Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Cologne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cologne? 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 Cologne?
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.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Cologne $174
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Cologne is $174. 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 Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Cologne $98
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Cologne $196
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Cologne? 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: Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Cologne $21
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$1.34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne 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 $18Cologne $54
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$4.61
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner$15
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Donner Kebab$4.33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Cologne $22
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $395
- Beethoven and Bonn Highlights Tour from Cologne by Car: $840
- Best of Cologne in 1-Day Private Guided Tour with Transport: $438
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Cologne $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Cologne, we can see that Cologne is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne 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 Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Cologne?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Cologne. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Cologne, 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 Saint Petersburg or Cologne?
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 Cologne in the Summer?
Both Cologne and Saint Petersburg during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is around the same temperature as Cologne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Cologne averages at about 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Saint Petersburg. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 184 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Cologne. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Cologne 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cologne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Cologne. Also, many travelers come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Cologne during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Cologne. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Cologne 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cologne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Cologne. Also, many visitors come to Cologne in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Cologne can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Cologne in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Cologne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Cologne. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 43 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Cologne. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Cologne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cologne in the Spring?
Both Cologne and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cologne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Cologne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Cologne averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Cologne. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Cologne 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cologne and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Cologne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.