Which place is cheaper, San Francisco or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or San Francisco? 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.
San Francisco is a beautiful city that is famous for it's picturesque neighborhoods, liberal character, and stunning location on the bay. Some people describe San Francisco as the United State's most "European City." This title most likely comes from its compact development and its easy walkability. It also has no shortage of parks and public spaces where you can pass some time. The city sits on the end of a peninsula and offers stunning views of the blue bay, rolling green hills, and the striking Golden Gate Bridge.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in 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 $64, while the average daily cost in San Francisco is $222. 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 San Francisco in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or San Francisco? 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:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in San Francisco:
Also for San Francisco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both San Francisco 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 San Francisco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Francisco.
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Museums in San Francisco, The Best Outdoor Activities in San Francisco, and Things to Do In San Francisco on a Rainy Day.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in San Francisco:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and San Francisco, we can see that San Francisco 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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Francisco 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 San Francisco Expensive?.
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of San Francisco. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and San Francisco, 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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and San Francisco. Furthermore, many visitors come to San Francisco in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Saint Petersburg is around the same temperature as San Francisco. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Petersburg in July average around 18°C (64°F), and San Francisco averages at about 63°F (17°C).
In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than San Francisco. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 0.1 inches (2 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as San Francisco. Additionally, most visitors come to San Francisco for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than San Francisco. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around 6°C (42°F), and San Francisco fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in October than San Francisco. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Francisco and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Francisco because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Saint Petersburg can be very cold during winter. Saint Petersburg is much colder than San Francisco in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around -8°C (18°F) in January, and San Francisco fluctuates around 50°F (10°C).
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than San Francisco. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both San Francisco and Saint Petersburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to San Francisco this time of year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. In the spring, Saint Petersburg is much colder than San Francisco. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Petersburg in April average around 4°C (40°F), and San Francisco averages at about 58°F (14°C).
Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as San Francisco. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while San Francisco receives 1.2 inches (31 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Saint Petersburg | San Francisco | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 50°F (10°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 56°F (13°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 60°F (15°C) | 0.2 inches (5 mm) |
Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.1 inches (1 mm) |
Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 66°F (19°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |