Should you visit Lulea or Rovaniemi?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Lulea and Rovaniemi can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Lulea
Lulea is in northern Sweden, in Norrbotten. It's a mid sized city with about 70,000 residents. It also has a technical university, the Lulea University of Technology, which was created in 1971. The city of Lulea is located at the mouth of Lule River on the Gulf of Bothnia. The city's economy is focused on research, education, trade and services. The university's educational programs appeal to new businesses that range from local companies to multinational corporations. There is also a prominant IT sector in the city.
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it's a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It's home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.
Which city is cheaper, Rovaniemi or Lulea?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lulea is $105, while the average daily cost in Rovaniemi is $164. 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 Lulea and Rovaniemi in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Lulea is $110. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $176 for a double occupancy room in Rovaniemi.
Food
The price of a meal in Lulea can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $36 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $14 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 Rovaniemi costs travelers about $45 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Lulea $36
Rovaniemi $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
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Northern Lights Hunt in a local Kota in Rovaniemi with Dinner:
$111
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Lappish evening in the Wilderness with dinner:
$156
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Lappish Cooking Master Class:
$156
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Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner:
$167
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Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights:
$172
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Northern Lights Experience with Ice Hotel Visit and Traditional Dinner:
$190
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Arctic Snowcastle with Dinner in Ice Restaurant:
$190
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The Taste of Lapland (Cooking & Aurora Hunting):
$197
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Lappish Food Tour with Dili:
$274
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Full Day Lapland Tour, including Lunch and Dinner:
$310
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Private Lappish evening in the wilderness with traditional sauna and dinner:
$1,365
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $21 per day to get around in Lulea.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $29 per day to get around in Rovaniemi.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lulea
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lulea:
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Lulea City Center to Lulea Airport (LLA) - Departure Private Transfer:
$70
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Lulea Private Transfer from Central Lulea to Lulea Airport:
$100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
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Arrival Private Transfer Rovaniemi Airport RVN to Rovaniemi by Luxury Van/Car:
$114
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Arrival Private Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport RVN to Rovaniemi City by Sedan:
$78
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Departure Private Transfer Rovaniemi to Rovaniemi Airport RVN by Luxury Van/Car:
$114
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Departure Private Transfer from Rovaniemi City to Rovaniemi Airport RVN by Sedan:
$78
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Husky safari 2h program with 30-45 min husky safari (3h including transfer):
$206
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LUXURY Transfer in Rovaniemi:
$106
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Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station:
$64
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Private Chauffeur Transfer Rovaniemi:
$56
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Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi:
$64
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Private Transfer City to Rovaniemi Railway station, Arktikum or Snowland - Sedan:
$57
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Private Transfer Rovaniemi Railway station, Arktikum or Snowland -Luxury Vehicle:
$83
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Private Transfer Rovaniemi Railway station, Arktikum or Snowland Luxury Vehicle:
$83
Is it cheaper to fly into Lulea or Rovaniemi?
Prices for flights to both Rovaniemi and Lulea 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $16 per person, per day in Lulea. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $46 per person, per day in Rovaniemi. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Lulea
Here are a few actual costs in Lulea for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Northern Lights tour in a luxury minibuss:
$181
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
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Meeting Santa Claus Virtual Experience in Rovaniemi:
$45
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Aurora Hunting Photo Tour with Barbeque:
$67
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Arctic Circle: Special Northern Lights Hunting Tour by minibus:
$78
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Rovaniemi photography tour:
$81
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Northern lights tour+photos:
$82
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City Tour And Santa Claus Village:
$87
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Lapland Winter Experience:
$88
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Private Northern Lights hunt tour by VIP car with from Rovaniemi:
$89
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1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Experience:
$93
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Rovaniemi Exploring Tour with a Photography Expert Guide:
$93
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Vaattunkiköngäs Nature Trail Hiking Tour:
$93
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Aurora Borealis Tour:
$96
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Lulea may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
The average person spends about $20 on alcoholic beverages in Rovaniemi per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lulea and Rovaniemi, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Lulea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lulea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lulea 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 Rovaniemi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rovaniemi than you might in Lulea.
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