A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Saint Petersburg vs. Dayton for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Dayton?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Saint Petersburg and Dayton can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Saint Petersburg or Dayton?

Saint Petersburg

Located at the base of the Tampa Bay peninsula of Florida, Saint Petersburg is a city known for its pleasant weather, coastal activities, and downtown arts scene. Nicknamed the "Sunshine City," Saint Petersburg is also a popular location for golfing, boating, fishing and beachgoing in addition to the usual entertainment options to be found in a thriving city.

Dayton

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Dayton or Saint Petersburg?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $204, while the average daily cost in Dayton is $323. 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 Dayton in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $127
    Dayton $250
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $254
    Dayton $500
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Dayton

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Dayton? 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 Dayton


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 Dayton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $47
    Dayton $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Dayton?

Prices for flights to both Dayton 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 $49
    Dayton $61
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Saint Petersburg:


  • Burger Dinner (for 2)
    $20
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $37
  • Gelato (for 2)
    $8.00
  • Breakfast at Piper's Patio (for 2)
    $17

Typical Food Prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $13
    Dayton -

Tours and Activities in Dayton

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

  • Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $41
    Dayton -

Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:

  • Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38


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


Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Dayton?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Dayton. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Dayton, 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 Dayton?

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 Dayton in the Summer?

Both Dayton and Saint Petersburg during the summer are popular places to visit. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Saint Petersburg this time of year.

In July, Saint Petersburg is generally around the same temperature as Dayton. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 82°F (28°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

In Dayton, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Petersburg. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Dayton. Saint Petersburg gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 298 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Dayton. Saint Petersburg gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint Petersburg 82°F (28°C) 
    Dayton 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dayton in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Dayton. Many travelers come to Saint Petersburg for the shopping scene.

Saint Petersburg is much warmer than Dayton in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 76°F (24°C) in October, and Dayton fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 188 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Dayton. Saint Petersburg gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Saint Petersburg is June to November.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint Petersburg 76°F (24°C) 
    Dayton 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dayton in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Dayton. Many visitors come to Saint Petersburg in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dayton can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much warmer than Dayton. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around 59°F (15°C), and Dayton averages at about 30°F (-1°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Dayton. Saint Petersburg gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dayton receives 129 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in January than Dayton. Saint Petersburg gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint Petersburg 59°F (15°C) 
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Dayton in the Spring?

Both Dayton and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Saint Petersburg for the beaches during these months.

In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much warmer than Dayton. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 73°F (23°C), and Dayton fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

It's quite sunny in Dayton. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Dayton during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while Dayton receives 215 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Dayton. Saint Petersburg gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Dayton receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Saint Petersburg.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint Petersburg 73°F (23°C) 
    Dayton 55°F (13°C)

Typical Weather for Dayton and Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg Dayton
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 59°F (15°C) 2.3 inches (59 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm)
Feb 62°F (17°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 67°F (20°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Apr 73°F (23°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
May 78°F (25°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm)
Jun 82°F (28°C) 6.5 inches (165 mm) 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 8.4 inches (214 mm) 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 8 inches (203 mm) 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Sep 81°F (27°C) 6.3 inches (161 mm) 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)
Oct 76°F (24°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm)
Nov 69°F (20°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm) 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Dec 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (56 mm) 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm)