Which place is cheaper, Saint Petersburg or Cairo?
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 Cairo or Saint Petersburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Saint Petersburg can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Saint Petersburg?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Egypt, and The Best Historical Tours in Egypt.
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Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesSaint Petersburg Prices
Russia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $30Saint Petersburg $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $30, while the average daily cost in Saint Petersburg is $86. 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 Cairo and Saint Petersburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10Saint Petersburg $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20Saint Petersburg $80
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Saint Petersburg
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.46Saint Petersburg $8.16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
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Metro Ride$0.08
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Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- private Airport Transfer from any destination in Cairo or Giza: $35
- cairo to siwa transfers service - safe ,comfortable easy rides: $120
- Visit Mall of Egypt with Hotel Transfer: $47
- VIP Private Cairo Airport Transfer To Or From Cairo , Giza Hotels: $12
- VIP Meet and assist with transfer from Cairo and SPX Airport: $10
- VIP Meet and Greet Private Hotel Transfer from Cairo Airport: $39
- VIP Meet and Assist in Cairo Airport with Private Transfer to Cairo Hotels: $49
- VIP Luxury Airport Transfer: Mercedes E-Class Meet & Greet: $50
- Transfer to Cairo & Giza Hotels From Cairo Airport: $35
- Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada: $226
- Transfer from Hurghada to Luxor city by private Cars: $170
- Transfer from Hurghada to Cairo by van: $235
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$1.50
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Saint Petersburg?
Prices for flights to both Saint Petersburg and Cairo 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 dayCairo $16Saint Petersburg $35
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
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Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping, Dinner cruise: $5.00
- Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping,Dinner cruiseII: $5.60
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- Giza Pyramids Sphinx Camel Ride ATV Bike Shopping Dinner cruise: $7.00
- Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping, Dinner cruise: $7.20
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Dinner Nile Cruise belly dancer open buffer tanora show sailing on Nile: $8.00
- Private Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Nile Dinner Cruise: $8.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.00
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$5.16
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.29Saint Petersburg $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.77
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Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$5.90
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
- (Egypt jewel) Day Tour To Giza Pyramids, Museum, Mosque &Felucca: $55
- 01 Day Cairo tour Islamic and Coptic Cairo: $143
- 01 Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $246
- 1 Day Private Tour in Cairo and Giza: $90
- 1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $30
- 1 Day tour to Giza pyramids Memphis city Dahshur and Saqqara pyramids: $15
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Private Tour Around Giza Pyramids: $30
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Private Tour around Giza Pyramids: $37
- 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
- 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
- 1 Hour adventure in the Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.35Saint Petersburg $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $69
- Cairo Autumn Downtown Food & Bar Crawl with Drinks: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Saint Petersburg, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Saint Petersburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Petersburg than you might in Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Saint Petersburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Saint Petersburg?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Saint Petersburg. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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 Cairo or Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Cairo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Cairo or Saint Petersburg in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cairo as well as Saint Petersburg. Cairo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Cairo is much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cairo in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Petersburg averages at about 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Petersburg. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cairo this time of the year. In the summer, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Saint Petersburg. Cairo gets 350 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Petersburg receives 267 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in July than Saint Petersburg. Cairo gets 1 mm (0 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 JulyCairo 28°C (82°F)Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Saint Petersburg in the Autumn?
Both Saint Petersburg and Cairo are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cairo throughout the year.
In October, Cairo is generally much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Daily temperatures in Cairo average around 23°C (73°F), and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cairo. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Saint Petersburg during autumn. Cairo gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Petersburg receives 70 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cairo usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Cairo gets 5 mm (0.2 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 OctoberCairo 23°C (73°F)Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Saint Petersburg in the Winter?
Both Saint Petersburg and Cairo during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cairo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Cairo is much warmer than Saint Petersburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Cairo averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around -8°C (18°F).
It's quite sunny in Cairo. In the winter, Cairo often gets more sunshine than Saint Petersburg. Cairo gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Petersburg receives 22 hours of full sun.
Cairo usually gets less rain in January than Saint Petersburg. Cairo gets 15 mm (0.6 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 JanuaryCairo 14°C (57°F)Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)
Should I visit Cairo or Saint Petersburg in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cairo and Saint Petersburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cairo year-round.
It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In the spring, Cairo is much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cairo in April average around 21°C (70°F), and Saint Petersburg averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In Cairo, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cairo usually receives more sunshine than Saint Petersburg during spring. Cairo gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Petersburg receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Cairo usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Cairo gets 7 mm (0.3 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 AprilCairo 21°C (70°F)Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Petersburg and Cairo
| Cairo | Saint Petersburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 17°C (63°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 21°C (70°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.