Which place is cheaper, Kiev or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Helsinki or Kiev?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Kiev 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: Helsinki or Kiev?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
Kiev
Kiev is the capital city and also the largest city in the Ukraine, with a population of almost 3 million in the metropolitan area. It is situated on the Dnieper River in the north central part of the country and is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, dating back to the fifth century. The people in Kiev are quite friendly and welcoming, and are happy to have you in their city. It can, however, be difficult to communicate and get around if you don't speak at least a little Russian. It is doable with a little sign language and the help of a guide book with translations though.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €139Kiev €24
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €139, while the average daily cost in Kiev is €24. 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 Helsinki and Kiev in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Kiev €16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Kiev €32
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Kiev
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki or Kiev? 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Kiev €0.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $32
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotels - Arrival Transfer: $41
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- Departure Private Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL by business car: $64
- Arrival Private Transfer from Helsinki airport HEL to Helsinki by luxury van: $76
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $82
- Vantaa Airport(HEL) to Helsinki hotels-RoundTrip Private Transfer: $83
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki City hotel Round-Trip Transfer: $83
- Private Transfer: Cruise Port to Helsinki in Business Car: $92
- Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port in Luxury Van: $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kiev
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kiev:
- VIP Airport Transfer Service in Kiev: $43
- Strategic Missile Forces Base: Round-Trip Transfer from Kyiv& Museum Guided Tour: $146
- Private transfer: Boryspil International Airport to Kyiv: $48
- Private Transfer: From Kyiv city to Kyiv Boryspil International Airport : $37
- Private Transfer from Zhulyany (Kyiv International Airport) to Kyiv: $42
- Private Transfer Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to Zhytomyr.: $173
- Private Departure Transfer To Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $24
- Private Arrival Transfer: Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to Chernihiv city: $147
- Private Arrival Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $24
- Private Arrival Airport Transfer from Kyiv Boryspil Airport: $30
- Luxury Departure Transfer From Kyiv Boryspil International Airport (KBP): $80
- Kiev Departure Private Transfers from Kiev City to Kiev Zhulhany Airport IEV: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Kiev?
Prices for flights to both Kiev and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki €34Kiev €6.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- FOOD Tour with Rooftop Bar Visit in Helsinki: $107
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $108
- Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings: $164
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kiev
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kiev.
- "Kiev Private Food Tour" - Taste the best Ukraine has to offer: $53
- Kyiv Restaurant Food Tour: Ukrainian Cuisine Tasting: $113
- Private Gastro/Food Tour In Kyiv : $144
- Cooking master class: $226
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Kiev €1.90
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tip-Based City Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $2.15
- Free Evening Helsinki Tour - A Walk through Centuries: $2.61
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Tip-based Free Walking Tour Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA TOURS: $5.13
- Escape Game and Tour: $7.00
- Helsinki Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $7.00
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Helsinki's Historical Highlights: $7.99
- Temppeliaukio Church Entrance Ticket: $8.61
- From Round-Trip Ferry Ticket to Suomenlinna: $8.70
- Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Suomenlinna: Museum Ticket: $9.69
- Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
Tours and Activities in Kiev
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kiev are as follows:
- "Kiev Private Nightlife Tour" - Visit Secret Bars & Party with Locals: $53
- 1- or 3-Hour Private Kyiv Guided Bike Tour: $56
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour to Kiev Pechersk Lavra : $39
- 2-Day Small-Group Tour to Lviv from Kiev by Intercity Train: $225
- 2-days Group Tour To The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: $279
- 3-Hour Kiev Private Gastro Tour: $88
- 3-Hour Kiev Street Art Private Tour: $53
- Adventure City Center Tour : $120
- Bohemian Podil Tour: $120
- Chernobyl Exclusion Zone 1-day tour: $98
- Chernobyl Tour with Gift : $107
- Discover Kyiv: The Most Complete 6 Hours Private Sightseeing Tour by car: $162
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Kiev €5.97
Sample the Local Flavors in Kiev
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kiev:
- Kiev Pub Crawling | Private Beer Tasting Tour: $77
- Speakeasy Bar Crawl: $135
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Kiev, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Kiev much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kiev would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kiev 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki than you might in Kiev.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Helsinki Expensive? and Is Kiev Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Kiev?
Kiev has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki and Kiev, 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 Helsinki or Kiev?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Helsinki or Kiev in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Helsinki as well as Kiev. Many visitors come to Helsinki in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Helsinki is cooler than Kiev. Typically, the summer temperatures in Helsinki in July average around 17°C (62°F), and Kiev averages at about 21°C (70°F).
Helsinki usually gets less rain in July than Kiev. Helsinki gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Kiev receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHelsinki 17°C (62°F)Kiev 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Kiev in the Autumn?
Both Kiev and Helsinki are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Helsinki for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Helsinki is generally much colder than Kiev. Daily temperatures in Helsinki average around 6°C (42°F), and Kiev fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In October, Helsinki usually receives more rain than Kiev. Helsinki gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Kiev receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHelsinki 6°C (42°F)Kiev 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Kiev in the Winter?
Both Kiev and Helsinki during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Helsinki because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Kiev in the winter. The weather in Helsinki can be very cold. Helsinki is cooler than Kiev in the winter. The daily temperature in Helsinki averages around -6°C (21°F) in January, and Kiev fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).
Helsinki usually gets less rain in January than Kiev. Helsinki gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Kiev receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHelsinki -6°C (21°F)Kiev -4°C (24°F)
Should I visit Helsinki or Kiev in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Helsinki and Kiev. The natural beauty are the main draw to Helsinki this time of year.
It's quite cold in Helsinki in the spring. In the spring, Helsinki is much colder than Kiev. Typically, the spring temperatures in Helsinki in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Kiev averages at about 10°C (51°F).
In April, Helsinki usually receives less rain than Kiev. Helsinki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Kiev receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHelsinki 3°C (37°F)Kiev 10°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Kiev and Helsinki
| Helsinki | Kiev | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 52 mm (2 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.