Which place is cheaper, Rovaniemi or Turku?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Turku or Rovaniemi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Rovaniemi, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Turku or Rovaniemi?
Turku
Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Finland, The Best Adventure Tours to Finland, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Finland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Finland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTurku €136Rovaniemi €174
The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €136, 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 Turku and Rovaniemi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTurku €76Rovaniemi €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTurku €152Rovaniemi €186
Compare Hotels in Turku and Rovaniemi
Looking for a hotel in Turku 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: Turku Hotel Prices and Rovaniemi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Turku €44Rovaniemi €31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku
Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $73
- Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $73
- One-Way Helicopter Transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $2,104
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 Turku or Rovaniemi?
Prices for flights to both Rovaniemi and Turku 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 dayTurku €32Rovaniemi €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.Turku €22Rovaniemi €48
Tours and Activities in Turku
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $131
- Turku Archipelago: Sea Kayaking Day Tour: $132
- Archipelago tour with Soling sailboat: $309
- Inspiring Turku - Walking Tour: $521
- Turku Enchanting Romantic Walking Tour: $656
- Turku Christmas Delights Walking Tour: $763
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 dayTurku €12Rovaniemi €21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Rovaniemi, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Turku much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Turku would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Turku 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 Turku.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Turku Expensive? and Is Rovaniemi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Turku or Rovaniemi?
Turku has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Turku 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 Turku 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 Turku or Rovaniemi in the Summer?
Both Rovaniemi and Turku during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Turku is around the same temperature as Rovaniemi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Turku 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 Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets less sunshine than Rovaniemi. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rovaniemi receives 304 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets more rain in July than Rovaniemi. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Rovaniemi receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyTurku 16°C (61°F)Rovaniemi 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Turku or Rovaniemi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Rovaniemi.
Rovaniemi can be very cold during autumn. In October, Turku is generally much warmer than Rovaniemi. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 6°C (43°F), and Rovaniemi fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
Turku usually receives more sunshine than Rovaniemi during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Rovaniemi receives 82 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Turku usually receives around the same amount of rain as Rovaniemi. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 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 OctoberTurku 6°C (43°F)Rovaniemi 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Turku or Rovaniemi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Turku as well as Rovaniemi.
The weather in Rovaniemi can be very cold. Turku can be very cold during winter. Turku is much warmer than Rovaniemi in the winter. The daily temperature in Turku averages around -6°C (20°F) in January, and Rovaniemi fluctuates around -12°C (10°F).
In the winter, Turku often gets more sunshine than Rovaniemi. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rovaniemi receives 19 hours of full sun.
Turku usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Rovaniemi. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 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 JanuaryTurku -6°C (20°F)Rovaniemi -12°C (10°F)
Should I visit Turku or Rovaniemi in the Spring?
Both Rovaniemi and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
It's quite cold in Rovaniemi in the spring. The weather in Turku can be very cold. In the spring, Turku is much warmer than Rovaniemi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Turku in April average around 3°C (37°F), and Rovaniemi averages at about -1°C (31°F).
Turku usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rovaniemi during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Rovaniemi receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Turku usually receives more rain than Rovaniemi. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 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 AprilTurku 3°C (37°F)Rovaniemi -1°C (31°F)
Typical Weather for Rovaniemi and Turku
| Turku | Rovaniemi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -6°C (20°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | -3°C (27°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 3°C (37°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 9°C (49°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jun | 14°C (58°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 15°C (59°F) | 83 mm (3.2 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Sep | 10°C (51°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 6°C (43°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 1°C (33°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | -4°C (25°F) | 57 mm (2.3 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.