Which place is cheaper, Nice or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Nice?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Nice? 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 Nice?
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.
Nice
Nice, in the French Riviera, is one of the most popular destinations in France. It's located on the southeast coast along the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean. It is an energetic city that attracts all types of vacationers from every age group and demographic. It's the 5th largest city in the country and is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes departement. The metropolitan area has a population of about 1 million.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in France, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Nice $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Nice is $141. 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 Nice in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Nice $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Nice $126
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Nice
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Nice? 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: Nice Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Nice $27
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 Nice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:
- transfert Nice aéroport vers Isola 2000: $267
- transfert Nice aéroport /Fréjus /Saint Raphaël: $160
- Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé: Transfer to Nice: $292
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port to Nice hotels- Arrival Transfer: $49
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Nice hotels- Arrival Private Transfer: $49
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Cannes - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $170
- Villefranche-sur-Mer - Port de la Santé to Cannes - Arrival Private Transfer: $85
- Villefranche Port to Nice Intl Airport (NCE) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Villefranche Port to Cannes Mandelieu Airport Departure Transfer: $87
- Villefranche Port Round Trip Transfer to Monaco: $158
- Transfert privé aéroport de Nice-Côte d’Azur - Cannes: $155
- Transfer from Villefranche-sur-Mer-Port de la Santé to Cannes : $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Nice?
Prices for flights to both Nice 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 $18Nice $53
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
Typical Food Prices in Nice
Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:
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Slushee$2.68
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Strawberries$4.29
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Loaf of Bread$3.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.
- Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $84
- Viator Exclusive: Organic French Dinner in the Garden of Nice: $95
- The Flavors of Nice Food Tour: $103
- Old Nice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Nice Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Viator Exclusive: Local Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $107
- 3.5-Hour Original Old Town Food Tour: $107
- Private French Cooking Class with a Fun Local Noel: $112
- PRIVATE Award-Winning Nice Food Tour: 6 or 10 Tastings: $112
- Food Tour + Wine Pairing Lunch with a local Sommelier: $133
- Half Day Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $147
- Dinner in the vineyard French Riviera: $192
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Nice $13
Tours and Activities in Nice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:
- Half Day Shared Tour in Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo: $65
- Majestic Christmas tour in French Riviera: $235
- Monaco, Monte-Carlo and Eze Village Small Group Half-Day Tour: $59
- 3 Hour Walking Tour with a Local Licensed Guide in Monaco: $60
- 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Nice with a Licensed Guide: $33
- 3-Hour Segway Tour to Nice & Villefranche-sur-Mer: $80
- 7h sightseeing excursion: Visit Saint Paul, Antibes, Cannes.: $104
- A Guided Walking Tour through the Charming Streets of Nice: $32
- A walk of wealth – guided tour in Monaco: $251
- All-Inclusive Food & History Tour in Old Nice with Local Guide: $142
- Amazing Private Walking Tour of Old Nice between Italy and France: $111
- Antibes Electric Bike Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Nice $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Nice
Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Nice Bar Crawl | Best Bars In 1 Night! VIP + FREE SHOTS: $5.99
- Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entry and Free Shots: $16
- Pub Crawl Nice with Drinking Games and Optional Drink special: $17
- Nice : Guided Pub / Bar Crawl with Shots and Nightclub Entry: $21
- Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $23
- Nice Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $45
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $52
- New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl Nice France: $53
- Provence Organic Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Nice: $65
- Wine Tasting: Tour de France in Nice City Centre: $74
- Half-Day Saint Paul de Vence and Wine Tasting Tour: $82
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Saint Paul de Vence Tour from Nice: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Nice, we can see that Nice 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 Nice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nice 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 Nice Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Nice?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nice. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Nice, 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 Nice?
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 Nice in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Nice. Additionally, most visitors come to Nice for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Saint Petersburg is cooler than Nice in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Nice fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Nice. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Nice receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Nice 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Nice in the Autumn?
Both Nice and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nice because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Nice. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Nice averages at about 17°C (63°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nice. In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Nice. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Nice receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Nice 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Nice in the Winter?
Both Nice and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Nice this time of year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In January, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Nice. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around -8°C (18°F), and Nice fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Nice. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Nice receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Nice 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Nice in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Nice. Also, many travelers come to Nice for the beaches and the natural beauty.
It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Nice in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and Nice fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Nice. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Nice receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Nice 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Nice and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Nice | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 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.