A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Riga vs. Saint Petersburg for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Riga or Saint Petersburg?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Riga or Saint Petersburg? 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 Saint Petersburg?

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.

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.

Which city is cheaper, Saint Petersburg or Riga?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €82, while the average daily cost in Saint Petersburg is €58. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Riga and Saint Petersburg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Riga €42
    Saint Petersburg €33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Riga €84
    Saint Petersburg €66
Compare Hotels in Riga and Saint Petersburg

Looking for a hotel in Riga or Saint Petersburg? 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.

Hotels in Riga


Hotels in Saint Petersburg


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 Saint Petersburg Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Riga €12
    Saint Petersburg €6.70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:

  • Transfer service Riga airport: $37
  • Transfer from Riga to Tallinn: $283
  • Taxi Transfer: $42
  • Riga to Vilnius transfer with Sightseeing: $347
  • Riga to Tallinn transfer with Sightseeing: $335
  • Riga Tank Ride - 2 Hours - Guided with Return Transfers: $1,192
  • Riga Return Airport Transfer: $66
  • Riga Party Bus Airport Transfer: $382
  • Riga Limo Airport Transfer: $133
  • Riga International Airport RIX Luxury Van Private Departure Transfer: $54
  • Riga International Airport RIX Luxury Van Private Arrival Transfer: $54
  • Riga Airport to City Center Private Transfers: $51

Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Petersburg

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:


  • Metro Passes
    €1.54

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 Riga or Saint Petersburg?

Prices for flights to both Saint Petersburg 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 day
    Riga €26
    Saint Petersburg €17
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.

  • Private Guided Virtual Food Tour of Riga: $12
  • Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $34
  • Riga Medieval Dinner: $102
  • Riga Medieval Dinner: $102

Typical Food prices in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    €5.29

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Riga €17
    Saint Petersburg €17

Tours and Activities in Riga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:

  • "Best of Riga" 6-hour Private Car & Walking Tour: $373
  • 2 Day Gastronomy Tour In Latgale: $267
  • 2 Day Gauja National Park Tour: $199
  • 2 Day Kurzeme Winery Tour: $224
  • ATV-QUAD rent and guided tours: $48
  • All Inclusive Honest History Tour - Āraiši, Cēsis, Līgatne, Sigulda: $248
  • Alternative Riga Photoshoot Tour: $49
  • An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $5.00
  • Art Nouveau Small Group Walking Tour of Riga: $193
  • Art Nouveau Walking Tour in Riga: $57
  • Beer Bike Experience: $45
  • Best of Riga Walking Tour: $231

Tours and Activities in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Riga €16
    Saint Petersburg €8.90

Sample the Local Flavors in Riga

Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl in Riga: $37
  • Pub Crawl- Your best night out in Riga with our local guide!: $47
  • Riga Public Pub Crawl: $60
  • Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $64
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $83
  • Riga Brewery Tour: $83
  • Riga Beer Killer Bar Crawl: $83
  • Riga Wine Tasting Session: $115
  • Gauja National Park Tour: Castles and Wine Tasting: $149
  • Culinary, Historic and Wine Tour to Sigulda and Cesis: $224
  • Exclusive Latvian Wine Tasting In Riga: $380
  • 1.5-Hour Latvian Wine Tasting Experience: $476

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Saint Petersburg, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Saint Petersburg.


When is the best time to visit Riga or Saint Petersburg?

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 Saint Petersburg in the Summer?

Both Saint Petersburg and Riga during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Riga because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

Riga is around the same temperature as Saint Petersburg in the summer. The temperature in Riga is usually 17°C (63°F) in July, and Saint Petersburg stays around 18°C (64°F).

Riga usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Saint Petersburg. Riga gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Riga 17°C (63°F) 
    Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Riga or Saint Petersburg in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Riga and Saint Petersburg. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Riga this time of year.

In the autumn, Riga is a little warmer than Saint Petersburg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Riga in October are around 7°C (45°F), and Saint Petersburg is about 6°C (42°F).

In October, Riga usually receives less rain than Saint Petersburg. Riga gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Riga 7°C (45°F) 
    Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)

Should I visit Riga or Saint Petersburg in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Riga as well as Saint Petersburg. Many travelers come to Riga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Riga. In January, Riga is generally much warmer than Saint Petersburg. Temperatures in Riga average around -5°C (23°F), and Saint Petersburg stays around -8°C (18°F).

Riga usually gets less rain in January than Saint Petersburg. Riga gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Riga -5°C (23°F) 
    Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)

Should I visit Riga or Saint Petersburg in the Spring?

Both Saint Petersburg and Riga are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Riga in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. Riga is a little warmer than Saint Petersburg in the spring. The temperature in Riga is usually 5°C (42°F) in April, and Saint Petersburg stays around 4°C (40°F).

In April, Riga usually receives more rain than Saint Petersburg. Riga gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Riga 5°C (42°F) 
    Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)

Typical Weather for Saint Petersburg and Riga

Riga Saint Petersburg
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -5°C (23°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) -8°C (18°F) 38 mm (1.5 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) -2°C (28°F) 34 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 5°C (42°F) 39 mm (1.5 in) 4°C (40°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)
May 12°C (53°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 11°C (52°F) 37 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 15°C (60°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 16°C (60°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 17°C (63°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 18°C (64°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 16°C (62°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 76 mm (3 in) 11°C (52°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Oct 7°C (45°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 6°C (42°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 2°C (36°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 0°C (32°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec -2°C (28°F) 49 mm (1.9 in) -5°C (24°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)


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Riga vs. Saint Petersburg Travel Comparison

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