Which place is cheaper, Lucerne or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Lucerne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lucerne? 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 Lucerne?
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.
Lucerne
Lucerne is a relatively small city in the center of Switzerland. It is located across the lake from Altdorf and it has a thriving tourism industry. It's close proximity to many of the major sights in the country make it a great base for exploration. Many people use it as a jumping off point for exploring Mount Rigi and the Rutli Meadow.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Switzerland, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Lucerne $214
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Lucerne is $214. 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 Lucerne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Lucerne $137
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Lucerne $274
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Lucerne
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Lucerne? 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: Lucerne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Lucerne $13
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 Lucerne
Also for Lucerne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Bad Ragaz Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $251
- Rafting in Interlaken with Return Transfer from Lucerne: $257
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich English Speaking Driver: $134
- Private Transfer from Lucerne to Zurich Airport: $284
- Lucerne City to Zurich City One-Way Private Transfer : $300
- Private transfer from Zurich airport to Lucerne: $547
- LAUTERBRUNNEN Private Transfer from Zurich Airport: $722
- INTERLAKEN Private Transfer from Zurich Airport: $744
- From Canyoning in Interlaken w/ Return Transfer: $257
- Bad Ragaz Resorts to Zurich Airport ZRH - Departure Transfer: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Lucerne?
Prices for flights to both Lucerne 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 $18Lucerne $62
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 Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Swiss Alps: Traditional Swiss Fondue Cooking Class: $82
- Lake Candlelight Dinner Cruise: $141
- From Zurich: 2-Day Mt.Titlis including 4-course dinner: $547
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Lucerne $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Lucerne
For Lucerne, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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1 Day Bicycle Rental$34
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The Swiss Transport Museum Entrance Fee$35
Tours and Activities in Lucerne
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lucerne.
- A Wonderful Christmas Tour in Lucerne: $275
- A Wonderful Christmas Tour in Lucerne: $534
- Alpine Majesty: Private Tour to Mount Titlis from Luzern: $563
- Alpine Majesty:Luzern to Jungfraujoch Exclusive Private Tour: $821
- Basel: Swiss Alps Glacier Express Train Ride & Lucerne Tour: $760
- Best of Lucerne Walking Photography Tour: $179
- Burgenstock Private Tour: Mt. Rigis & Lake of Lucerne Cruise: $585
- City tour plus Lucerne: $95
- Day Trip from Grindelwald First Mountain Adventure: $174
- Day Trip to Swiss Villages from Lucerne - Small Group tour by Car: $200
- Early morning tour: $213
- Exploring Lucerne with Friends: A Local Experience ❤: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Lucerne $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucerne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucerne:
- 3 Hour Unique Wine Tour - Half Day in Swiss Alps: $166
- Lake Lucerne Region Wine Tasting: $273
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Lucerne, we can see that Lucerne 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 Lucerne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lucerne 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 Lucerne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Lucerne?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Lucerne. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Lucerne, 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 Lucerne?
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 Lucerne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Lucerne. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Lucerne because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Lucerne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Lucerne averages at about 21°C (70°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lucerne this time of the year. In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Lucerne during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Lucerne receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Lucerne. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Lucerne 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lucerne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Lucerne. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lucerne this time of year.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Lucerne. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Lucerne fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Lucerne. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lucerne receives 120 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Lucerne. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Lucerne 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lucerne in the Winter?
Both Lucerne and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Lucerne for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Lucerne. It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Lucerne in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Lucerne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Lucerne during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Lucerne receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Lucerne. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Lucerne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lucerne in the Spring?
Both Lucerne and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Lucerne in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Lucerne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Lucerne averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Lucerne. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lucerne receives 150 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Lucerne. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lucerne receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Lucerne 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Lucerne and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Lucerne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 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.