Which place is cheaper, Cancun or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Cancun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cancun? 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 Cancun?
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.
Cancun
In the northeast corner of the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun is one of Mexico's most popular destinations. The area that is now Cancun was actually selected specifically by the Mexican government for development as a tourist destination. The area was chosen because it has fourteen miles of beautiful white beaches, nearby Mayan ruins, and turquoise blue water with nearby snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Prior to its development as a tourist destination, there were few inhabitants in the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $64Cancun $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Cancun is $145. 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 Cancun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $37Cancun $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $74Cancun $192
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Cancun
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Cancun? 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: Cancun Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.42Cancun $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
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Metro Passes$1.36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cancun
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cancun:
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Taxi Around Town$1.65
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Airport Shuttle (for 2)$14
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Ferry to Isla de Mujeres (for 2)$16
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Local Bus (for 2)$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cancun
Also for Cancun, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transfers between hotels in Cancun hotel strip: $20
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Cancun APT-HTL (CUN): $45
- Transfers in Private Minibus: $97
- Transfers in Private MiniVan wi fi on board: $61
- Transfers in Luxury Sedan from Cancun Airport: $85
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $261
- Transfers in Lincoln Strecth Limousine with Wi Fi on board: $121
- Transfers From Hotel to Hotel: $100
- Transfer in Private vehicle from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City: $74
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cancun Airport (CUN) - Akumal City: $67
- Transfer in Luxury Mercedes Benz Minivan: $91
- Transfer from Puerto de Chiquila to Cancun Airport: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Cancun?
Prices for flights to both Cancun 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
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Food Meals for one daySaint Petersburg $19Cancun $28
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.69
Typical Food Prices in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cancun
For Cancun, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Captain Hook: Pirate Show and Dinner Cruise in Cancun: $46
- Mayan Chichen Itza And Pirate Dinner Two Day Experience: $57
- The Ultimate Cancun Taco & Street Mexican Food Tour: $59
- Dinner Show with Pirates! (2x1 Price): $62
- (2x1 price) Dinner Show and Pirates Experience : $63
- (2x1 price) Pirate Night! Dinner, Fun and Show: $63
- (2x1 price)Pirate Adventure! Open Bar, Dinner and Show : $63
- Pirate Show and Dinner (2x1 price)! Best Promo : $64
- Cancun Street Food Tour with Food Stalls, Local Market and Murals: $64
- Private Ultimate Cancun Taco and Street Mexican Food Tour: $69
- Guided Cancun Local Mexican Food Tour: $77
- Cancun Authentic Downtown Food Tour: Tacos and Local Flavors: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Cancun $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cancun
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cancun's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Seasick Pills$0.59
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Whale Shark Tour (for 2)$100
Tours and Activities in Cancun
For Cancun, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Jungle Adventure with Ziplines, Cenote Transportation Included: $8.00
- Bacalar tour + Lunch + Boat, from Cancun and Riviera Maya: $139
- Catamaran Cruise in Riviera Maya With Snorkeling & Beach Club: $85
- Full Day All Inclusive Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres : $99
- Full Day Chichen-Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Complete Tour: $37
- Holbox Island Magic Tour from Cancun : $144
- LDS Tour to Chichen Itza + Cenote : $165
- Party Adventure at Isla Mujeres from Cancun & Playa del Carmen: $93
- Private Tour to Tulum Ruins and Cenotes : $257
- Reef and Sunken Ship Snorkeling Experience in Cancun: $85
- Riviera Maya Luxury Snorkeling Cruise with Lunch and Drinks: $139
- (4x1) Full day tour to Tulum, Coba, Cenote and Playa del Carmen : $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.86Cancun $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cancun
Also in Cancun, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Social Pub Crawl in Cancun: $37
- Small Group EkBalam Pink Lakes Cenote and Tequila Distillery Tour: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Cancun, we can see that Cancun is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg is in Europe and Cancun is in North America, 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 Saint Petersburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Petersburg 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 Cancun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cancun than you might in Saint Petersburg.
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 Cancun Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Cancun?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Cancun. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Cancun, 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.
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.