A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint Petersburg vs. Agra for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Agra?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Agra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Agra?

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a beautiful city that sits on the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea. Its historical city center is threaded with canals and architecturally impressive buildings, leaving little doubt as to why this city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second largest city in Russia, but perhaps a favorite among travelers. The metropolitan area has a population of over 5 million as well as an impressive culture with fascinating museums, restaurants, and architecture. The city has no shortage of sights and attractions, and many days can be passed while you wander its intricate streets.

Agra

In the north of India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh is the city of Agra. This land is home to great tales of emperors and majestic temples. It is the home to a magnificent past and the greatest symbol of love known to man, the Taj Mahal.

While this incredible structure is the main draw to this area, there is much more to see. Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra can claim three different UNESCO World Heritage sites - the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikiri.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Mumbai, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to India.


Which place is cheaper, Agra or Saint Petersburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Agra is $44. 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 Saint Petersburg and Agra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $37
    Agra $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $74
    Agra $32
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Agra

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Agra? 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.

Hotels in Saint Petersburg


Hotels in Agra


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: Agra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $7.42
    Agra $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:


  • Metro Passes
    $1.36

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Agra

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Agra:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $0.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Agra

Also for Agra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Wildlife SOS Visit with One Way Transfer from Agra to Delhi: $49
  • Vrindavan to Delhi private transfer: $28
  • Visit to Jaipur 's Chokhi Dhani Tour on Agra to Jaipur Transfer: $74
  • Transfer from Delhi to Jaipur with Tajmahal sight seeing: $187
  • Transfer from Agra to Tundla railway station and vice versa: $34
  • Transfer from Agra to New Delhi by Private Car: $60
  • Transfer from Agra to Jaipur via Fatehpur Shikri and Abhaneri: $106
  • Transfer from Agra to Jaipur by Private Car: $91
  • Transfer from Agra To Jaipur Via Fatehpur Sikri & Stepwell: $90
  • Transfer Agra to Delhi by Private AC Car: $75
  • Transfer Agra To Jaipur Via Fatehpur Sikri & Stepwell: $60
  • Taj Mahal Sunrise Day Trip With Transfer From Delhi: $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Agra?

Prices for flights to both Agra and Saint Petersburg 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Saint Petersburg $19
    Agra $16
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.69

Typical Food Prices in Agra

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Agra:


  • Breakfast for Two
    $2.16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Agra

For Agra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Agra best Cooking class after Taj Mahal: $6.00
  • Street Food Tour with Spice Market on Tuk-Tuk: $12
  • Home Hosted Luch or dinner by Indian local Family: $18
  • Local Food Tour with Cooking Class in Home Agra Including Lunch or Dinner: $20
  • Agra Heritage Walk with Food Tour: $20
  • Indian Food Private Cooking Class: $22
  • Cooking Class and Dine with a Local Family: $23
  • Old City Food Tour with Local Guide and Tastings: $23
  • Indian Home Visit Cooking Demo: $25
  • The Spirit of Agra - Old Market Walking and Food Tour: $26
  • Cooking classes Tour Including Pickup And Dropping To Hotel: $28
  • Cooking Workshop and Vegetarian Dinner in Agra with Family: $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $18
    Agra $20

Typical Entertainment Prices in Agra

For Agra, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Entry to the Red Fort for Two
    $7.20
  • Taj Mahal for Two
    $18

Tours and Activities in Agra

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Agra.

  • Agra Local Tour with Taj Mahal : $30
  • Jaipur Overnight Tour from Agra : $300
  • Private 6 Hours: Agra Temples and Spiritual Sites Tour: $38
  • Private Agra Local Sightseeing Tour: $47
  • Private Full Day Sunrise Taj Mahal Tour With Agra Fort: $30
  • Private Taj Mahal and Agra Fort Day Tour: $42
  • Taj Mahal Sunrise & Agra Fort Private Tour - All Inclusive: $21
  • Tajmahal Sunrise And Sunset Tour in Agra with Fatehpur Sikri: $37
  • 05-Hours Taj Mahal & Agra Day Tour by TUK TUK: $5.00
  • 06 Hours Agra City Tour - Private: $85
  • 08 Days Taj Mahal Tour With Hemis National Park: $552
  • 1 Day Private Tour of Agra - Taj Mahal & More: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $9.86
    Agra $9.65


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Agra, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. And not only is Agra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg is in Europe and Agra is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Agra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Agra 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 Saint Petersburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Petersburg than you might in Agra.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saint Petersburg Expensive? and Is Agra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Agra?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Agra. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Agra, 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.