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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Cork?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cork? 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 Cork?

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.

Cork

Located on the banks of the River Lee, Cork has a small, but pleasant downtown that is easy to walk around. The city was built up on marshland, and many of the streets today, including St Patrick's Street, the South Mall and the Grand Parade, are actually built over what was once river channels. Today there are more than thirty bridges that cross over the channelized River Lee. As an orientation, it's nice to take a historic walking tour of the downtown area. Then you can explore the area in more detail by yourself. There are cathedrals, museums, and galleries around town so you can keep yourself quite entertained. If the weather is nice, head out to Lough park, which has a small freshwater limestone lake and some interesting water fowl to see. It's a great place to people watch and see daily life in the city of Cork.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ireland, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ireland.


Which place is cheaper, Cork or Saint Petersburg?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Cork is $108. 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 Cork in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $36
    Cork $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $72
    Cork $128
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Cork

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Cork? 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 Cork


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: Cork Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $7.29
    Cork $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Metro Passes
    $1.34

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Cork?

Prices for flights to both Cork 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 $18
    Cork $32
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cork

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cork.

  • Hysterical Histories, Comedic Dinner Theater Show: $53
  • Hysterical Histories Cork Dinner Theatre Show: $57
  • Historic Cork Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $18
    Cork $9.95

Tours and Activities in Cork

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cork are as follows:

  • Blarney Castle Tour from Cork including Cobh: $60
  • Cliffs of Moher Day Tour from Including The Wild Altanic Way: $53
  • Cliffs of Moher and More: Full-Day Tour from Cork: $52
  • Coastal Foraging and Folklore Tour: $55
  • Cork City Cycle Tour - Experience the beautiful and historic City by bike: $51
  • Cork City Gaol Admission Ticket: $14
  • Cork City Hop On/Off Open Top Bus Tour: $24
  • Cork Culinary Tour: $128
  • Cork Culinary Tour: $142
  • Cork Delicious Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour: $65
  • Cork Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Cork Holiday Donut Adventure by Underground Donut Tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $9.68
    Cork $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Cork

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cork:

  • Clonakilty Distillery Tour & Classic Whiskey Tasting: $22
  • Cork City: Rebel City Distillery Tour: $27
  • Rebel City Distillery Tour: $27
  • Midleton Distillery Tour with Whiskey Tasting: $32
  • Midleton Distillery Experience & Whiskey Tasting -Home of Jameson: $33
  • Whiskey Cocktail Making Class at Midleton Distillery: $64
  • Cork Irish Whiskey Cocktail Making Class at Midleton Distillery : $65
  • Midleton Distillery Behind the Scenes Tour & Tasting: $80
  • Blarney Castle Cork City and Jameson Distillery Semi Private Tour: $196
  • Private Cork City Tour, Kinsale and Jameson Distillery: $254


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Cork, we can see that Cork 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 Cork would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cork 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 Cork Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Cork?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cork. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Cork, 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 Cork?

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 Cork in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Cork. Also, most visitors come to Cork for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Saint Petersburg is generally a little warmer than Cork. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Cork fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Cork. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cork receives 178 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Cork. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Cork receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F) 
    Cork 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cork in the Autumn?

Both Cork and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Cork because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Saint Petersburg is much colder than Cork in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Cork fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Cork during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Cork receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Cork. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Cork receives 97 mm (3.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F) 
    Cork 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cork in the Winter?

Both Cork and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cork this time of year.

The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Cork. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and Cork averages at about 6°C (43°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Cork. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cork receives 60 hours of full sun.

Cork gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Cork. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Cork receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F) 
    Cork 6°C (43°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Cork in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Cork. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cork for the activities around the city.

It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Cork. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Cork fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Cork during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Cork receives 157 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Cork. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Cork receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F) 
    Cork 9°C (48°F)

Typical Weather for Cork and Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg Cork
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -8°C (18°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 6°C (43°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 6°C (43°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Mar -2°C (28°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 7°C (45°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Apr 4°C (40°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 9°C (48°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 11°C (52°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 16°C (60°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 77 mm (3 in) 16°C (60°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 16°C (60°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Sep 11°C (52°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 14°C (57°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 6°C (42°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 11°C (52°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Nov 0°C (32°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 8°C (47°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Dec -5°C (24°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 7°C (45°F) 101 mm (4 in)