Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, federal capital of Argentina, also known as "The City of Tango", is best known for its energetic and unpredictable character. Like a restless child, Buenos Aires is a dynamic and modern city full of surprises. While its French-style palaces, rooftop restaurants, wide avenues and green plazas resemble European-style architecture, Buenos Aires preserves its musical, literary and culinary traditions. You can't miss dining in front of a Tango show, walking around the colourful streets of La Boca and visiting the renowned Recoleta Cemetery, designed by Argentina's most important architects and home to hundreds of illustrious corpses.
Which city is cheaper, Buenos Aires, Argentina or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Average Daily Cost
Per person, per day
Saint Petersburg
$65
Buenos Aires, Argentina
$72
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $65, while the average daily cost in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $72. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Saint Petersburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $74 in Saint Petersburg For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Buenos Aires, Argentina is $58. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Saint Petersburg $37
Buenos Aires, Argentina $29
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Saint Petersburg
$74
Buenos Aires, Argentina
$58
Food
Food in Saint Petersburg costs travelers about $19 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina travelers spend around $23 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Typical Food prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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:
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Enjoy Russian Delicacies in St Petersburg: Cooking Demo and Meal with a Local:
$80
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Private Dining: Russian dinner in a traditional St. Petersburg apartment:
$91
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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
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FOOD TOUR. St.Petersburg:
$150
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Private Cooking Class: Learn the secrets of Borsch and Beef Stroganoff:
$166
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Private Cooking Class: Russian Blini with Red Caviar and Shchi soup:
$179
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Private Cooking Class: Russian Shchi soup and Blini with Red Caviar:
$187
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Private Cooking Class: Hands-on Siberian Pelmeni Making Workshop:
$188
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Private Cooking Class: Siberian Pelmeni, Stolichny salad and Borsch:
$212
Typical Food prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
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Lunch
$0.22
-
Cup of Coffee
$0.13
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Empandas
$0.16
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Espresso
$0.08
-
Dinner (Pizza)
$0.13
-
Ice Cream
$0.12
-
Breakfast at Airport
$0.33
-
Dinner (Sandwiches)
$0.09
-
Sweets
$0.06
-
Hot Dog
$0.07
-
Breakfast (Take-Away)
$0.12
-
Lunch for 2
$1.45
-
Cake and Coffee
$4.67
-
Dinner
$17
-
Powerade
$1.02
-
Lunch
$7.35
-
Dinner
$11
-
Chocolate
$27
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Saint Petersburg than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $7.43 on transportation in Saint Petersburg on average per day.
The average price of local transportation around Buenos Aires, Argentina is $11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Saint Petersburg $7.43
Buenos Aires, Argentina $11
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Petersburg
Also for Saint Petersburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryCar:
$80
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Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryVan:
$39
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Departure Private Transfer St. Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport LED by Business Car:
$61
-
Private Airport Transfer: from St Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport (LED):
$28
-
Private Transfer from Peterhof Palace to St. Petersburg City Center:
$36
-
Private Transfer from St. Petersburg City Center to Peterhof Palace:
$37
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St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED by Business Car:
$63
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St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED in Luxury Car:
$103
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St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED in Luxury Van:
$89
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St Petersburg Departure Private Transfers from St Petersburg City to Airport LED:
$84
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St Petersburg Transfer from city hotels or Cruise port to Pulkovo Airport (LED):
$68
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St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED) to hotel - Arrival Private Transfer:
$36
Typical Local Transportation prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
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Taxi from Airport
$1.17
-
Local Bus
$0.03
-
Metro Ride
$0.02
-
Taxi to airport
$0.31
-
Taxi
$0.82
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Buenos Aires, Argentina?
Prices for flights to both Buenos Aires, Argentina 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Saint Petersburg, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $18 per day, per person.
Buenos Aires, Argentina's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $24 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Saint Petersburg $18
Buenos Aires, Argentina $24
Tours and Activities in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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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
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Saint Petersburg Drawbridges Tour:
$41
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Half Day Walking Tour Well Courtyards Tour in Saint Petersburg:
$44
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Guided Tour Peter and Paul Fortress, Cathedral and Prison:
$56
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Private Tours:
$64
-
Half Day Bike City Tour in Saint Petersburg:
$75
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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
Typical Entertainment prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Here are a few typical costs in Buenos Aires, Argentina for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Saint Petersburg spend on average $9.88 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Buenos Aires, Argentina may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Buenos Aires, Argentina from other travelers:
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Beer
$0.10
-
Beer (0.66L)
$0.17
-
Cocktail
$0.27
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Alcohol
$5.87
When comparing the travel costs between Saint Petersburg and Buenos Aires, Argentina, we can see that Buenos Aires, Argentina 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. Even though Saint Petersburg is in Europe and Buenos Aires, Argentina is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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