Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh? 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 Edinburgh?
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.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, and The Best 2-Week Tours in United Kingdom.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Edinburgh $177
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is $177. 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 Edinburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Edinburgh $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Edinburgh $184
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Edinburgh
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh? 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: Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Edinburgh $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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus$4.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Edinburgh HTL-APT (EDI): $150
- Royal Highland Braemar Gathering, transfer from Edinburgh: $56
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Hotels: $50
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from Newhaven Cruise Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh city - Luxury Car: $214
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh by Luxury Van: $171
- Private Transfer from Glasgow city or GLA Airport to Edinburgh by Business Car: $157
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh to Gleneagles Hotel : $279
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh to Glasgow city or GLA Airport by Luxury Car: $216
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Hotels to South Queensferry Port: $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh?
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh 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 $18Edinburgh $49
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 Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$11
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Dinner at Filling Station$12
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Lunch for Two$19
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Sandwich$2.30
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Cheese & bread$9.01
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$31
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2 Coffees and Scones$7.23
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Turkish Delight$1.74
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Soup at the Pub$7.35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $87
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $114
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $120
- Edinburgh Food Tour for Families: $120
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh Private Food Tour: $148
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $167
- Private Edinburgh Food Tour of Old Town: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Edinburgh $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets$40
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Movie Tickets for Two$15
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Donation for Storytellers$7.47
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1.5 hour Firth of Forth Sightseeing cruise: $23
- 2 Hour Holyrood Palace Private Walking Tour: $76
- 2-Day Highlands and Loch Ness Tour from Edinburgh: $260
- 2-Day Inverness and the Highlands Very Small Group Tour from Edinburgh: $227
- 2-Day Loch Lomond, West Highlands, Glencoe & Oban Tour: $164
- 3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh: $233
- 3-Hour Private Edinburgh Castle Tour: $274
- 4 Hour Walking Tour Around Old Edinburgh's City Wall: $30
- Alnwick Castle and Scottish Borders Tour from Edinburgh: $71
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland & Scottish Borders 1-Day Tour: $66
- Alnwick Castle, Northumberland and Borders Tour with Admission: $103
- Arthur's Seat In App Audio Tour: a Vertiginous Hike: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Edinburgh $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine$18
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern$2.06
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Brewery Tour & Tasting: $18
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $32
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
- 5 Hours Edinburgh Halloween Bar Crawl: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh in the Summer?
Both Edinburgh and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Saint Petersburg is a little warmer than Edinburgh in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Edinburgh 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh in the Autumn?
Both Edinburgh and Saint Petersburg during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Edinburgh. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 10°C (49°F).
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Edinburgh. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Edinburgh. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Edinburgh 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Edinburgh. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.
It's quite cold in Edinburgh in the winter. The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In January, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around -8°C (18°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Edinburgh during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Edinburgh. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Edinburgh 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Edinburgh in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Edinburgh. Also, many travelers come to Edinburgh for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Edinburgh in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Edinburgh. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Edinburgh 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Edinburgh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.