Which place is cheaper, Saint Petersburg or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai 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 Dubai and Saint Petersburg can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Saint Petersburg?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Saint Petersburg $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, 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 Dubai and Saint Petersburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Saint Petersburg $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Saint Petersburg $72
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Saint Petersburg
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Saint Petersburg $7.29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Private Transfers: $102
- Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
- Xline Experience Dubai Marina With Transfers Option: $243
- Xline Dubai Marina Zip line Experience With Transfers Option: $243
- Wild Wadi tickets with Transfers: $100
- Wild Wadi Waterpark with One-Way Transfer: $140
- Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $154
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai Ticket With Private Transfer: $125
- Wild Wadi Dubai water park Ticket with 1 way transfer in Dubai: $110
- Wild Wadi Dubai Water Park Tickets With Transfers Option: $99
- Wild Wadi Adventure Waterpark Tickets With Transfers From Dubai: $105
- Wild Wadi - Dubai Theme Water Park Tickets With Transfers Option: $98
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$1.34
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Saint Petersburg?
Prices for flights to both Saint Petersburg and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Saint Petersburg $18
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Creek: $15
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
- Cruising With Dinner And Live Shows At Dubai Creek: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner Deira Creek: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek with pickup & drop off: $19
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$4.61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Saint Petersburg $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- 30-Minutes Jet Ski Burj Al Arab Tour of Dubai: $125
- Abu Dhabi Private Tour with Ferrari World Entry Ticket: $98
- Abu Dhabi Private tour with professional drive : $289
- Burj Khalifa At the Top & Sky Views Ticket: $167
- Burj Khalifa Observation deck Dubai Admission Ticket : $71
- Burj Khalifa Tour - Top Sky Ticket 124, 125 & 148 Floor Level Access : $165
- DXB Tour and Aquaventure water park & lost Chambers PRIVATE tour: $215
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with BF : $95
- Dubai Autodrome Experience: $84
- Dubai City Tour : Half Day: $45
- Dubai City Tour Half Day: $45
- Dubai Combo: Dubai Frame with Global Village Admission Tickets: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Saint Petersburg $9.68
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Saint Petersburg, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Saint Petersburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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 Dubai or Saint Petersburg?
Saint Petersburg has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Dubai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Dubai or Saint Petersburg in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Saint Petersburg. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round.
Dubai can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Dubai is generally much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 35°C (95°F), and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
In July, Dubai usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer. June to August in Dubai is the dry season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Saint Petersburg in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Saint Petersburg. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Dubai is much warmer than Saint Petersburg in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
Dubai usually gets less rain in October than Saint Petersburg. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Saint Petersburg in the Winter?
Both Saint Petersburg and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In the winter, Dubai is much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubai in January average around 19°C (66°F), and Saint Petersburg averages at about -8°C (18°F).
In January, Dubai usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Dubai is January to March.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Saint Petersburg in the Spring?
Both Saint Petersburg and Dubai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Dubai is generally much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Dubai usually gets less rain in April than Saint Petersburg. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year. June to August is the dry season in Dubai.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Petersburg and Dubai
| Dubai | Saint Petersburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 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 | 26°C (79°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) | 20 mm (0.8 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.