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

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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Paris?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Paris? 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 Paris?

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.

Paris

Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."

Which place is cheaper, Paris or Saint Petersburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $73, while the average daily cost in Paris is $250. 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 Paris in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $41
    Paris $163
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $82
    Paris $326
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Paris

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Paris? 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.

Hotels in Saint Petersburg


Hotels in Paris


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: Paris Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $8.42
    Paris $23
Typical Local Transportation prices in Saint Petersburg

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Saint Petersburg:


  • Metro Passes
    $1.55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Petersburg

Also for Saint Petersburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED in Luxury Car: $103
  • St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED in Luxury Van: $89
  • St Petersburg Departure Private Transfers from St Petersburg City to Airport LED: $84
  • Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryCar: $80
  • St Petersburg Transfer from city hotels or Cruise port to Pulkovo Airport (LED): $68
  • St Petersburg Airport Transfers : St Petersburg to Airport LED by Business Car: $63
  • Departure Private Transfer St. Petersburg to Pulkovo Airport LED by Business Car: $61
  • Departure Private Transfer St Petersburg City to Pulkovo Airport LED - LuxuryVan: $39
  • Private Transfer from St. Petersburg City Center to Peterhof Palace: $37
  • Private Transfer from Peterhof Palace to St. Petersburg City Center: $36
  • St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED) to hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • St. Petersburg to St.Petersburg Pulkovo Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $36

Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:


  • Metro
    $6.87
  • Train from Airport
    $9.66
  • Metro tickets
    $7.30
  • Train
    $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris

Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Your private transfer from Disneyland to Paris: $53
  • Versailles Guided Tour Including Priority Access & Hotel Transfer from Paris: $159
  • VIP Airport Transfer between Orly Airport & Paris Hotel: $90
  • Ultra - Private Transfer from Paris to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's Garden: $9.57
  • Ultra - Paris Airport Transfer from City Centre to Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG: $94
  • Transfert from Paris To Airport Roissy Charles De Gaulle: $120
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Paris City to Paris Orly Airport: $44
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Paris City to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: $46
  • Transfer from Paris to Geneva or from Geneva to Paris: $1,431
  • Transfer from Paris to Beauvais Airport: $112
  • Transfer from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris - ROUND TRIP: $189
  • Transfer from Paris (any hotel) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: $96

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Paris?

Prices for flights to both Paris 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Saint Petersburg $21
    Paris $44
Typical Food prices in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $5.32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Enjoy Russian Delicacies in St Petersburg: Cooking Demo and Meal with a Local: $80
  • Private Dining: Russian dinner in a traditional St. Petersburg apartment: $91
  • Cooking Class and a Dinner with a Local Family (8 people max): $92
  • Off-the-tourist Path Food Tour: $103
  • Local Market Tour and Cooking Demo with a Homemade Russian Meal in St Petersburg: $107
  • Borscht and cabbage pie cooking class and dinner for small private groups: $109
  • FOOD TOUR. St.Petersburg: $150
  • Private Cooking Class: Learn the secrets of Borsch and Beef Stroganoff: $166
  • Private Cooking Class: Russian Blini with Red Caviar and Shchi soup: $179
  • Private Cooking Class: Russian Shchi soup and Blini with Red Caviar: $187
  • Private Cooking Class: Hands-on Siberian Pelmeni Making Workshop: $188
  • Private Cooking Class: Siberian Pelmeni, Stolichny salad and Borsch: $212

Typical Food prices in Paris

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:


  • Ice Cream
    $8.58
  • Breakfast
    $7.51
  • Breakfast for 2
    $32
  • Dinner on River Cruise
    $92
  • Dinner
    $61
  • Cheese
    $14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris

For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Paris en Scene Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $49
  • Paris River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $60
  • Italian dinner on the river Seine: $61
  • Seine River Cruise with French Dinner on Champs-Elysees Avenue: $61
  • Seine River Cruise & Dinner on Champs Elysées Avenue: $62
  • Choux cooking class for kids in Paris: $62
  • Capitaine Fracasse Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $67
  • Paris Small-Group Gourmet Food Tour With Optional Lunch and Wine Tasting: $75
  • Bistro Parisien Dinner and Seine River Sightseeing Cruise Combination: $75
  • NO DIET CLUB - Unique Bike and Food tour in Paris !: $75
  • Romantic Cruise with 3-course Dinner on Seine River: $76
  • Fondue Cooking Party - Winter is Coming: $78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $21
    Paris $83

