Which place is cheaper, Lillehammer or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Lillehammer?
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 Lillehammer. 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 Lillehammer?
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.
Lillehammer
Most people know the name Lillehammer because it is the city that hosted the 1994 Olympics. While it's obviously a beautiful travel destination during the winter months when it's covered in snow and winter sport opportunities are abundant, it is also a lovely travel destination in the summer. It's a surprisingly small town with a population of around 25,000. It's streets are lined with quaint, wooden houses that date back to the 19th century. The town is located on the banks of Lake Mjosa. There's a nice shopping street that's called Storgata and cuts through the middle of the old town. It is pedestrian only, giving it a charming atmosphere and making it an enjoyable place to walk around. The town also has nice galleries and museums that are worth a visit.
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 Polar Tours & Cruises in Norway, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Norway.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €174Lillehammer €96
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Lillehammer is €96. 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 Lillehammer in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Lillehammer €58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Lillehammer €116
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Lillehammer
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Lillehammer? 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 Lillehammer Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Lillehammer €3.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- Airport & City Transfers in Rovaniemi : $76
- Airport Rovaniemi Transfer by Private Van: $114
- From Helsinki: Private Transfer to Rovaniemi: $85
- From Rovaniemi Private Transfer To Polar Explorer Icebreaker: $48
- From Return Transfer to Ranua Zoo by Private Van: $384
- From Return Transfer to Ranua Zoo by Private Van: $29
- Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $55
- Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $54
- Private Transfer Kiruna - Tromso: $107
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Helsinki: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kirkenes: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kiruna: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Lillehammer?
Prices for flights to both Lillehammer 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 €47Lillehammer €32
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: $147
- From SnowHotel Aurora Experience with Dinner: $148
- Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights : $168
- Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $176
- 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 : $239
- PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $239
- Private Glass Igloo Dinner on the Shore of Frozen Lake: $244
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Lillehammer €15
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- Essential A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- SnowGlow Winterpark Entry Ticket: $26
- Snowman World Entrance Ticket: $31
- Guided Supermarket Tour: $37
- Tour to Aurora Horses Farm with Charming Finnhorses: $38
- From Northern Lights Photo Tour with Pickup: $67
- Rovaniemi photography tour: $71
- Aurora Hunting Photography Tour with Barbeque: $73
- Northen Light Hunting Tour: $73
- From Northern Lights Van Tour with Photos: $73
- Aurora Hunting Photography Tour with Hot Drinks: $73
- From Northern Lights Van Tour with Photos: $73
Tours and Activities in Lillehammer
Here are a few actual costs in Lillehammer for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Maihaugen Open-Air Museum, Lillehammer. Entry Ticket: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Lillehammer €12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Lillehammer, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Lillehammer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lillehammer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lillehammer 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 Lillehammer.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Lillehammer Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Lillehammer?
Rovaniemi has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Lillehammer. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Lillehammer, 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.
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.