Which place is cheaper, Palermo or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Palermo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Palermo? 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 Palermo?
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.
Palermo
Located on its north coast, Palermo is the capital city of Sicily. The city has a lot to offer visitors who decide to venture to this often overlooked part of Italy. There is an interesting history, some unique and delicious food, and a fascinating culture. Prices in Sicily are generally cheaper than elsewhere in Italy. There are a handful of budget accommodation options and plenty of mid range hotels that are spread throughout the city. The rooms are usually comfortable and clean but as always, read reviews before making your reservation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Palermo $99
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Palermo is $99. 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 Palermo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Palermo $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Palermo $120
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Palermo
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Palermo? 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: Palermo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Palermo $6.04
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Palermo
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Palermo:
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Bus to Monreale$3.21
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Bus From Airport$6.43
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90 Minute Bus Pass$1.39
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Short Taxi Ride$4.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palermo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Palermo:
- Transfers From / to Palermo Airport: $108
- Transfer from Palermo Airport to Verdura Resort: $214
- Transfer from Palermo Airport to Palermo: $131
- Quintocanto Hotel & Spa to Palermo Airport, Private Transfer: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to ibis Styles hotel or vice versa: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Verdura Resort Sciacca or vice versa: $233
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Palazzo Brunaccini or vice versa: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to NH Palermo Hotel or vice versa: $42
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Marsala port or vice versa: $109
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Hotel Tonic or vice versa: $37
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Hotel Politeama or vice versa: $44
- Private transfer from Palermo airport to Bio Hotel Palermo or vice versa: $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Palermo?
Prices for flights to both Palermo 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 $18Palermo $31
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 Palermo
Some typical examples of dining costs in Palermo are as follows:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$34
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Fast Food Lunch$5.70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palermo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Palermo.
- Street Food Tour: $42
- Street Food Tour: $65
- Explore Palermo's with a Food Tour & Pizza Making Class: $68
- Small Group Night Street Food Tour: $68
- Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class with Dinner and Wine: $74
- Palermo Traditional Food Tour: $74
- Palermo's Delight: Unleash the Secrets of Pizza and Gelato Making: $75
- Night Street Food Tour of Palermo : $75
- Secret Food Tours Palermo: $85
- Street Food Tour in Ballarò and Vucciria Markets: $86
- Walking Street Food Tour with the Chef: $91
- Sicilian Cooking Class: $101
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Palermo $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Palermo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Palermo are as follows:
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Capuchin Catacombs (for 2)$6.43
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Castello della Zisa Entrance (for Two)$13
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Theater Tickets (for Two)$53
Tours and Activities in Palermo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Palermo are as follows:
- 4 Hours Private Architectural Tour in Palermo: $165
- Agrigento - Private Tour to the Valley of the Temples from Palermo: $295
- Agrigento Valley of the Temples and Villa Romana del Casale Tour from Palermo: $133
- Ballaro 'street food market tour & Santa Rosalia Sanctuary: $208
- Cappella Palatina and Palazzo dei Normanni Tour: $91
- Captivating Agrigento Sunset Tour of Valle dei Templi: $43
- Capuchin Catacombs and Monreale Cathedral Private Tour: $192
- Cesarine: Market Tour & Dining at a Local's Home in Palermo: $152
- Discover the Charm of A 3-Hour UNESCO Sites Walking Tour: $38
- Eating Street Food & Market Tour: $117
- English or Spanish tour to immersive museum + lunch: $37
- Entrance ticket to the Radici Piccolo Museo Della Natura: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Palermo $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Palermo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Palermo:
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Beer$2.74
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Bottle of Quality Wine$12
Sample the Local Flavors in Palermo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Palermo:
- Pub Crawl Palermo: $16
- Wine Tasting with Snacks at Bottega Monteleone: $41
- Natural Local Wine Tasting & Sicilian Tapas: $49
- Natural Wine Tasting with snacks at Bottega Monteleone: $53
- Eating Palermo Food & Wine Tour: $82
- 2-Hour Sicilian Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour: $128
- From Erice and Marsala Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $181
- Wine Tasting for Small Groups in the Palermo Countryside: $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Palermo, we can see that Palermo 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 Palermo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palermo 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 Palermo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Palermo?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Palermo. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Palermo, 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 Palermo?
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 Palermo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Palermo. Additionally, most visitors come to Palermo for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Palermo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Palermo averages at about 25°C (76°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Palermo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Palermo. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palermo receives 347 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Palermo. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Palermo 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Palermo in the Autumn?
Both Palermo and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Palermo because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Palermo. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Palermo fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Palermo. Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Palermo during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Palermo receives 204 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Palermo. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Palermo 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Palermo in the Winter?
Both Palermo and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Palermo this time of year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Palermo in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Palermo fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Palermo. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Palermo receives 133 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Palermo. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Palermo 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Palermo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Palermo. Also, many travelers come to Palermo for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
It's quite cold in Saint Petersburg in the spring. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Palermo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Palermo averages at about 15°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Palermo this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Palermo during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Palermo receives 219 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Palermo. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Palermo receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Palermo 15°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Palermo and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Palermo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 65 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 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.