Which place is cheaper, Rovaniemi or Tampere?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tampere or Rovaniemi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tampere and Rovaniemi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tampere or Rovaniemi?
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It sits between Nasijarvi Lake and Pyhajarvi Lake, with the Tammerkoski rapids in between. It is one of the larger Finnish cities, with more than 200,000 inhabitants, but Tampere has managed to keep the small town feel. The city center is compact in size, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. The city is located on a scenic spot on a narrow isthmus. The Tammerkoski rapids and their riverbanks form the backdrop for the old industrial buildings, and ridges formed thousands of years ago by ancient seas and retreating ice offer fantastic views over the two lakes. Original architecture and innovative urban development blend together to please both viewers and users of the built environment. Enjoy the surrounding lakes on peaceful rowboat trips or on cruises on larger vessels, or concentrate on the urban sights from a sightseeing bus. Regenerated industrial buildings now house quirky museums, enticing shops, pubs, cinemas and cafes. Tampere has a down-to-earth vitality that makes it a favorite for many visitors.
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it's a modern city known for being the "official" home town of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It's home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Helsinki, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTampere €148Rovaniemi €174
The average daily cost (per person) in Tampere is €148, while the average daily cost in Rovaniemi is €174. 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 Tampere and Rovaniemi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTampere €80Rovaniemi €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTampere €160Rovaniemi €186
Compare Hotels in Tampere and Rovaniemi
Looking for a hotel in Tampere or Rovaniemi? 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: Tampere Hotel Prices and Rovaniemi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tampere €59Rovaniemi €31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampere
Also for Tampere, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tampere Private Transfer from Tampere city centre to Tampere airport: $87
- Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport: $1,572
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- Transfer from Rovaniemi to Helsinki: $1,918
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Ivalo by private van: $863
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Kakslautanen by private van: $766
- Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi by private van: $576
- From Return Transfer to Ranua Zoo by Private Van: $384
- VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $163
- Airport Rovaniemi Transfer by Private Van: $114
- Private Transfer Kiruna - Tromso: $107
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kiruna: $107
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Kirkenes: $96
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Helsinki: $96
Is it cheaper to fly into Tampere or Rovaniemi?
Prices for flights to both Rovaniemi and Tampere 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 dayTampere €33Rovaniemi €47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
- Snow Restaurant Dinner Tour: $115
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $133
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $147
- From SnowHotel Aurora Experience with Dinner: $148
- Best Of Lapland: Sauna, Ice swimming, Dinner & Northern Lights : $168
- Private Sauna, Jacuzzi and Dinner: $176
- Northern Lights dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- Aurora Borealis Dinner in a Glass Igloo: $234
- PRIVATE Party dinner in a Glass Igloo Under Northern Lights : $239
- PRIVATE Glass Igloo Dinner Under Northern Lights : $239
- Private Glass Igloo Dinner on the Shore of Frozen Lake: $244
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tampere €24Rovaniemi €48
Tours and Activities in Tampere
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tampere.
- Unique Corners of Tampere - Walking Tour: $179
- Unique Corners of Tampere - Walking Tour: $521
- Enchanting Tampere Romantic Walking Tour: $656
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Adventure in Rovaniemi: $106
- 1-Hour Snowmobile Safari Experience : $97
- 5-Hour Tour to Ranua Zoo: $119
- All Day Canoe Adventure to Rovaniemi: $206
- Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $190
- Arctic Polar Bear Adventure with Lunch in Rovaniemi!: $140
- Arctic Reindeer Farm & Husky Safari + Aurora BBQ Tour!: $216
- Aurora Hunting Guarantee Tour with Photography: $270
- Aurora Hunting Photo Tour from Rovaniemi with Pickup: $110
- Aurora Hunting Pro Tour: $205
- Aurora Hunting Pro Tour With Photography: $212
- Aurora Magic Cabin Overnight Experience: $959
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTampere €10Rovaniemi €21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampere and Rovaniemi, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Tampere much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tampere would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tampere 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 Rovaniemi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rovaniemi than you might in Tampere.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tampere Expensive? and Is Rovaniemi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tampere or Rovaniemi?
Tampere has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Tampere and Rovaniemi, 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 Tampere or Rovaniemi?
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.
Should I visit Tampere or Rovaniemi in the Summer?
Both Rovaniemi and Tampere during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Tampere is around the same temperature as Rovaniemi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tampere in July average around 16°C (61°F), and Rovaniemi averages at about 15°C (60°F).
In Rovaniemi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tampere. In the summer, Tampere often gets less sunshine than Rovaniemi. Tampere gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rovaniemi receives 304 hours of full sun.
Tampere usually gets more rain in July than Rovaniemi. Tampere gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTampere 16°C (61°F)Rovaniemi 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Tampere or Rovaniemi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampere and Rovaniemi.
The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. In October, Tampere is generally much warmer than Rovaniemi. Daily temperatures in Tampere average around 5°C (42°F), and Rovaniemi fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Tampere usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rovaniemi during autumn. Tampere gets 81 hours of sunny skies, while Rovaniemi receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Tampere usually receives less rain than Rovaniemi. Tampere gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberTampere 5°C (42°F)Rovaniemi 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Tampere or Rovaniemi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Tampere as well as Rovaniemi.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the winter. The weather in Tampere can be very cold. Tampere is much warmer than Rovaniemi in the winter. The daily temperature in Tampere averages around -7°C (19°F) in January, and Rovaniemi fluctuates around -12°C (10°F).
In the winter, Tampere often gets more sunshine than Rovaniemi. Tampere gets 37 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rovaniemi receives 19 hours of full sun.
Tampere usually gets less rain in January than Rovaniemi. Tampere gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryTampere -7°C (19°F)Rovaniemi -12°C (10°F)
Should I visit Tampere or Rovaniemi in the Spring?
Both Rovaniemi and Tampere are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Rovaniemi. It's quite cold in Tampere in the spring. In the spring, Tampere is much warmer than Rovaniemi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tampere in April average around 3°C (38°F), and Rovaniemi averages at about -1°C (31°F).
Tampere usually receives less sunshine than Rovaniemi during spring. Tampere gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Rovaniemi receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Tampere usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rovaniemi. Tampere gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilTampere 3°C (38°F)Rovaniemi -1°C (31°F)
Typical Weather for Rovaniemi and Tampere
| Tampere | Rovaniemi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -7°C (19°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (19°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (38°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (58°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (50°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 5°C (42°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 0°C (32°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (24°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | -10°C (15°F) | 42 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.