Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or San Sebastian? 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 Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is $96. 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 Sebastian in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or San Sebastian? 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:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian 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:
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and San Sebastian, we can see that San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Sebastian 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 Sebastian Expensive?.
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Sebastian. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and San Sebastian, 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 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.
The summer brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as San Sebastian. Also, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Saint Petersburg is cooler than San Sebastian in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Petersburg this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Petersburg often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Sebastian. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Sebastian and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than San Sebastian. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 16°C (60°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. In October, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both San Sebastian and Saint Petersburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Saint Petersburg can be very cold during winter. In January, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around -8°C (18°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than San Sebastian. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and San Sebastian. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than San Sebastian in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Saint Petersburg usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Saint Petersburg | San Sebastian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |