Which place is cheaper, Lulea or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Riga or Lulea?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Lulea? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Lulea?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden, and The Best Adventure Tours to Sweden.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Lulea €98
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Lulea is €98. 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 Riga and Lulea in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Lulea €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Lulea €102
Compare Hotels in Riga and Lulea
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Lulea? 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: Riga Hotel Prices and Lulea Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Lulea €20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga City by Minibus: $90
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $150
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $342
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $459
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $427
- From Transfer to Tallinn with Turaida Museum Reserve: $230
- From Vilnius: One-Way Private Transfer to Riga: $182
- Paintball Adventure: Expert Guide & Transfers Included!: $80
- Private Transfer From Riga Airport To Riga City Center: $38
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Hotel with English speaking driver: $54
- Private Transfer from Riga City Center to Riga Airport RIX: $32
- Private Transfer from Riga City to Riga Airport RIX by Car or Van: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Lulea?
Prices for flights to both Lulea and Riga 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 dayRiga €33Lulea €33
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $42
- Unique Food Tour: $52
- Medieval Guided Tour & Three-Course Dinner Experience: $96
- Riga Medieval Dinner: $114
- Private Cooking Master Class In The Latvian Family : $131
- Taste Market Tour & Cooking Masterclass: $138
- Cooking Experience with Chef: Learn & Dine: $139
- Latvian Food: Cooking Masterclass with a Chef: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €21Lulea €15
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.95
- Riga Old Town Legends Audio Tour on Your Phone (ENG): $7.39
- Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads: $7.49
- Complete Self-guided Audio Tour on your Phone: $8.45
- Boat tour in Canal and Daugava: $9.62
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Riga Nightlife Ticket: $11
- Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour: $13
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Lulea €17
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $25
- Pub Crawl in Riga: $33
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $37
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $37
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $54
- Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $55
- Latvian Wine Tasting & Monk Show: $75
- Old Town Sightseeing & Latvian Wine Tasting with Show: $96
- Riga Pub Crawl & Party Bus Tour: $523
- Yacht Tour with Medieval Banquet and Wine Tasting: $3,320
When comparing the travel costs between Riga and Lulea, we can see that Riga 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Lulea Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Lulea?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Lulea. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Lulea, 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 Riga or Lulea?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Lulea in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Lulea. Many visitors come to Riga in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Riga is around the same temperature as Lulea. Typically, the summer temperatures in Riga in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Lulea averages at about 15°C (60°F).
In July, Riga usually receives more rain than Lulea. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Lulea 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Riga or Lulea in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Riga as well as Lulea. Most visitors come to Riga for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
The weather in Lulea can be very cold. In October, Riga is generally much warmer than Lulea. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 7°C (45°F), and Lulea fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Riga usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Lulea. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Lulea 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Riga or Lulea in the Winter?
Both Lulea and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Riga because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Lulea in the winter. The weather in Riga can be very cold. Riga is much warmer than Lulea in the winter. The daily temperature in Riga averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Lulea fluctuates around -12°C (10°F).
In January, Riga usually receives less rain than Lulea. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Lulea -12°C (10°F)
Should I visit Riga or Lulea in the Spring?
Both Lulea and Riga during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Lulea. In the spring, Riga is much warmer than Lulea. Typically, the spring temperatures in Riga in April average around 5°C (42°F), and Lulea averages at about -1°C (31°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in April than Lulea. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Lulea -1°C (31°F)
Typical Weather for Lulea and Riga
| Riga | Lulea | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 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.