Which place is cheaper, New York City or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or New York City? 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.
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.
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or New York City? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both New York City 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.
For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Saint Petersburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saint Petersburg is in Europe and New York City is in North America, 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 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City 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 New York City Expensive?.
New York City has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Saint Petersburg. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and New York City, 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.
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.
Both New York City and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to New York City because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Saint Petersburg is generally cooler than New York City. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in New York City. In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than New York City. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both New York City and Saint Petersburg during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
Saint Petersburg is much colder than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 6°C (42°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in October than New York City. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and New York City. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in New York City. It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the winter. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January average around -8°C (18°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than New York City. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as New York City. Additionally, many visitors come to New York City in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than New York City. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than New York City. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Saint Petersburg | New York City | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |