Which place is cheaper, Kemi or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Kemi?
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 Kemi. 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 Kemi?
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.
Kemi
Kemi is a town on Bothnian Bay in Lapland, Finland. It's known for the massive Sampo icebreaker, a giant ship built to ply the Arctic waters. The main economic activity in Kemi is centered on two large paper and wood pulp mills and on the only chromium mine in Europe. Kemi also has a claim to fame as the home of the world's largest snow castle (reconstructed every year with a different design). The SnowCastle is usually located at the inner harbor of Kemi.
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 Finland, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Finland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €174Kemi €134
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Kemi is €134. 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 Kemi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Kemi €74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Kemi €148
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Kemi
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Kemi? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Kemi €39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $163
- Transfer from Rovaniemi to Helsinki: $1,915
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi by private van: $576
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Kakslautanen by private van: $765
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Ivalo by private van: $862
- Trip to Santa Claus Village with Hotel Transfer: $86
- Santa Claus Village Tour with Transfer: $86
- Santa Claus Village Guided Tour with Transfer: $77
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $87
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $87
- Rovaniemi Private City Transfer by Luxury Vehicule : $82
- Rovaniemi Northern Light Hunt with Campfire and BBQ with Transfer: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Kemi?
Prices for flights to both Kemi 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 €47Kemi €34
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: $115
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $133
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $146
- Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $176
- Northern Lights dinner in a Glass Igloo: $222
- PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $222
- Dinner with Northern Light hunt : $234
- PRIVATE Party dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights : $239
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Kemi €29
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Adventure in Rovaniemi: $106
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Experience : $97
- 10KM Self Driven Husky Sled Adventure in Rovaniemi: $282
- ATV Quad Bike Experience : $129
- All Day Canoe Adventure to Rovaniemi: $206
- Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $190
- Aurora Hunting Guarantee Tour with Photography: $270
- Aurora Hunting Photo Tour from Rovaniemi with Pickup: $110
- Aurora Hunting Pro Tour: $205
- Aurora Hunting Pro Tour With Photography: $212
- Aurora Magic Cabin Overnight Experience: $958
- Aurora hunting & photography tour: $97
Tours and Activities in Kemi
For Kemi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- SnowExperience365 Kemi entrance: $19
- From Icebreaker Cruise with Lunch and Ice Floating: $410
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Kemi €12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Kemi, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Kemi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kemi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kemi 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 Kemi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Kemi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Kemi?
Rovaniemi has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Kemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Kemi, 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 Kemi?
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 Kemi in the Summer?
Both Kemi and Rovaniemi during the summer are popular places to visit.
In July, Rovaniemi is generally around the same temperature as Kemi. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around 15°C (60°F), and Kemi fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
In Kemi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rovaniemi. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kemi. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kemi receives 304 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Kemi. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Kemi 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Kemi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Kemi.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Kemi. It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the autumn. Rovaniemi is around the same temperature as Kemi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 2°C (36°F) in October, and Kemi fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kemi during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Kemi receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kemi. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Kemi 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Kemi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Kemi.
Kemi can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Rovaniemi. In the winter, Rovaniemi is around the same temperature as Kemi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rovaniemi in January average around -12°C (10°F), and Kemi averages at about -12°C (10°F).
In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kemi. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kemi receives 19 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kemi. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Kemi -12°C (10°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Kemi in the Spring?
Both Kemi and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Kemi can be very cold during spring. Rovaniemi can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Rovaniemi is generally around the same temperature as Kemi. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -1°C (31°F), and Kemi fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kemi during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Kemi receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of rain as Kemi. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Kemi receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Kemi -1°C (31°F)
Typical Weather for Kemi and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Kemi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 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.