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

Should you visit Saint Petersburg or Yangon?

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

Should I visit Saint Petersburg or Yangon? 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 Yangon?

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.

Yangon

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is the largest city and economic center for the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The city is a mix of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences, and is host to beautiful 19th-century colonial architecture as well as modern skyscrapers. The people of Yangon mainly follow the Buddhist religion and it is common to see monks wandering along the busy streets amidst gilded temples.

Which place is cheaper, Yangon or Saint Petersburg?

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 Yangon is $63. 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 Yangon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saint Petersburg $37
    Yangon $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saint Petersburg $74
    Yangon $62
Compare Hotels in Saint Petersburg and Yangon

Looking for a hotel in Saint Petersburg or Yangon? 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 Yangon


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $7.42
    Yangon $2.39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Metro Passes
    $1.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yangon:

  • Private Hotel Transfers to or from YIA Airport: $25
  • Yangon Airport Private Transfer : $27
  • Yangon Airport Private Arrival Transfer : $20
  • Yangon Airport (RGN): Private Transfer to/from Yangon City: $41
  • Private Yangon Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon Airport: $40
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon International Airport (RGN): $23
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Yangon International Airport (RGN) to Hotel: $23
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU) to Hotel: $14
  • Bagan Airport Transfer with Private Car: $13
  • Bagan (Nyaung Oo) Airport Private Transfer : $8.54

Is it cheaper to fly into Saint Petersburg or Yangon?

Prices for flights to both Yangon 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 $19
    Yangon $9.72
Typical Food Prices in Saint Petersburg

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.69

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Yangon.

  • Morning Yangon Food Tour: $24
  • Yangon morning food tour with train ride : $27
  • Yangon Street Food Tours: $28
  • Cooking Myanmar Food and Explore Dala: $46
  • Cooking class in the down town of Yangon, half day tour (07:30 AM - 12:30 PM): $65
  • Half day Cooking Course in Yangon: $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saint Petersburg $18
    Yangon -

Tours and Activities in Yangon

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yangon are as follows:

  • 3-day Yangon Sightseeing & Shopping : $296
  • Adventure Half-day visit in Yangon : $37
  • Adventure Half-day visit in Yangon including Shwedagon Pagoda: $39
  • An Ancient Wonder of Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda 2D1N Tour (The Golden Rock): $256
  • Bagan Cultrue Tour : $50
  • Bagan Sightseeing Tour by Private Guide and Car: $42
  • Bagan Temples Tour by Private car and Tour guide.: $46
  • Bago Full-Day Private Tour from Yangon: $110
  • Bago Full-Day Private Tour from Yangon: $129
  • Bago by Train: Full-day sightseeing tour: $117
  • Best Yangon City Tour with Experience English Speaking Guide: $142
  • Burmese Antiques Heritage Shopping Tour: $87

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saint Petersburg $9.86
    Yangon -


When comparing the travel costs between Saint Petersburg and Yangon, we can see that Saint Petersburg is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Saint Petersburg is in Europe and Yangon is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 Yangon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saint Petersburg or Yangon?

Yangon has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Saint Petersburg. When comparing the sizes of Saint Petersburg and Yangon, 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.