Which place is cheaper, Ghent or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Ghent?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Ghent? 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 Ghent?
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.
Ghent
Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Luxury Tours to Belgium.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Ghent $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Ghent is $127. 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 Ghent in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Ghent $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Ghent $154
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Ghent
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Ghent? 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: Ghent Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Ghent $20
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 Ghent
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ghent:
- Ostend Bruges Airport(OST) to Bruges- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $63
- Ostend <-> Luxembourg transfer (1 to 8 places): $233
- Ghent <-> Amsterdam Shuttle Transfer (1 to 8 Seats): $229
- Departure Private Transfer from Ghent City to Brussels Airport by Luxury Van: $166
- Departure Private Transfer from Ghent City to Brussels Airport by Business Car: $147
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Ghent?
Prices for flights to both Ghent 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 $18Ghent $37
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ghent
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ghent.
- Walking food tour: Introduction to Ghent through food: $102
- Small-Group Food Tour in Ghent by Bike: $158
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Ghent $9.26
Tours and Activities in Ghent
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ghent are as follows:
- Bicycle tour in historic Ghent: $49
- Christmas Experience in Ghent - Walking Tour: $491
- Discover Ghent with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $22
- Experience Christmas in Mons - Walking Tour: $247
- Exquisite Sites of Ghent - Family Tour: $187
- Exquisite Sites of Ghent - Family Tour: $384
- From Brussels: Private Tour of Bruges, Ghent and Flanders: $620
- Gastronomic Walking Tour of Gent - Tasters included: $3.26
- Ghent Beer Guided Walking Tour: $49
- Ghent Beer and Sightseeing Adventure: $97
- Ghent Bike Tour Off-the-beaten-track: $52
- Ghent City Highlights Walking Tour with Light Meal: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Ghent $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Ghent
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ghent:
- Ghent Pub Trail : Pub crawl with interactive online game: $12
- Private Ghent Beer & Brewery Tour by a young local: $245
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Ghent, we can see that Ghent 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 Ghent would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ghent 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 Ghent Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Ghent?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ghent. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Ghent, 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 Ghent?
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 Ghent in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Ghent. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Ghent because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Saint Petersburg is generally around the same temperature as Ghent. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Ghent fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ghent. 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 Ghent. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 202 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Ghent. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Ghent 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Ghent in the Autumn?
Both Ghent and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Ghent this time of year.
Saint Petersburg is much colder than Ghent in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Ghent fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Ghent during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Ghent. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Ghent 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Ghent in the Winter?
Both Ghent and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Ghent for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ghent. It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the winter. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Ghent. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and Ghent averages at about 3°C (38°F).
In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Ghent. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 47 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Ghent. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Ghent 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Ghent in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Ghent. Also, many visitors come to Ghent in the spring for the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Ghent. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Ghent fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Ghent during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Ghent. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Ghent 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Ghent and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Ghent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 5°C (40°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.