Which place is cheaper, Uppsala or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Uppsala?
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 Uppsala. 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 Uppsala?
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.
Uppsala
Uppsala is a college town in Sweden, located about 40 minutes north of Stockholm. Home to two universities, Uppsala is the 4th largest city in Sweden and features a huge diversity in culture. The Fyris River divides the city into the historic and modern sides of the city, each one with their own unique culture and sights to see. The area features fairly cool weather year-round, with temperatures in the 30's Fahrenheit from November-April and May-October seeing temperatures in the 40's and 50's Fahrenheit. The best time to visit it from May-July when temperatures are at their highest and there's plenty of sunshine.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Sweden, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Stockholm.
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Rovaniemi Prices
Finland PricesUppsala Prices
Sweden Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €208Uppsala €155
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €208, while the average daily cost in Uppsala 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 Uppsala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Uppsala €87
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Uppsala €174
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Uppsala
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Uppsala? 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 Uppsala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Uppsala €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $256
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi: $117
- Rovaniemi Northern Light Hunt with Campfire and BBQ with Transfer: $106
- Private Transfer Between Rovaniemi Airport and City Centre: $102
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $95
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $95
- Ranua Arctic Zoo Transfer in Lapland: $79
- Private Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport RVN to Rovaniemi: $77
- Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $71
- Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Uppsala
Also for Uppsala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Uppsala City to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) - Departure Private Transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Uppsala?
Prices for flights to both Uppsala 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 €82Uppsala €54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
- Traditional Northern Light Dinner in the Lappish Hut: $105
- Insider Guided Food Tour With 5 Tastings: $142
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $161
- Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner: $184
- Dinner with Northern Light hunt in Rovaniemi : $226
- Sauna, Jacuzzi, and 3 Course Dinner at Kota Restaurant Autumn: $231
- Ice Sculpting and Dinner at Kota Restaurant : $246
- Lapland Cooking Workshop: $262
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Uppsala €18
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- Arctic Polar Bear Adventure Afternoon Trip: $130
- 3Km Husky Tour & Kennel Visit: Running with the Pack in Autumn : $156
- 5km Husky Passenger Sled Ride Experience: $238
- 7km Self Driven Husky Sled Adventure in Rovaniemi: $262
- ATV and Ice Fishing Experience in Rovaniemi: $261
- Adventurer's Snowmobile Tour 4h: $213
- Apukka Husky Adventure in Rovaniemi: $249
- Arctic Adventure through Magical Frozen Forests of Riisitunturi: $226
- Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $213
- Arctic Circle A Full Day Tour: $213
- Arctic Ice Floating Experience in Rovaniemi: $155
- Arctic Lakeside Fishing Experience - Rovaniemi: $94
Tours and Activities in Uppsala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Uppsala.
- Uppsala Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $6.40
- Walking Tour Uppsala: $6.54
- The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Adventure parc: $54
- Vasatid at Uppsala Castle 1h - a guided tour in Uppsala: $97
- Medieval horror, undead and dark folklore walk Uppsala city - open tour: $101
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $108
- Uppsala Must See 2h city walk - 2h tour of all big attractions!: $108
- Guided tour 90min at Old Uppsala mounds and old Uppsala church: $109
- City Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $137
- Swedish Lifestyle and Private Walking Tour of Uppsala: $140
- Private 1h tour of famous Old Uppsala mounds and mediveal church: $151
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Uppsala €17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Uppsala, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Uppsala much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Uppsala would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Uppsala 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 Uppsala.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Uppsala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Uppsala?
Uppsala has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Uppsala, 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 Uppsala?
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 Uppsala in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Uppsala.
In the summer, Rovaniemi is cooler than Uppsala. Typically, the summer temperatures in Rovaniemi in July average around 15°C (60°F), and Uppsala averages at about 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Uppsala. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rovaniemi this time of the year. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Uppsala. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Uppsala receives 260 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in July than Uppsala. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Uppsala receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Uppsala 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Uppsala in the Autumn?
Both Uppsala and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.
Rovaniemi can be very cold during autumn. In October, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Uppsala. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around 2°C (36°F), and Uppsala fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Uppsala during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Uppsala receives 99 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rovaniemi usually receives more rain than Uppsala. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Uppsala receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Uppsala 8°C (46°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Uppsala in the Winter?
Both Uppsala and Rovaniemi during the winter are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Uppsala in the winter. The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. Rovaniemi is much colder than Uppsala in the winter. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around -12°C (10°F) in January, and Uppsala fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Uppsala. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Uppsala receives 40 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets more rain in January than Uppsala. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Uppsala receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Uppsala -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Uppsala in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Uppsala.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the spring. In the spring, Rovaniemi is much colder than Uppsala. Typically, the spring temperatures in Rovaniemi in April average around -1°C (31°F), and Uppsala averages at about 5°C (41°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Uppsala during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Uppsala receives 185 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of rain as Uppsala. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Uppsala receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Uppsala 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Uppsala and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Uppsala | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 46 mm (1.8 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.