Russia · Visit or make it home

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a city in Russia. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.

Get to know Saint Petersburg

A sense of the place

Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd , and later Leningrad , is the second-largest city in Russia, after Moscow, the nation's capital. Situated on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, its area of 1,439 square kilometers makes it the smallest administrative division of Russia by area. The city had a population of 5,601,911 residents as of 2021, with more than 6.4 million people living in the metropolitan area. Saint Petersburg is the fourth-most populous city in Europe, the most populous city on the Baltic Sea, and the world's northernmost city of more than 1 million residents. As the former capital of the Russian Empire, and a historically strategic Baltic port, it is governed as a federal city. The city was founded by Tsar Peter the Great on 27 May 1703 on the site of a captured Swedish fortress, and was named after the apostle Saint Peter.

Weather through the year

When to visit Saint Petersburg

Temperature

July has the warmest monthly average (18.3°C); January is coolest (-9.1°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.

Rain and outdoor plans

July averages about 98 mm of rain, compared with 41 mm in February. Rainfall alone does not identify a single best month; compare temperatures with the activities you plan.

Planning time outdoors

June, July, August combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.

January, February, March, April, October, November, December have monthly means below 5°C. For a stay then, compare accommodation heating and keep indoor options in your itinerary. These figures do not establish snow cover or ski conditions.

Monthly climate averages — 2001-2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average °C-9.1-8.3-3.53.710.815.018.316.511.64.5-1.4-6.0
Rain, mm494143526990989863736658

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Places around Saint Petersburg

Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.

Botanical garden

Federal Research Center "N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources"

Less than 1 km from the city centre

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Park

Federal Research Center "N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources"

Less than 1 km from the city centre

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Average rent in Saint Petersburg

What is the average rent in Saint Petersburg?

A verified average rent for Saint Petersburg is not available in the evidence shown here. Do not substitute another city’s price or a national estimate. Compare current properties for the same home size and neighbourhood, then include utilities, deposits and daily transport when building a budget for a visit or move.

Average salary in Saint Petersburg

What is the average salary in Saint Petersburg?

777.1 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2021. It describes Russia, not average salary in Saint Petersburg. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2021 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare Saint Petersburg with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

  1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
  2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
  3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Data sources, licences & reuse terms

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

A holiday budget

Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Saint Petersburg, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.

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A relocation budget

Use the planner below to compare housing, daily spending and the cost of your move.

Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.

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Your relocation planning budget

Build a monthly budget for Saint Petersburg in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Enter a housing amount for your chosen home.

Monthly total: Enter all five monthly amounts

First month including move: Enter your moving costs too

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Compare the details

Saint Petersburg at a glance

Russia: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of Saint Petersburg. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

See 10 national indicators

Other places to compare in Russia

What to check before deciding

Comparable figures are not available here for: Monthly rent, 1-bedroom, city centre; Annual sunshine hours; Seismic hazard (ordinal 0 very-low to 4 high); Public-transport provision (ordinal proxy); Distance to nearest sea / coastline; Distance to nearest mountains (>1500 m). Check the items that affect your plans with local providers. They are not treated as zero or as an advantage in recommendations.

Compare Saint Petersburg with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

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