Which place is cheaper, Mainz or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Mainz?
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 Mainz. 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 Mainz?
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.
Mainz
On the Rhine River, the ages of the medieval stand before you in their half-timbered constructions, giving this quaint, old town a hint of the spellbinding. A time capsule of Germany, Mainz is enriched by its vast history as well as its cosmopolitan air. Dating back to around 38 BC, Mainz was built by Romans and founded as the the episcopal seat of the influential Prince-Electors. With its history spanning more than 2,000 years, Mainz is rich in its exquisite architecture, such as its stunning cathedrals, medieval market squares, and Renaissance fountains. However, Mainz also has been blessed with the joys and comforts of modernization, giving way to fantastic shopping centers, tasty restaurants, and absolutely fascinating museums. A media hub and regional capital, Mainz is also known as the wine capital of Germany as its civilians have a long history of winegrowing throughout the city. Whether you seek to oogle at artifacts at the Gutenberg Museum or sit a spell at one of the town's fine eateries, the possibilities are endless in Mainz!
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Germany, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €174Mainz €142
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Mainz is €142. 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 Mainz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Mainz €74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Mainz €148
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Mainz
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Mainz? 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 Mainz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Mainz €37
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: $1,925
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi by private van: $578
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Kakslautanen by private van: $769
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Ivalo by private van: $866
- Trip to Santa Claus Village with Hotel Transfer: $87
- Santa Claus Village Tour with Transfer: $87
- 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 : $83
- Private Transfer from Rovaniemi airport-city centre: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Mainz?
Prices for flights to both Mainz 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 €47Mainz €41
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Mainz €33
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
Tours and Activities in Mainz
For Mainz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Romantic Old Town Self-guided Discovery Tour: $8.45
- Guided tour in Mainz on the Rhine in german and english: $21
- Mainz Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Tour: $22
- 2-Hour Advent Afternoon Boat Cruise on the Rhine: $22
- Crime-Tour - Escape Game: $42
- Self-Guided Urban Adventure Game: $43
- Urban Adventure Game in Mainz with an app: $44
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $51
- Murder Crime Game Self-Guided Interactive Tour: $74
- Mainz E-Bike City Tour: $74
- Private Guided Walking Tour in Mainz: $82
- Guided Hotrod City Starter Tour: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Mainz €22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Mainz, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Mainz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mainz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mainz 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 Mainz.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Mainz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Mainz?
Mainz has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Mainz, 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 Mainz?
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 Mainz in the Summer?
Both Mainz and Rovaniemi during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Mainz because of the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Rovaniemi is cooler than Mainz. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rovaniemi in July average around 15°C (60°F), and Mainz averages at about 19°C (66°F).
In Mainz, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rovaniemi. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Mainz. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 225 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in July than Mainz. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Mainz 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Mainz in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Mainz. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Mainz this time of year.
The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. In October, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Mainz. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around 2°C (36°F), and Mainz fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Mainz during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rovaniemi usually receives more rain than Mainz. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Mainz 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Mainz in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Mainz. Also, many travelers come to Mainz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Mainz. It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the winter. Rovaniemi is much colder than Mainz in the winter. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around -12°C (10°F) in January, and Mainz fluctuates around 2°C (35°F).
In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Mainz. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mainz receives 41 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Mainz. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Mainz 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)Mainz 2°C (35°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Mainz in the Spring?
Both Mainz and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Mainz in the spring for the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Rovaniemi. In the spring, Rovaniemi is much colder than Mainz. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rovaniemi in April average around -1°C (31°F), and Mainz averages at about 11°C (51°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives more sunshine than Mainz during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Mainz receives 163 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Mainz. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Mainz receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Mainz 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Mainz and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Mainz | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.