Which place is cheaper, Rome or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Rome?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rome? 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 Rome?
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.
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
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 $63Rome $184
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Rome is $184. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Rome $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Rome $192
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Rome? 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: Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Rome $23
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 Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.17
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Train to the Airport$16
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Taxi to Airport$49
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- private transfer from Rome to Fiumicino airport: $54
- Welcome in airport Transfer with welcome box: $88
- Verona Airport (VRN) : One-Way Private Transfer to Ravenna: $703
- VIP Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome or Vice Versa: $51
- VIP Transfer from Civitavecchia Port to Rome or Vice Versa: $109
- VIP Experience Private Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome: $76
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Rome HTL-APT (FCO): $160
- Trieste Port: One-Way Private Transfer to/from Rome Hotels: $2,525
- Transfers from Fiumicino airport: $76
- Transfers from Airports to Rome city or Rome city to Airports: $63
- Transfers From Fiumicino to Terracina: $153
- Transfers Ciampino airport To Rome: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $18Rome $51
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 Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$15
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.24
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Cafe e doce$4.33
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Pizza (Fast Food)$2.87
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$34
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Cheese and bread$11
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Espresso$2.17
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Dinner$63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $15
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $16
- Rome Food Tour with Wine Tasting and Farmers Market in Prati Area: $32
- Food Tour of the Vatican with Farmers Market and Wine Tasting: $32
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Guided Food Tour with Food and Drink Tastings: $32
- Cooking Class with Wine - Become a Roman Master Chef: $36
- Painting & Pizza Party with Unlimited Wine: $40
- Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $41
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Leonardo Da Vini, Wine and Pizza Painting Class: $42
- Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $42
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Rome $39
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$75
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$36
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Roma Pass$32
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$22
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Segway Tour$81
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Appian Way and Aqueducts Electric Bike Tour: $82
- Borghese Gallery Skip-the-Line Ticket & Golf Cart Ride: $56
- Castel Sant Angelo Skip the Line Tickets: $39
- Colosseum Arena Floor Guided Tour with Ancient Rome Access : $195
- Colosseum Arena Floor with Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour: $74
- Colosseum Gladiator Arena Floor Complete Guided Tour : $206
- Colosseum Tour With Kids: $195
- Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill Professional Guided Tour: $161
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour: $184
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Tour Professional Guided Tour : $151
- Cruise into Rome?! Full-Day Rome Discovery from Civitavecchia : $96
- Electric Bike Tour of City Centre with Gelato Highlights of Rome: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Rome $20
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$7.04
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Pint of Beer$6.87
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Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Trionfale and Prati Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $31
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $37
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $52
- Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $52
- Tipsy Tour: Fun Bar Crawl In Rome With Local Guide : $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $53
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $53
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $54
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $67
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Rome?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Rome. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Rome, 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 Rome?
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 Rome in the Summer?
Both Rome and Saint Petersburg during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is cooler than Rome. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Rome averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In Rome, 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 Rome. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in July than Rome. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Rome 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rome in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Rome. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Rome because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Rome. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Rome during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Rome. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Rome 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rome in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Rome. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rome this time of year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Rome in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and Rome fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Rome. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than Rome. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Rome 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Rome in the Spring?
Both Rome and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Rome for 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 Rome. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and Rome averages at about 14°C (57°F).
It's quite sunny in Rome. Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Rome during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than Rome. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Rome 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Rome and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Rome | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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 (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 42 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 94 mm (3.7 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.