Which place is cheaper, Salzburg or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Salzburg?
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 Salzburg. 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 Salzburg?
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.
Salzburg
Most people know of Salzburg from its roll in the infamous movie "The Sound of Music." Every child who fell in love with this movie knows the gazebo scene in the rain, or could sing "My Favorite Things" as they skip down the Salzach River, but once you get past the obvious cliches, you can see that Salzburg is a city with a lot of depth and culture aside from the movie.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Austria, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Austria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €174Salzburg €155
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €174, while the average daily cost in Salzburg is €155. 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 Salzburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Salzburg €91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Salzburg €182
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Salzburg
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Salzburg? 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 Salzburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Salzburg €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- From Return Transfer to Ranua Zoo by Private Van: $29
- From Rovaniemi Private Transfer To Polar Explorer Icebreaker: $48
- Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $55
- Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $56
- Private Transfer from Rovaniemi airport-city centre: $75
- Santa Claus Village Guided Tour with Transfer: $77
- Rovaniemi Private City Transfer by Luxury Vehicule : $83
- From Helsinki: Private Transfer to Rovaniemi: $86
- Santa Claus Village Tour with Transfer: $87
- Trip to Santa Claus Village with Hotel Transfer: $87
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $87
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salzburg
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salzburg:
- Private Transfer between Salzburg Airport and Salzburg City: $55
- Salzburg Private Transfer from Salzburg Airport to City centre: $55
- Salzburg Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $65
- Private transfer: Salzburg Airport (SZG) to Salzburg : $65
- Private transfer: Salzburg to Salzburg Airport (SZG): $65
- Private Salzburg Airport luxury transfers to Salzburg city&Hotels: $65
- Salzburg Airport (SZG) to SkiWelt - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
- Salzburg Airport Transfers : Salzburg Airport SZG to Salzburg in Business Car: $90
- Departure Private Transfers: Salzburg to Salzburg Airport SZG in Business Car: $91
- Arrival Private Transfers: Salzburg Airport SZG to Salzburg in Business Car: $91
- Salzburg Airport Transfers : Salzburg Airport SZG to Salzburg in Luxury Van: $93
- Salzburg Airport Transfers : Salzburg to Salzburg Airport SZG in Luxury Van: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Salzburg?
Prices for flights to both Salzburg 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 €47Salzburg €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
Typical Food Prices in Salzburg
Some typical examples of dining costs in Salzburg are as follows:
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Lunch Salad€9.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salzburg
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salzburg.
- Cookies and Apple Strudel Cooking Class Including Lunch: $59
- Austrian Apple Strudel Cooking Class including Lunch in Salzburg: $60
- Best of Mozart Fortress Concert and Dinner: $81
- Best of Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $83
- Mozart Concert with Dinner: $83
- Dinner Cooking Class and Music: $84
- Mozart Dinner Concert in Salzburg: $85
- Dinner Cooking Class - Prezels, Dumplings, Apple Strudel & Music: $86
- Dinner and Classical Concert at Mirabell Palace: $94
- Cruise, Dinner & Fortress Concert: $106
- Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Salzburg with River Cruise: $111
- Best of Mozart Concert and GOLDEN VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg: $133
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Salzburg €30
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
- Guided Northern Lights Tour by Van: $74
- BBQ Picnic Experience under Northern Lights: $74
- Private Aurora Borealis Car Tour with Hot Drinks: $74
- Bus Tour with Hunting Northern Lights: $75
- Guided tour in Santa Claus village with hotel pick up: $80
- Lapland: Aurora Borealis BBQ Tour: $80
- From Northern Lights Photo Tour with Pickup: $80
Tours and Activities in Salzburg
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salzburg are as follows:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Cathedral Entry Ticket with Audio Guide Option: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Salzburg Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.54
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $6.95
- Sound of Music Sightseeing Walk with Audio Guide: $6.99
- A taste of An audio tour through the birthplace of Mozart: $7.47
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $8.02
- Mirabell Palace and Surroundings Audio Tour: $8.52
- Salzburg Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Salzburg Cathedral: Guided Tour with Entry Ticket: $9.62
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Salzburg €26
Typical Alcohol Prices in Salzburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salzburg:
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Beer€3.70
Sample the Local Flavors in Salzburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salzburg:
- Stiegl Brewery Museum Entry Ticket & Beer Tasting: $16
- Stiegl Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $24
- Guided Wine Tasting in a Hidden Wine Bar: $36
- Private Austrian Wine Tasting with a Pro-Sommelière: $185
When comparing the travel costs between Rovaniemi and Salzburg, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Salzburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Salzburg?
Salzburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Salzburg, 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 Salzburg?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Salzburg in the Summer?
Both Salzburg and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Salzburg for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Rovaniemi is cooler than Salzburg in the summer. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 15°C (60°F) in July, and Salzburg fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Salzburg. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi usually receives more sunshine than Salzburg during summer. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Salzburg receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Salzburg. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 91 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Salzburg 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Salzburg in the Autumn?
Both Salzburg and Rovaniemi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Salzburg because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Rovaniemi can be very cold during autumn. In the autumn, Rovaniemi is much colder than Salzburg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rovaniemi in October average around 2°C (36°F), and Salzburg averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In the autumn, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Salzburg. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Salzburg receives 108 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets more rain in October than Salzburg. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Salzburg 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Salzburg in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Salzburg. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Salzburg this time of year.
It's quite cold in Salzburg in the winter. The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. In January, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Salzburg. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -12°C (10°F), and Salzburg fluctuates around -0°C (31°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Salzburg during winter. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies, while Salzburg receives 44 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Salzburg. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Salzburg -0°C (31°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Salzburg in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Salzburg. Also, many travelers come to Salzburg for the natural beauty.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the spring. Rovaniemi is much colder than Salzburg in the spring. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around -1°C (31°F) in April, and Salzburg fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In the spring, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Salzburg. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Salzburg receives 155 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in April than Salzburg. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Salzburg receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Salzburg 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Salzburg and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Salzburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -0°C (31°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 93 mm (3.6 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.