Which place is cheaper, Gothenburg or Rovaniemi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Rovaniemi or Gothenburg?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rovaniemi and Gothenburg. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Rovaniemi or Gothenburg?
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.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden.
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Rovaniemi Prices
Finland PricesGothenburg Prices
Sweden Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRovaniemi €208Gothenburg €123
The average daily cost (per person) in Rovaniemi is €208, while the average daily cost in Gothenburg is €123. 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 Rovaniemi and Gothenburg in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRovaniemi €93Gothenburg €39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRovaniemi €186Gothenburg €78
Compare Hotels in Rovaniemi and Gothenburg
Looking for a hotel in Rovaniemi or Gothenburg? 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: Rovaniemi Hotel Prices and Gothenburg Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Rovaniemi €31Gothenburg €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rovaniemi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rovaniemi:
- VIP Private Transfer in Rovaniemi : $256
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi city centre to Rovaniemi airport: $95
- Rovaniemi Private Transfer from Rovaniemi (RVN) Airport to City centre: $95
- Rovaniemi Northern Light Hunt with Campfire and BBQ with Transfer: $106
- Ranua Arctic Zoo Transfer in Lapland: $79
- Private Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport RVN to Rovaniemi: $77
- Private Transfer Rovaniemi - Levi: $117
- Private Transfer Between Rovaniemi Airport and City Centre: $102
- Private Departure Transfer from Rovaniemi: $71
- Private Arrival Transfer from Rovaniemi Airport or Train Station: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $17
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $17
- Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $71
- Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $74
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $80
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $108
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $108
- Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $115
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $128
- Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $132
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $162
Is it cheaper to fly into Rovaniemi or Gothenburg?
Prices for flights to both Gothenburg and Rovaniemi 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 dayRovaniemi €82Gothenburg €65
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rovaniemi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rovaniemi.
- Traditional Northern Light Dinner in the Lappish Hut: $105
- Insider Guided Food Tour With 5 Tastings: $142
- Lappish Cooking Master Class: $161
- Traditional Lappish evening in the wilderness with dinner: $184
- Dinner with Northern Light hunt in Rovaniemi : $226
- Sauna, Jacuzzi, and 3 Course Dinner at Kota Restaurant Autumn: $231
- Ice Sculpting and Dinner at Kota Restaurant : $246
- Lapland Cooking Workshop: $262
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Rovaniemi €48Gothenburg €15
Tours and Activities in Rovaniemi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Rovaniemi are as follows:
- Arctic Polar Bear Adventure Afternoon Trip: $130
- 3Km Husky Tour & Kennel Visit: Running with the Pack in Autumn : $156
- 5km Husky Passenger Sled Ride Experience: $238
- 7km Self Driven Husky Sled Adventure in Rovaniemi: $262
- ATV and Ice Fishing Experience in Rovaniemi: $261
- Adventurer's Snowmobile Tour 4h: $213
- Apukka Husky Adventure in Rovaniemi: $249
- Arctic Adventure through Magical Frozen Forests of Riisitunturi: $226
- Arctic Animals Combo Safari, Reindeer and Husky Adventure: $213
- Arctic Circle A Full Day Tour: $213
- Arctic Ice Floating Experience in Rovaniemi: $155
- Arctic Lakeside Fishing Experience - Rovaniemi: $94
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Self Guided Tour in Gothenburg: $3.58
- Eila's Time Travels: A Lycksele Family Walking Tour Game: $8.59
- Headless Horseman in Self-Guided Ghost Tour Game: $8.63
- Alfie Atkins Cultural Centre Admission Ticket: $15
- Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
- Gothenburg Old Town Sightseeing Tour: $16
- World of Volvo Exhibition Entry Ticket: $19
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $24
- Gothenburg Universeum Ticket - Aquarium, Science, Wildlife, Zoo: $25
- City Canal Sightseeing Cruise: $28
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $36
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $36
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRovaniemi €21Gothenburg €20
Sample the Local Flavors in Gothenburg
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gothenburg:
- Guided Brewery Tour on Bicycle: $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rovaniemi and Gothenburg, we can see that Rovaniemi is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Rovaniemi Expensive? and Is Gothenburg Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Rovaniemi or Gothenburg?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Rovaniemi. When comparing the sizes of Rovaniemi and Gothenburg, 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 Rovaniemi or Gothenburg?
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 Rovaniemi or Gothenburg in the Summer?
Both Gothenburg and Rovaniemi during the summer are popular places to visit.
Rovaniemi is around the same temperature as Gothenburg in the summer. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around 15°C (60°F) in July, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Rovaniemi. In the summer, Rovaniemi often gets more sunshine than Gothenburg. Rovaniemi gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 243 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in July than Gothenburg. Rovaniemi gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyRovaniemi 15°C (60°F)Gothenburg 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gothenburg in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Rovaniemi and Gothenburg.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Rovaniemi. In the autumn, Rovaniemi is much colder than Gothenburg. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rovaniemi in October average around 2°C (36°F), and Gothenburg averages at about 9°C (47°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives less sunshine than Gothenburg during autumn. Rovaniemi gets 82 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 94 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Rovaniemi gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberRovaniemi 2°C (36°F)Gothenburg 9°C (47°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gothenburg in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Rovaniemi as well as Gothenburg.
Gothenburg can be very cold during winter. Rovaniemi can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Rovaniemi is generally much colder than Gothenburg. Daily temperatures in Rovaniemi average around -12°C (10°F), and Gothenburg fluctuates around -2°C (29°F).
In the winter, Rovaniemi often gets less sunshine than Gothenburg. Rovaniemi gets 19 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gothenburg receives 40 hours of full sun.
Rovaniemi usually gets less rain in January than Gothenburg. Rovaniemi gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryRovaniemi -12°C (10°F)Gothenburg -2°C (29°F)
Should I visit Rovaniemi or Gothenburg in the Spring?
Both Gothenburg and Rovaniemi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
Rovaniemi can be very cold during spring. Rovaniemi is much colder than Gothenburg in the spring. The daily temperature in Rovaniemi averages around -1°C (31°F) in April, and Gothenburg fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
Rovaniemi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Gothenburg during spring. Rovaniemi gets 194 hours of sunny skies, while Gothenburg receives 182 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Rovaniemi usually receives less rain than Gothenburg. Rovaniemi gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Gothenburg receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilRovaniemi -1°C (31°F)Gothenburg 5°C (41°F)
Typical Weather for Gothenburg and Rovaniemi
| Rovaniemi | Gothenburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -12°C (10°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | -12°C (11°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | -7°C (19°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | -1°C (31°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 13°C (55°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Aug | 13°C (56°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Sep | 8°C (46°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 2°C (36°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | -4°C (24°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | -10°C (15°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 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.