Which place is cheaper, Islamabad or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Islamabad?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Islamabad? 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 Islamabad?
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.
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, specially built in the 1960's to replace the former capital, Karachi. Most of the city's population are employees of the government, though many people come from all over Pakistan to enjoy the city's peaceful atmosphere and green spaces, museums, and monuments.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $64Islamabad $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Islamabad is $42. 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 Islamabad in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $37Islamabad $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $74Islamabad $40
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Islamabad
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Islamabad? 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: Islamabad Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.42Islamabad $7.67
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$1.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Islamabad
Also for Islamabad, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transit Trip: Islamabad City Exploration Day Tour & Round Trip Airport Transfer: $110
- Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to Pakistan: $61
- Private Chauffeur: Arrival Transfer Airport Pick up (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore): $50
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Departures: $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad International Airport Transfer - Arrival: $55
- Premium Services: Islamabad Day Trip & Round Trip Airport Transfers.: $170
- Islamabad Round Trip Airport Transfer & Customizable Day Trip: $95
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer - ARRIVAL: $40
- Islamabad International Airport Transfer: $35
- Islamabad International Airport Departure Drop off Transfer : $55
- Islamabad International Airport Arrival Pick up Transfer: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Islamabad?
Prices for flights to both Islamabad 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 $19Islamabad $15
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$4.69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Islamabad $9.48
Tours and Activities in Islamabad
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Islamabad.
- Best of Islamabad Half Day Tour With Meal At Monal Restaurant (Morn & Eve Slots): $100
- From 15 Day Trekking Tour of Thalay and Nangma: $3,070
- From 9-Day Colors of Hunza Valley Cultural Tour: $2,065
- From Full Day Guided Taxila Ruins Exploration Tour: $150
- From Full Day Historical Peshawar Guided City Tour: $160
- From Skardu and Baltistan Cultural Tour with Food: $2,339
- Full Day Private City Tour Of Islamabad: $99
- Full-Day Sightseeing Tour Of Islamabad: $80
- Full-day Essential Islamabad Tour: $150
- Islamabad In & Around Full Day Customized City Tour: $80
- Islamabad Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
- City Tour with Faisal Mosque and Lake View Park: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.86Islamabad $2.88
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Islamabad, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. And not only is Islamabad much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg is in Europe and Islamabad is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Islamabad would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Islamabad 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 Saint Petersburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Petersburg than you might in Islamabad.
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 Islamabad Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Islamabad?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Islamabad. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Islamabad, 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 Islamabad?
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 Islamabad in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Islamabad.
It's very hot in Islamabad this time of the year. In July, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Islamabad. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Islamabad fluctuates around 32°C (90°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Islamabad this time of the year. In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Islamabad during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Islamabad receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
Islamabad receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Islamabad. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 237 mm (9.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Islamabad 32°C (90°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Islamabad in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Islamabad.
Saint Petersburg is much colder than Islamabad in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and Islamabad fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Islamabad. In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Islamabad. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Islamabad receives 287 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in October than Islamabad. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Islamabad 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Islamabad in the Winter?
Both Islamabad and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Islamabad. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and Islamabad averages at about 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Islamabad. Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Islamabad during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Islamabad receives 213 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Islamabad. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Islamabad 14°C (57°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Islamabad in the Spring?
Both Islamabad and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit.
It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Islamabad. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Islamabad fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Islamabad, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Islamabad. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Islamabad receives 258 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Islamabad. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Islamabad receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Islamabad 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Islamabad and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Islamabad | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 32°C (89°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 35°C (94°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 32°C (90°F) | 237 mm (9.3 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 31°C (89°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 31°C (87°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 30 mm (1.2 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.