Which place is cheaper, Porvoo or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Riga or Porvoo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Porvoo? 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 Porvoo?
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.
Porvoo
Porvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately 50 kilometers east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century. Even though Porvoo is not exactly a coastal town, it is connected to the Gulf of Finland via the Porvoo River. The river flows through the city, passing Porvoo's most well-known landmarks: the red shore houses. Historically, Porvoo has been an important center of trade. Founded nearly 800 years ago, Porvoo is the second oldest city in Finland and evidence of its long history can still be seen and felt as you walk its charming streets. For centuries, the city has served as both a home and a source of inspiration for many Finnish artists.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Finland, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €104Porvoo €132
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €104, while the average daily cost in Porvoo is €132. 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 Porvoo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €53Porvoo €69
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €106Porvoo €138
Compare Hotels in Riga and Porvoo
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Porvoo? 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 Porvoo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €15Porvoo €56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- Transfer from Riga International Airport to Downtown: $267
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $138
- Riga Private Mercedes Benz Airport Transfer: $108
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $131
- Riga City to Riga Airport - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Klaipeda: $39
- Riga Airport to Riga City - Private Transfer: $52
- Riga Airport to Hotel Transfer: $27
- Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $59
- Riga Airport Transfer: $33
- Riga - Tallin: Transfer and Tour through beautiful landmarks: $487
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Porvoo?
Prices for flights to both Porvoo 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
-
Food Meals for one dayRiga €33Porvoo €30
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
-
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
Typical Food Prices in Porvoo
For Porvoo, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for 2€42
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €21Porvoo €21
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- The best of Bauska walking tour: $75
- 1 Day Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $27
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $41
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $86
- 5 Hour Shared Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $82
- ATV Quad Off Road or City Tour in Riga: $142
- Beer Bike Experience : $36
- Best of Riga Walking Tour: $181
- Best of Riga Walking Tour - Highlights and Hidden Gems: $66
- City:canal:tour: $21
- Crafted Cocktails: A Masterclass Experience: $80
- Daily Bike Tour in Riga with Professional Guide: $44
Tours and Activities in Porvoo
For Porvoo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Tour: Porvoo Exclusive Journey: $604
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Porvoo €9.93
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Porvoo, we can see that Porvoo is more expensive. And not only is Riga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Riga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Riga 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 Porvoo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porvoo than you might in Riga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Porvoo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Riga or Porvoo?
Riga has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Porvoo. When comparing the sizes of Riga and Porvoo, 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 Porvoo?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Riga or Porvoo in the Summer?
Both Porvoo and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Riga for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Riga is generally around the same temperature as Porvoo. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 17°C (63°F), and Porvoo fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Riga usually gets more rain in July than Porvoo. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Porvoo receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyRiga 17°C (63°F)Porvoo 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Riga or Porvoo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Porvoo. The autumn months attract visitors to Riga because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Riga is a little warmer than Porvoo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Riga averages around 7°C (45°F) in October, and Porvoo fluctuates around 6°C (42°F).
In October, Riga usually receives less rain than Porvoo. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Porvoo receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRiga 7°C (45°F)Porvoo 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Riga or Porvoo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Porvoo. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Riga this time of year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Porvoo. It's quite cold in Riga in the winter. In the winter, Riga is a little warmer than Porvoo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Riga in January average around -5°C (23°F), and Porvoo averages at about -6°C (21°F).
Riga usually gets less rain in January than Porvoo. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Porvoo receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRiga -5°C (23°F)Porvoo -6°C (21°F)
Should I visit Riga or Porvoo in the Spring?
Both Porvoo and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Riga for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Porvoo can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Riga is generally much warmer than Porvoo. Daily temperatures in Riga average around 5°C (42°F), and Porvoo fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In April, Riga usually receives around the same amount of rain as Porvoo. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Porvoo receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilRiga 5°C (42°F)Porvoo 3°C (37°F)
Typical Weather for Porvoo and Riga
| Riga | Porvoo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -6°C (21°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (24°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | -0°C (31°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 34 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (42°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (60°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 7°C (45°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | -4°C (26°F) | 58 mm (2.3 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.