Tours and Activities in Saint Petersburg

For Saint Petersburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1-Day Visa-Free Tour in St Petersburg with Faberge Collection: $265
  • 1-day private Visa-Free tour in St Petersburg with Peterhof: $257
  • 1.5-Hours Saint Petersburg's Metro Tour Hidden Treasures: $25
  • 2-Day Small-Group Visa-Free Tour - Top Highlights of St Petersburg: $20
  • 3 Hour Photo Shoot Tours St. Petersburg, Russia: $564
  • Basic 2-day tour in St Petersburg for cruise passengers: $425
  • Catherine Palace and Park: Private tour to Tsarskoe Selo: $120
  • Classic 2 Day Tour of St Petersburg Russia.No hidden costs.9 years of experience: $349
  • Daily Canon Shot at Peter and Paul Fortress + Museum of Revolution Private Tour: $162
  • Essential 2-Day Visa-Free Tour for Cruise Ships in St Petersburg: $465
  • Evening River and Canal Cruise Visas Included: $86
  • Guided Tour Peter and Paul Fortress, Cathedral and Prison: $56

Typical Entertainment prices in Paris

For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Louvre Entry for Two
    $19
  • Admission to Pantheon
    $5.37
  • Catacombs (2)
    $25

Tours and Activities in Paris

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.

  • 1 Day Private Walking Tour Of Montmartre, Latin Quarter, Champs Élysées: $180
  • 1 Day in Eiffel Tower, Cruise, City Tour, and Louvre: $139
  • 1 Hour Real time Virtual Tour in Paris: $150
  • 1 hour Sainte Chapelle- skip the line access - English or Español: $51
  • 14-day Taste of Europe Tour: France, Italy, Monaco,Switzerland,Germany and more.: $1,565
  • 15+ Top Sights Paris Tour with Fun Guide: $52
  • 180° Paris by Night Tour: Exclusively for You & Your Group: $54
  • 1:30 hours tour of Louvre museum: $261
  • 1st Day in Paris Discovery Private Tour: 'How-to' Orientation & Sightseeing Fun!: $63
  • 2 Hours Paris city center walking tour: $16
  • 2 Hours Photoshoot tours at the Eiffel tower, Trocadero, Champs de Mars and more: $423
  • 2-Day Loire Valley Castles Tour from Paris: $521

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $11
    Paris $26

Typical Alcohol prices in Paris

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:


  • Wine
    $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Paris

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:

  • Pub Crawl in Latin Quarter: $37
  • Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris: $40
  • Guided tour and wine tasting in a historic cellar in the center of Paris: $41
  • Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex: $47
  • Organic wine tasting in Paris: $56
  • Wine Tasting In Paris: $83
  • Paris Art of Pairing Cheese and Wine Tasting in a Cheese Cellar: $87
  • Paris Wine Tasting Session with Expert Sommelier: $89
  • Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $97
  • Paris Wine Tasting plus Cheese & Cured Meat Lunch with an Expert Sommelier Guide: $97
  • Paris Evening Wine Tour and Tasting: $112
  • Montmartre Hill Sweet & Savory French Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $112

About these numbers

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


When is the best time to visit Saint Petersburg or Paris?

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 Paris in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Paris. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paris this time of year.

In July, Saint Petersburg is generally cooler than Paris. Temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 18°C (64°F), and Paris stays around 20°C (68°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Paris this time of the year. In Saint Petersburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than Paris during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 241 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Paris. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Paris receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Saint Petersburg 18°C (64°F) 
    Paris 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Paris in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Paris. Also, many travelers come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Saint Petersburg is much colder than Paris in the autumn. The temperature in Saint Petersburg is usually 6°C (42°F) in October, and Paris stays around 13°C (56°F).

In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Paris. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 127 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in October than Paris. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Saint Petersburg 6°C (42°F) 
    Paris 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Paris in the Winter?

Both Paris and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Paris in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Paris can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Petersburg. In the winter, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Paris. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Petersburg in January are around -8°C (18°F), and Paris is about 5°C (40°F).

Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Paris during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Paris receives 62 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Paris. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Paris receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Saint Petersburg -8°C (18°F) 
    Paris 5°C (40°F)

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Paris in the Spring?

Both Paris and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.

Saint Petersburg can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Paris. Temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 4°C (40°F), and Paris stays around 11°C (52°F).

In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Paris. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Paris receives 172 hours of full sun.

Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Paris. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Paris receives 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Saint Petersburg 4°C (40°F) 
    Paris 11°C (52°F)

Typical Weather for Paris and Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg Paris
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -8°C (18°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 5°C (40°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 6°C (42°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Mar -2°C (28°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 8°C (47°F) 52 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 4°C (40°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 50 mm (1.9 in)
May 11°C (52°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 16°C (60°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 18°C (64°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Jul 18°C (64°F) 77 mm (3 in) 20°C (68°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Aug 16°C (62°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 20°C (67°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Sep 11°C (52°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 53 mm (2.1 in)
Oct 6°C (42°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 13°C (56°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Nov 0°C (32°F) 54 mm (2.1 in) 8°C (47°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Dec -5°C (24°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 5°C (42°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)


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Saint Petersburg vs. Paris Travel Comparison

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