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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Kathmandu?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu?

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.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Saint Petersburg?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $64, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $54. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $36
    Kathmandu $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $72
    Kathmandu $76
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Kathmandu

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu


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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $7.38
    Kathmandu $6.95
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Metro Passes
    $1.36

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Thamel: Trishuli River Rafting Tour with Transfers and Lunch: $250
  • Scenic Everest Mountain Flight Tour With Transfers: $299
  • Private cycle tour from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur via Changu Narayan with transfers: $151
  • Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
  • Private Transfers for Kathmandu Airport Arrival and Departure: $30
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
  • Private Transfer to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu : $45
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $129
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $112
  • Private Mini-Van Transfer From / To Kathmandu and Pokhara: $274

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Kathmandu?

Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $19
    Kathmandu $8.48
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.67

Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Dessert
    $1.35
  • Dinner for Two
    $3.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

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

  • Momo Making and Cooking class in Kathmandu: $9.46
  • Half Day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chefs: $10
  • Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $11
  • Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu: $11
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
  • Private Cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu - 4 Hours: $22
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Half-Day Immersive Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with pickup: $25
  • Nepal: Dinner at a Local Home with a Local Family: $26
  • Private Cooking Class with Transfers and Lunch: $27
  • Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $27
  • Embark on a Culinary Voyage: Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $18
    Kathmandu $8.03

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.50
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.75
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.50

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

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

  • Luxury Tourist Bus to Chitwan from Kathmandu : $22
  • Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $117
  • Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
  • Private Kathmandu Day Tour: $70
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $313
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $58
  • 1 Day Volunteer Tour at Orphanage in Kathmandu: $274
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $9.81
    Kathmandu $5.72


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Kathmandu, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg is in Europe and Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.

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 Kathmandu Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Kathmandu?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Kathmandu, 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.