Which place is cheaper, Berlin or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Berlin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rovaniemi and Berlin. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rovaniemi or Berlin?
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.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €174Berlin €137
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Berlin is €137. 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 Rovaniemi and Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Berlin €64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Berlin €128
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Berlin
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Berlin? 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: Rovaniemi Hotel Prices and Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Berlin €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- Transfer from Rovaniemi to Helsinki: $1,925
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Ivalo by private van: $866
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Kakslautanen by private van: $769
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi by private van: $578
- From Return Transfer to Ranua Zoo by Private Van: $385
- VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $163
- Airport Rovaniemi Transfer by Private Van: $115
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kiruna: $107
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Tromso: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kirkenes: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Helsinki: $96
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket€1.40
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Bahn Ticket€3.00
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Short Taxi Ride€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $25
- Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer : $31
- Private Transfer from Berlin Airport to Hotels in Berlin: $46
- Listening Station Teufelsberg Tour with Transfer: $52
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $63
- Milan: Transfer from/to Hotel - Airport: $64
- Private Transfer from Brandenburg Airport to Berlin City Center: $70
- Arrival Transfer from Berlin Train Station to Berlin by Sedan: $72
- Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Car: $78
- Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Van: $78
- Private Transfer to / from Brandenburg Airport (BER): $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin and Rovaniemi 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 dayRovaniemi €47Berlin €52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
- Snow Restaurant Dinner Tour: $116
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $134
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $147
- From SnowHotel Aurora Experience with Dinner: $149
- Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights : $169
- Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $176
- Romantic Glass Igloo Dinner under Northern Lights : $223
- Northern Lights dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- Aurora Borealis Dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- PRIVATE Party dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights : $240
- PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $240
- Private Glass Igloo Dinner on the Shore of Frozen Lake: $245
Typical Food Prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
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Sandwich and Coffee To Go€5.00
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Turkish Sandwich€2.00
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Currywurst€2.00
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2 Pho Noodles€9.00
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Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)€60
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Mauer Park (2)€11
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Coffees at Impala€7.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- English Stand-Up Comedy with Pizza and Shots: $19
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte: $28
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner : $34
- Kreuzberg kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- Berlin Mitte kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- No Diet Club - Street Food Tour with many Tastings !: $59
- Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner: $63
- Sicilian Cooking Workshop with unlimited drinks: $70
- Evening Food Tour by Bike: $70
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $76
- Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Berlin €22
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- Ice Waterfall Tour in Korouoma: $147
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Experience : $104
- 2h Winter Bike Tour - Riversides of Rovaniemi: $104
- 5-Hour Tour to Ranua Zoo: $120
- 5km Self Driven Husky Sled Adventure in Rovaniemi: $240
- ATV Quad Bike Experience : $130
- All Day Canoe Adventure to Rovaniemi: $207
- All in One Santa Claus Village with Dog Sledding Adventure: $271
- Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $191
- Arctic Polar Bear Adventure with Lunch in Rovaniemi!: $141
- Arctic Reindeer Farm & Husky Safari + Aurora BBQ Tour!: $217
- Aurora Dreamscape Tour in Lapland: $125
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Berlin Zoo (2)€20
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- Self-Guided Photo Tour with Digital hybrid Photobook: $0.53
- Berlin Walking Tour: $2.62
- Berlin Alternative Street Art Tour: $2.62
- Selfguided Audiotour "Old Berlin": $3.20
- Selfguided Audiotour "Center of Power": $3.20
- Third Reich and Holocaust Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.21
- Rude Bastards Tour of Berlin: $3.21
- Rude Bastards tour of Medieval Berlin: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.74
- Museum Island Self Guided Audio Tour: $3.74
- Berlin tour - Free offer - in Italian: $3.74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Berlin €16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Show€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original One80 Berlin Pub Crawl: $16
- VIP Pub Crawl with Drinks and Challenges: $16
- brewery tour with beer tasting: $19
- Vagabund Brauerei Beer Tasting & Guided Brewery Tour: $24
- Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Club Entry: $24
- Berlin Pub Crawl and Nightlife Clubbing tour: $26
- The Showgirls of Burlesque: $46
- Showgirls of Burlesque Entry Ticket: $69
- Berlin:sunset boat trip with Argentine wine tasting and food: $214
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $250
- German Wine Tasting Tour at the Best Wine Bars in Berlin: $255
- Bachelor(ette) Party with Pub Crawl: $401
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Berlin, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Berlin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Berlin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Berlin 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 Berlin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Berlin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Berlin?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Berlin, 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 Rovaniemi or Berlin?
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 Rovaniemi or Berlin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Berlin. Additionally, most visitors come to Berlin for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Rovaniemi is generally cooler than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around 15°C (60°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Berlin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rovaniemi this time of the year. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Berlin. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 227 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Berlin. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Berlin 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Berlin in the Autumn?
Both Berlin and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Berlin because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.
Rovaniemi can be very cold during autumn. Rovaniemi is much colder than Berlin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 2°C (36°F) in October, and Berlin fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Berlin during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 106 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rovaniemi usually receives more rain than Berlin. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Berlin 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Berlin in the Winter?
Both Berlin and Rovaniemi during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Berlin this time of year.
It's quite cold in Berlin in the winter. The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. In the winter, Rovaniemi is much colder than Berlin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rovaniemi in January average around -12°C (10°F), and Berlin averages at about -0°C (31°F).
In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Berlin. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Berlin receives 42 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets more rain in January than Berlin. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Berlin -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Berlin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Berlin. Also, many travelers come to Berlin for the activities around the city.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the spring. In April, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Berlin. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -1°C (31°F), and Berlin fluctuates around 9°C (47°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives more sunshine than Berlin during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Berlin receives 160 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Berlin. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Berlin receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Berlin 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Berlin and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Berlin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 51 mm (2 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.