Should you visit Sochi or Moscow?
Should I visit Sochi or Moscow? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Sochi
Located on the coast of the Black Sea, Sochi is one of the southernmost major cities in Russia. It is especially busy in the summer when native Russians and international visitors alike come to enjoy the mountainous coastline and sunny beaches. Sochi is also known as the host of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, and many of the Olympic venues can still be visited today.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.
Which city is cheaper, Moscow or Sochi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sochi is $61, while the average daily cost in Moscow 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Sochi and Moscow in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $15. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sochi the cost is $30 on average.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Moscow, $80 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Moscow, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $40, such as in a hostel.
Food
The average traveler spends about $18 per day in Sochi for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
On average, meal and food prices in Moscow cost around $14 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.60.
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Food
Meals for one day
Sochi $18
Moscow $14
Typical Food prices in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Virtual Home Cooking with Russian Family:
$22
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Moscow Food Tour:
$67
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An evening at the monastery with dinner:
$80
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Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in Moscow with a Friendly Local:
$91
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Private Market Tour and Traditional Russian Cooking Class in Moscow:
$101
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Food Tour:
$102
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Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in a Local Home in Moscow:
$117
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Moscow Metro and Russian Dinner Private tour:
$127
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Moscow River Cruise with Dinner and Lively Firework with a Private Guide:
$133
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Private food tour: Russian culinary culture:
$144
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Moscow Yummy Food tour:
$160
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Red Square and River Cruise with Dinner Private Tour:
$167
Local Transportation
To get around in Moscow, the average visitor spends $6.19 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sochi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sochi:
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Sochi, Russia Private & Secure Airport Transfers to/from AER Airport & Sochi:
$132
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Private Sochi International Airport AER - Sochi City Round-Trip Transfer:
$55
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Private Arrival Transfer from Sochi International Airport AER to Sochi City Center:
$28
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Private Airport Transfer: from Sochi to Sochi International Airport (AER):
$23
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Departure Private Transfer from Sochi City to Sochi Airport AER by Minivan:
$52
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Departure Private Transfer from Sochi City to Sochi Airport AER by Business Car:
$52
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Airport transfer:
$66
Typical Local Transportation prices in Moscow
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Moscow are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow
Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Domodedovo DME to Moscow City by Luxury Car:
$124
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Domodedovo DME to Moscow by Luxury Van:
$53
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Train Station to Moscow City by Luxury Van:
$87
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Vnukovo Airport VKO to Moscow City by Luxury Van:
$54
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Arrival Private Transfer Moscow Vnukovo VKO Airport to Moscow by Luxury Car:
$109
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Domodedovo DME by Luxury Car:
$123
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Domodedovo DME by Luxury Van:
$59
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow SVO Airport by Luxury Van:
$54
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Business Car:
$38
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Luxury Car:
$87
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Luxury Van:
$87
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Departure Private Transfer Moscow SVO Airport to Moscow City by Luxury Car:
$110
Is it cheaper to fly into Sochi or Moscow?
Prices for flights to both Moscow and Sochi 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.
Entertainment
Sochi's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $114 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Moscow, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Sochi
Here are a few actual costs in Sochi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Agura Canyon and Waterfalls Private Trekking Tour from Sochi:
$225
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Discover Olympic Sochi and Enjoy Scenic Mountainous Views on Private Tour:
$406
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Discover the Highlights of Sochi and its Best Bird's-eye View on Private Tour:
$193
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Discover the secrets of Sochi on the shore Excursion Private Tour:
$330
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Highlights of Sochi Private Tour: Dacha of J.Stalin and Mount Akhun Views:
$330
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Magic Christmas Tour in Sochi:
$764
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Nightlife in Sochi - Private tour. Meet a Sunset at the Akhun Mountain:
$330
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Olympic Sochi and Krasnaya Polyana Private Tour:
$177
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Private Tour: Discover Sochi on a Private Stroll:
$93
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Romantic tour in Kizhi Island:
$496
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Romantic tour in Sochi:
$496
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Sightseeing tour in Sochi:
$509
Typical Entertainment prices in Moscow
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Theater Tickets
$16
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Kremlin Entry (2)
$14
Tours and Activities in Moscow
For Moscow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Moscow classical tour:
$6.38
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Admission ticket to Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve:
$7.02
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Tsaritsyno Museum entrance ticket:
$8.14
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Admission ticket to the The Museum of Cosmonautics:
$11
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The Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center Admission Ticket:
$12
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Admission ticket to the State Museum of GULAG's History, Moscow:
$13
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The Museum of Victory Admission Ticket:
$13
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Admission ticket to the Tochka-G Museum of Erotic Art, Moscow:
$14
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Admission ticket to Gallery of the European and American XIX-XX centuries art:
$14
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Tretyakov Gallery Admission Ticket:
$16
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Admission ticket to the New Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow:
$17
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1-hour scenic Moscow River Cruise:
$18
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Moscow spend on average $7.95 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Moscow
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Moscow:
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Pub Crawl Moscow Guided Tour in Classic Soviet Van:
$79
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Private Wine Tour in Moscow with History, Architecture and Friendly Local Guide:
$121
When comparing the travel costs between Sochi and Moscow, we can see that Moscow 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. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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