Which place is cheaper, Reykjavik or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Petra or Reykjavik?
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 Petra and Reykjavik can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Reykjavik?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.
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Petra Prices
Jordan PricesReykjavik Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $153Reykjavik $304
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $153, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $304. 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 Petra and Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Reykjavik $158
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Reykjavik $316
Compare Hotels in Petra and Reykjavik
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Reykjavik? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Reykjavik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Reykjavik $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfers from Petra Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $176
- Private Transfer from Petra to Aqaba Cruise Port: $72
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional: $94
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra to Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) - Departure Private Transfer: $71
- Petra to Aqaba Border (Yitzhak Rabin Terminal) – Private Transfer: $130
- Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
- Petra Private Transfer To Jerusalem: $290
- Petra Private Transfer To Aqaba: $100
- From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Reykjavik/Keflavik Airport: 1-Way Blue Lagoon Transfer: $31
- Keflavik Airport (KEF): Bus Transfer to/from Reykjavik: $38
- Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Center in Iceland: $39
- Reykjavik/Keflavik: Sky Lagoon Private Transfer: $47
- Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport (KEF) to Reykjavik Hotels: $52
- Iceland Airport Transfer from Reykjavík Hotels to KEF Airport: $52
- From Reykjavík: Private Transfer From OR To Blue Lagoon: $59
- Roundtrip Bus Transfer to the Blue Lagoon: $59
- Reykjavik - Westman Islands (Bus transfer to Landeyjahöfn): $60
- Blue Lagoon Return Bus Transfer from Reykjavik: $60
- Reykjavik Airport (RKV) to Skálafell - Arrival Private Transfer: $61
- Reykjavik - Westman Islands (Bus transfer to Landeyjahöfn): $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik and Petra 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 dayPetra $66Reykjavik $59
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains.: $50
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$202
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
- Harbor Cruise with Three Course Dinner from Reykjavik: $139
- Food Tour by locals: $140
- Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
- Icelandic Food Tour: $147
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
- Weekend Reykjavik Food Tour with a stop at the Reykjavik Flea Market: $149
- 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
- Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $241
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Reykjavik $82
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
- Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
- From Petra : Wadi Rum Private 8 - hours roundtrip tour .: $190
- Guided 3 Hour Tour of Petra's Iconic Landmarks: $44
- Half-Day Private Indiana Jones Petra Back Road Trial Tour: $165
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour | Guide Sami Nawafleh: $225
- Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
- Petra Highlights Guided Golf Cart Tour with Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private 2-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $210
- Private 3-Day Jordan Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea: $270
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$33
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Reykjavík Interactive City Tour: $8.25
- A Self-Guided Thingvellir National Park Walking Tour: $8.99
- Viking Reykjavik GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $11
- Reykjavik History and Sightseeing Walking Tour: $16
- Caves of Laugarvatn Standard Tour: $17
- Reykjavík: National Museum of Iceland Entry Ticket: $21
- Reykjavik Art Museum Entry Ticket: $21
- Volcano Express Entry Ticket at Harpa: $24
- Was James Bond Icelandic? Ticket with One Hour Lecture: $25
- Mosfellsbæ: Authentic Icelandic Wool Yarn Factory Tour: $26
- Icelandic Phallological Museum Entry Ticket: $29
- Private audio guide of the island for self-exploration tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Reykjavik $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$9.98
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
- Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $48
- Icelandic Bar Crawl and Karaoke Experience: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Petra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Reykjavik 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 Petra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Petra 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik than you might in Petra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Reykjavik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Reykjavik?
Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Reykjavik, 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 Petra or Reykjavik?
Reykjavik has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Petra experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Petra or Reykjavik in the Summer?
Both Reykjavik and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
The heat can be very extreme in Petra. In the summer, Petra is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the summer temperatures in Petra in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Reykjavik averages at about 11°C (52°F).
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 171 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in July than Reykjavik. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Reykjavik 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Petra or Reykjavik in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Reykjavik. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Reykjavik in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Reykjavik can get quite cold in the autumn. In October, Petra is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 27°C (80°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 83 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Reykjavik 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Petra or Reykjavik in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Reykjavik. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Reykjavik for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
Reykjavik can be very cold during winter. Petra is much warmer than Reykjavik in the winter. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and Reykjavik fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 27 hours of full sun.
Petra usually gets less rain in January than Reykjavik. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Reykjavik -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Petra or Reykjavik in the Spring?
Both Reykjavik and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the natural beauty.
The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. In the spring, Petra is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the spring temperatures in Petra in April average around 25°C (76°F), and Reykjavik averages at about 3°C (38°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Reykjavik during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 140 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Reykjavik 3°C (38°F)
Typical Weather for Reykjavik and Petra
| Petra | Reykjavik | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.