Which place is cheaper, Vienna or Saint Petersburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Vienna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Vienna? 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 Vienna?
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.
Vienna
Vienna is the largest city and capital of Austria. It has a population of over 1.7 million and is a cultural, political and economic center for the country. The historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and some complain that it feels more like a museum than a real city. Outside of the historical center though, is a young and vibrant city with a huge music scene, many street performers, and eclectic and fun restaurants and nightclubs.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Austria, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Austria.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaint Petersburg $63Vienna $162
The average daily cost (per person) in Saint Petersburg is $63, while the average daily cost in Vienna is $162. 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 Vienna in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaint Petersburg $36Vienna $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaint Petersburg $72Vienna $200
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Vienna
Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Vienna? 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: Vienna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saint Petersburg $7.29Vienna $20
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 Vienna
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Vienna:
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Bus to Airport$32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vienna
Also for Vienna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zoo with Private Flexible Transfers and Tickets: $122
- Zoo with Private Flexible Transfers and Tickets: $125
- Private One-Way Transfer to Cesky Krumlov: $629
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Vienna Airport: $75
- Melk Abbey and Salzburg Trip with Private Transfer: $922
- Airport Transfer to/from Bratislava: $86
- Vienna to Prague - Private Transfer with 2 hours of Sightseeing: $273
- Vienna Private Transfer from Vienna city centre to Vienna Airport: $76
- Vienna Private Transfer from Vienna Airport to City centre: $76
- Vienna Private Airport Transfer: $71
- Vienna International Airport Business Transfer to Vienna City: $141
- Vienna International Airport (VIE) to Vienna Downtown - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Vienna?
Prices for flights to both Vienna 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 $18Vienna $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vienna
For Vienna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $28
- Performance Of The Lipizzans At Spanish Riding School: $43
- Naschmarkt Food Tour: $64
- Vienna Naschmarket Food Tour: $65
- Traditional Vienna Tasting Dinner With Folk Music: $68
- Traditional Vienna Tasting Dinner with Folk Music: $70
- Naschmarkt Guided Food Tour: $74
- Vienna Evening Sightseeing Cruise With Music and Dinner: $74
- 3-Course Evening Dinner Cruise: $76
- Traditional Dinner Show at the Wiener Rathauskeller: $84
- Kursalon New Year's Day Concert with optional Dinner: $87
- Schnitzel cooking class with Nicole: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saint Petersburg $18Vienna $41
Tours and Activities in Vienna
For Vienna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private themed Tour of the Art History Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum):"The Saviour, the Ruler, and Simply a Beauty: Women in Art": $164
- "Girls just want to have Wine" - TUK TUK Sightseeing Tour: $152
- "The Third Man" Film Location Tour: $28
- 2 Hours Private Walking Tour in Vienna with Photography: $98
- 2-Hour Alpine Private Hiking Tour along Luckerte Wand Mountain from Vienna: $168
- 2-Hour Private Hiking Tour Helenental Castles Hike from Vienna: $168
- 2-Hour Private Hiking Tour to Meet History at Braunsberg Mountain from Vienna: $168
- 2-hour Private Alpine Hiking Tour on Seekopf Mountain, Wachau Valley from Vienna: $168
- 3 hour private walking tour - Vienna: $138
- 3-Hour Private Hiking Tour to historic places around Spitz in Wachau Valley: $252
- 3-Hour Private Tour of Vienna: $164
- 3-Hour Walking Tour of Vienna Central Cemetery: $320
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaint Petersburg $9.68Vienna $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Vienna
Also in Vienna, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Vienna: $16
- Vienna Nights Pub Crawl: $16
- City Center Pub Crawl: $27
- Local Pub Crawl Vienna: $27
- Wine Tasting at Traditional Cellar: $34
- Guided Wine Tasting in a Private Wine Cellar: $39
- Viennese Wine Tasting in a Private Hidden Wine Cellar: $39
- Wine Tasting at Schönbrunn Palace: $48
- Austrian Wine Tasting Experience: $63
- Vienna Historical Highlight City Tour + Wine Tasting: $74
- Skip-the-Line Schönbrunn Palace Entry & Wine Tasting: $82
- Wine Tasting E-Bike Tour: $91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Petersburg and Vienna, we can see that Vienna 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 Vienna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vienna 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 Vienna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Vienna?
Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Vienna. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Vienna, 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 Vienna?
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 Vienna in the Summer?
Both Vienna and Saint Petersburg are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Vienna in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences.
Saint Petersburg is cooler than Vienna in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 18°C (64°F) in July, and Vienna fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Vienna. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vienna during summer. Saint Petersburg gets 267 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 255 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Saint Petersburg usually receives more rain than Vienna. Saint Petersburg gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySaint Petersburg 18°C (64°F)Vienna 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Vienna in the Autumn?
Both Vienna and Saint Petersburg during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Vienna for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg is much colder than Vienna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Petersburg in October average around 6°C (42°F), and Vienna averages at about 12°C (54°F).
In the autumn, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Vienna. Saint Petersburg gets 70 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 140 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets more rain in October than Vienna. Saint Petersburg gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSaint Petersburg 6°C (42°F)Vienna 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Vienna in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Petersburg and Vienna. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Vienna because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Vienna can be very cold. Saint Petersburg can be very cold during winter. In January, Saint Petersburg is generally much colder than Vienna. Daily temperatures in Saint Petersburg average around -8°C (18°F), and Vienna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Saint Petersburg usually receives less sunshine than Vienna during winter. Saint Petersburg gets 22 hours of sunny skies, while Vienna receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Saint Petersburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Vienna. Saint Petersburg gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySaint Petersburg -8°C (18°F)Vienna 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Vienna in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Saint Petersburg as well as Vienna. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Vienna this time of year.
The weather in Saint Petersburg can be very cold. Saint Petersburg is much colder than Vienna in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Petersburg averages around 4°C (40°F) in April, and Vienna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vienna. In the spring, Saint Petersburg often gets less sunshine than Vienna. Saint Petersburg gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vienna receives 202 hours of full sun.
Saint Petersburg usually gets less rain in April than Vienna. Saint Petersburg gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Vienna receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSaint Petersburg 4°C (40°F)Vienna 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Vienna and Saint Petersburg
| Saint Petersburg | Vienna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -8°C (18°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | -2°C (28°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 4°C (40°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (60°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (62°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 11°C (52°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (42°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Dec | -5°C (24°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.