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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Lulea?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lulea? 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 Lulea?

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.

Lulea

Lulea is in northern Sweden, in Norrbotten. It's a mid sized city with about 70,000 residents. It also has a technical university, the Lulea University of Technology, which was created in 1971. The city of Lulea is located at the mouth of Lule River on the Gulf of Bothnia. The city's economy is focused on research, education, trade and services. The university's educational programs appeal to new businesses that range from local companies to multinational corporations. There is also a prominant IT sector in the city.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden, and The Best Adventure Tours to Sweden.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Lulea, we can see that Lulea 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 Lulea would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lulea 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 Lulea Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Lulea?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Lulea. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Lulea, 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 Lulea?

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 Lulea in the Summer?

Both Lulea and Saint Petersburg during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Saint Petersburg is a little warmer than Lulea. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Lulea averages at about 15°C (60°F).

In Lulea, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Petersburg. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Lulea. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lulea receives 304 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Lulea. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lulea in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Lulea.

The weather in Lulea can be very cold. In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much warmer than Lulea. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Lulea fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Lulea during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Lulea receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lulea. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lulea in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Lulea.

It's quite cold in Lulea in the winter. The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much warmer than Lulea in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Lulea fluctuates around -12°C (10°F).

In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than Lulea. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lulea receives 19 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Lulea. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Lulea in the Spring?

Both Lulea and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Lulea. It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much warmer than Lulea. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Lulea averages at about -1°C (31°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Lulea during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Lulea receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Lulea. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Lulea receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lulea and Saint Petersburg