Should you visit Key West or Saint Petersburg?
Should I visit Key West or Saint Petersburg? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Key West
Key West is both a city and an island as well as the southern most Florida Key. It is also the southern most city in the continental United States. The island is only about four miles long and one mile wide. The total land mass covers just 4.2 square miles. The most famous street in town is Duval Street, which runs just 1.1 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. There are 14 blocks. The size of the island doubled during the 1950s when many of the salt ponds along the eastern side of the island were filled in.
Saint Petersburg
Located at the base of the Tampa Bay peninsula of Florida, Saint Petersburg is a city known for its pleasant weather, coastal activities, and downtown arts scene. Nicknamed the "Sunshine City," Saint Petersburg is also a popular location for golfing, boating, fishing and beachgoing in addition to the usual entertainment options to be found in a thriving city.
Which city is cheaper, Saint Petersburg or Key West?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Key West is $170, while the average daily cost in Saint Petersburg is $163. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Key West and Saint Petersburg in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $106. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Key West the cost is $212 on average.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $202 in Saint Petersburg For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The price of a meal in Key West can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $38 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $15 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Food in Saint Petersburg costs travelers about $39 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Key West $38
Saint Petersburg $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Key West
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Key West.
-
Key West Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tropical Buffet:
$68
-
Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Open Bar:
$90
-
Private Secret Food Tour of Key West:
$103
-
Secret Food Tour of Key West w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
Typical Food prices in Saint Petersburg
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Saint Petersburg:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Enjoy Russian Delicacies in St Petersburg: Cooking Demo and Meal with a Local:
$80
-
Private Dining: Russian dinner in a traditional St. Petersburg apartment:
$91
-
Cooking Class and a Dinner with a Local Family (8 people max):
$92
-
Off-the-tourist Path Food Tour:
$103
-
Local Market Tour and Cooking Demo with a Homemade Russian Meal in St Petersburg:
$107
-
Borscht and cabbage pie cooking class and dinner for small private groups:
$109
-
FOOD TOUR. St.Petersburg:
$150
-
Private Cooking Class: Learn the secrets of Borsch and Beef Stroganoff:
$166
-
Private Cooking Class: Russian Blini with Red Caviar and Shchi soup:
$179
-
Private Cooking Class: Russian Shchi soup and Blini with Red Caviar:
$187
-
Private Cooking Class: Hands-on Siberian Pelmeni Making Workshop:
$188
-
Private Cooking Class: Siberian Pelmeni, Stolichny salad and Borsch:
$212
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Key West is $41 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Saint Petersburg, the average visitor spends $38 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Key West
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Key West:
-
Rental Car for One Day
$38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Key West
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Key West:
-
Private Airport Transfer in Key West, Florida:
$209
-
Round-Trip Transfer: Fort Lauderdale to Key West:
$198
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Key West Airport to Hotel:
$116
-
Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Key West Airport:
$116
-
Miami & One-Way Transfer by Motor Coach Bus:
$54
-
Key West International Airport One Way Transfer:
$53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Petersburg
Also for Saint Petersburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Airport Transfer: from St Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport (LED):
$28
-
St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED) to hotel - Arrival Private Transfer:
$36
-
St. Petersburg to St.Petersburg Pulkovo Airport - Departure Private Transfer:
$36
-
Private Transfer from Peterhof Palace to St. Petersburg City Center:
$36
-
Private Transfer from St. Petersburg City Center to Peterhof Palace:
$37
-
Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryVan:
$39
-
Departure Private Transfer St. Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport LED by Business Car:
$61
-
St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED by Business Car:
$63
-
St Petersburg Transfer from city hotels or Cruise port to Pulkovo Airport (LED):
$68
-
Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryCar:
$80
-
St Petersburg Departure Private Transfers from St Petersburg City to Airport LED:
$84
-
St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED in Luxury Van:
$89
Is it cheaper to fly into Key West or Saint Petersburg?
Prices for flights to both Saint Petersburg and Key West 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.
Entertainment
Key West's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $26 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Saint Petersburg, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $11 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Key West
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Key West are as follows:
-
2 Hour Private Highlights of Key West Walking Tour:
$99
-
2-Hour Private Sunset Cruise around Key West:
$200
-
2-Hour Private Sunset Cruise on Tiki Bar Boat in Key West:
$457
-
4-Hour Private Sand Bar Cruise on a Tiki Bar Boat in Key West:
$565
-
6th Sense Haunted Tour of Key West:
$25
-
Adults only Champagne Celebration Sunset Cruise from Key West:
$79
-
All-Inclusive Water Adventure Excursion in Key West:
$129
-
Booze Cruise Key West Private Charter:
$248
-
Cultural Walking Tour of Key West with Food and Drink Tastings:
$240
-
Do It All Watersports Adventure with Lunch:
$148
-
Easy Stroll Audio Tour Downtown Key West:
$7.99
-
Florida Keys Afternoon Reef Snorkel & Sail Adventure:
$69
Tours and Activities in Saint Petersburg
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Petersburg.
-
2-Day Small-Group Visa-Free Tour - Top Highlights of St Petersburg:
$20
-
1.5-Hours Saint Petersburg's Metro Tour Hidden Treasures:
$25
-
Mini-Group 2-Day Shore Excursion of St Petersburg Must-Sees and Boat Cruise:
$25
-
Saint Petersburg Drawbridges Tour:
$41
-
Half Day Walking Tour Well Courtyards Tour in Saint Petersburg:
$44
-
Guided Tour Peter and Paul Fortress, Cathedral and Prison:
$56
-
Private Tours:
$64
-
Half Day Bike City Tour in Saint Petersburg:
$75
-
Private Tour of "Erarta" Galleries:
$76
-
St Petersburg Communist walking tour + Museum of Russian political history:
$77
-
Evening River and Canal Cruise Visas Included:
$86
-
Revolutionary Petersburg City Tour:
$86
Alcohol
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Key West per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Saint Petersburg, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $33.
Sample the Local Flavors in Key West
Also in Key West, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Key West Haunted Pub Crawl and Ghost Tour:
$23
-
Yes, Queen! Drag Queen Pub Crawl of Key West:
$34
-
Key West Pub Crawl:
$35
When comparing the travel costs between Key West and Saint Petersburg, we can see that Key West 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 North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Related Articles for Key West
Related Articles for Saint Petersburg
