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

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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake? 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 Balaton Lake?

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.

Balaton Lake

Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.

Which city is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Saint Petersburg?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $67, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is $70. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Saint Petersburg and Balaton Lake in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $38
    Balaton Lake $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $76
    Balaton Lake $78
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Balaton Lake

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake? 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 Balaton Lake


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: Saint Petersburg Hotel Prices and Balaton Lake Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $7.69
    Balaton Lake $9.61
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Metro Passes
    $1.77

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Petersburg

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

  • Private Airport Transfer: from St Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport (LED): $28
  • St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED) to hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • St. Petersburg to St.Petersburg Pulkovo Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Private Transfer from Peterhof Palace to St. Petersburg City Center: $36
  • Private Transfer from St. Petersburg City Center to Peterhof Palace: $37
  • Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryVan: $39
  • Departure Private Transfer St. Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport LED by Business Car: $61
  • St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED by Business Car: $63
  • St Petersburg Transfer from city hotels or Cruise port to Pulkovo Airport (LED): $68
  • Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryCar: $80
  • St Petersburg Departure Private Transfers from St Petersburg City to Airport LED: $84
  • St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED in Luxury Van: $89

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake?

Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake 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
    Balaton Lake $22
Typical Food prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $6.08

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Petersburg

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

  • Enjoy Russian Delicacies in St Petersburg: Cooking Demo and Meal with a Local: $80
  • Private Dining: Russian dinner in a traditional St. Petersburg apartment: $91
  • Cooking Class and a Dinner with a Local Family (8 people max): $92
  • Off-the-tourist Path Food Tour: $103
  • Local Market Tour and Cooking Demo with a Homemade Russian Meal in St Petersburg: $107
  • Borscht and cabbage pie cooking class and dinner for small private groups: $109
  • FOOD TOUR. St.Petersburg: $150
  • Private Cooking Class: Learn the secrets of Borsch and Beef Stroganoff: $166
  • Private Cooking Class: Russian Blini with Red Caviar and Shchi soup: $179
  • Private Cooking Class: Russian Shchi soup and Blini with Red Caviar: $187
  • Private Cooking Class: Hands-on Siberian Pelmeni Making Workshop: $188
  • Private Cooking Class: Siberian Pelmeni, Stolichny salad and Borsch: $212

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $19
    Balaton Lake $17

Tours and Activities in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Day Small-Group Visa-Free Tour - Top Highlights of St Petersburg: $20
  • 1.5-Hours Saint Petersburg's Metro Tour Hidden Treasures: $25
  • Mini-Group 2-Day Shore Excursion of St Petersburg Must-Sees and Boat Cruise: $25
  • Saint Petersburg Drawbridges Tour: $41
  • Half Day Walking Tour Well Courtyards Tour in Saint Petersburg: $44
  • Guided Tour Peter and Paul Fortress, Cathedral and Prison: $56
  • Private Tours: $64
  • Half Day Bike City Tour in Saint Petersburg: $75
  • Private Tour of "Erarta" Galleries: $76
  • St Petersburg Communist walking tour + Museum of Russian political history: $77
  • Evening River and Canal Cruise Visas Included: $86
  • Revolutionary Petersburg City Tour: $86

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $10
    Balaton Lake $7.18

About these numbers

When comparing the travel costs between Saint Petersburg and Balaton Lake, we can see that Balaton Lake 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.


When is the best time to visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake?

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 Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Balaton Lake.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July are around 18°C (64°F), and Balaton Lake is about 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F) 
    Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Balaton Lake. Temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Balaton Lake stays around 13°C (56°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F) 
    Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit.

Balaton Lake can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Balaton Lake in the winter. The temperature in Saint Petersburg is usually -8°C (18°F) in January, and Balaton Lake stays around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F) 
    Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Balaton Lake.

Saint Petersburg can be very cold during spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Balaton Lake. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April are around 4°C (40°F), and Balaton Lake is about 12°C (54°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Balaton Lake during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Balaton Lake. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F) 
    Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg Balaton Lake
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -8°C (18°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 0°C (32°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 3°C (37°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar -2°C (28°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 7°C (45°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 4°C (40°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 12°C (54°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 17°C (63°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jun 16°C (60°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 20°C (68°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 77 mm (3 in) 22°C (71°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 22°C (71°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 11°C (52°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 6°C (42°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 13°C (56°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Nov 0°C (32°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 7°C (44°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Dec -5°C (24°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 2°C (36°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)


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Saint Petersburg vs. Balaton Lake Travel Comparison

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