Should you visit Helsinki or Porto?
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 Porto 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.
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.
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
Which city is cheaper, Porto or Helsinki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €112, while the average daily cost in Porto is €100. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Helsinki and Porto in more detail.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport (HEL):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM) to Helsinki:
$622
-
Private Transfer: Helsinki to Helsinki-Malmi Airpor (HEM):
$622
-
Helsinki Private Panoramic Tour with Airport Transfer:
$375
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Helsinki Private Departure Airport Transfer:
$203
-
Airport Private transfer via Marimekko & Iittala with Japanese Speaking Driver:
$195
-
Private arrival OR departure transfer in Helsinki (airport or hotel pick up):
$185
-
Helsinki Stopover Tour with Round-Trip Airport Transfers:
$170
-
Helsinki airport transfer to all Helsinki area hotels:
$166
-
Helsinki Airport Transfers: Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL in Luxury Van:
$113
-
Helsinki Departure Private Transfer from Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL:
$110
-
Helsinki Private Transfer : Port of Helsinki to Helsinki City in Luxury Van:
$104
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer to Lisbon from Porto with stop in Fátima or Coimbra (1hour):
$348
-
Transfer to Lisbon from Porto:
$311
-
Transfer from Porto to Vigo or Vigo to Porto:
$398
-
Transfer from Porto to Lisbon with 2 Touristic Stops (Óbidos, Fátima or Coimbra):
$425
-
Transfer from Porto Airport to Porto Center:
$27
-
Transfer from Oporto to Lisbon with stops:
$373
-
Transfer between Oporto and the Airport:
$16
-
Transfer Tour Between Lisbon and Porto:
$743
-
Transfer Service:
$34
-
Transfer Porto | Lisbon or Lisbon | Porto:
$597
-
Transfer Porto to Vigo:
$173
-
Transfer Porto to São Tiago de Compostela:
$281
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Porto?
Prices for flights to both Porto 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 day
Helsinki €27
Porto €29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Helsinki Food Tour Including Tastings:
$137
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Grandma's Recipe:
$23
-
Traditional Portuguese sweets cooking class:
$30
-
Pastel de Nata cooking class in Porto:
$30
-
Authentic Porto Food Tour & Market Experience for private groups:
$61
-
Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals:
$65
-
Half-Day Brunch Food Tour in Porto:
$66
-
Half-Day Food Tour:
$68
-
Craft Beer & Food Tour:
$73
-
Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Porto Private Food Tour:
$73
-
3-Hour Porto by Night Tour with Fado Show & Dinner:
$74
-
Half-Day Porto Walking Food Tour and Tasting for Small-Group:
$75
-
Withlocals Your Way: Porto 100% Personalised Private Food Tour:
$77
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Days tour to Moominworld and Turku Castle from Helsinki:
$955
-
2-Hour Guided Tuk Tuk Tour in Helsinki:
$274
-
2-Hours Helsinki Professional Photography Walking Tour:
$70
-
2-Hours Photogenic Helsinki Walking Tour with a Local:
$67
-
3.5 Hour Helsinki Highlights Private Tour:
$350
-
5-hour sightseeing in Helsinki and Winterworld:
$199
-
90-minute Helsinki Boat Sightseeing on Beautiful Canal Route:
$28
-
Architecture Tour of Helsinki with a city planner:
$68
-
Artificial Intelligence City Tour of Helsinki:
$37
-
Central Helsinki Tour:
$84
-
City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop On Hop Off Tour:
$37
-
City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$37
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
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2-Hours of Porto Sunset Segway Tour - Guided Experience:
$58
-
3-Hour Best of Porto Segway Tour - Guided Experience:
$61
-
3-Hour Electric Porto Bike Tour:
$51
-
3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Porto:
$31
-
3-Hour Porto Bike Tour:
$44
-
3-Hour Walking Tour: Tiles of Porto:
$34
-
3-Hour of Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike - Guided Tour:
$45
-
4 hour Cultural Walking Tour and Fado Show:
$51
-
5 Food & Wine Houses Walking Tour:
$80
-
6-Day North Portugal Tour: Porto, Braga, Fátima, Coimbra, Guimaraes, Aveiro and Batalha, from Lisbon:
$1,157
-
7-Day The Way of St James Bike Tour- The Coast Path - Camino to Santiago:
$2,011
-
Admission Ticket to Casa São Roque Art Center:
$9.95
When comparing the travel costs between Helsinki and Porto, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.