabi than you might in Saint Petersburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Abu Dhabi Expensive? and Is Saint Petersburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Abu Dhabi. When comparing the sizes of Abu Dhabi and Saint Petersburg, 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 Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Abu Dhabi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg in the Summer?
Both Saint Petersburg and Abu Dhabi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Abu Dhabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Abu Dhabi in July average around 35°C (95°F), and Saint Petersburg averages at about 18°C (64°F).
In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Abu Dhabi. In the summer, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi gets 331 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Petersburg receives 267 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in July than Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAbu Dhabi 35°C (95°F)Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Abu Dhabi and Saint Petersburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Abu Dhabi year-round.
In October, Abu Dhabi is generally much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Daily temperatures in Abu Dhabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
In Abu Dhabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Saint Petersburg during autumn. Abu Dhabi gets 314 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Petersburg receives 70 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAbu Dhabi 29°C (84°F)Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Abu Dhabi as well as Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Saint Petersburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Abu Dhabi averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around -8°C (18°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Abu Dhabi this time of the year. In the winter, Abu Dhabi often gets more sunshine than Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Petersburg receives 22 hours of full sun.
Abu Dhabi usually gets less rain in January than Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAbu Dhabi 18°C (64°F)Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)
Should I visit Abu Dhabi or Saint Petersburg in the Spring?
Both Saint Petersburg and Abu Dhabi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Abu Dhabi throughout the year.
Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Abu Dhabi is much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Abu Dhabi in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Petersburg averages at about 4°C (40°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi usually receives more sunshine than Saint Petersburg during spring. Abu Dhabi gets 297 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Petersburg receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Abu Dhabi usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Abu Dhabi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAbu Dhabi 27°C (81°F)Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Petersburg and Abu Dhabi
| Abu Dhabi | Saint Petersburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.