Should you visit Cagliari or Trieste?
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 Cagliari and Trieste can help you decide which place is right for you.
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the Italian island, Sardinia, located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is best known for its abundance of seafood, beach access, and an array of architecture that reflects both Roman and medieval history.
Trieste
Located on the northeast Italian coast next to the Adriatic Sea, Trieste is a city characterized by its European charm, ancient architecture, and striking sea views. Its art, music, history, and culture also take some influence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, boasting many Slavic traditions and empire-era architecture.
Which city is cheaper, Trieste or Cagliari?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cagliari is €96, while the average daily cost in Trieste is €80. 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 Cagliari and Trieste in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €106 in Cagliari For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around €88 for a double occupancy room in Trieste If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Cagliari cost around €28 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 €11.
In Trieste travelers spend around €25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Cagliari €28
Trieste €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cagliari
For Cagliari, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Culurgiones Cooking Class Cagliari:
$71
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Homemade fresh pasta cooking:
$90
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Cooking class & Lunch in Cagliari:
$102
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Dining experience at a local's home in Cagliari with show cooking:
$106
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Small-group Street food tour in Cagliari:
$111
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Cooking and eating with a Sardinian family:
$133
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Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Cagliari:
$162
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Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Cagliari:
$180
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Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Cagliari:
$180
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Cagliari Shore Excursion: Sardinian Traditional Cooking Class with Lunch:
$185
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Local market visit and private cooking class at a Cesarina's home in Cagliari:
$267
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Trieste
For Trieste, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Dining experience at a local's home in Trieste with show cooking:
$106
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Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Trieste:
$162
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Private Cooking Class at a Cesarina's Home in Trieste:
$180
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Private Half-Day Tour to Lipizzaner Horses from Trieste:
$236
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Local market visit and private cooking class at a Cesarina's home in Trieste:
$267
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Cagliari than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €24 on transportation in Cagliari on average per day.
Trieste's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €14 per person, per day on transportation in Trieste.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cagliari
Also for Cagliari, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer/taxi Cagliari Airport - Cagliari city:
$39
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Transfer from airport to cagliari:
$43
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Private transfer: Cagliari to Cagliari Airport (CAG):
$622
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Private VIP Transfer from Cagliari to Cagliari Airport:
$22
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Private VIP Transfer from Cagliari Airport to Villasimius:
$75
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Private VIP Transfer from Cagliari Airport to Santa Margherita di Pula:
$68
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Private VIP Transfer from Cagliari Airport to Quartu S.Elena:
$22
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Private VIP Transfer from Cagliari Airport to Cagliari:
$22
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Private Airport Transfer: from Cagliari to Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG):
$28
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Private Airport Transfer: Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) to Cagliari:
$27
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Private Airport Transfer to the Area of Chia:
$166
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Trieste
Also for Trieste, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Trieste to Venice Airport:
$107
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Transfer from Trieste to Malpensa Airport in Milano:
$276
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Transfer Trieste - Umag:
$172
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Transfer Trieste - Rovinj:
$197
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Transfer Trieste - Poreč:
$190
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So much more than just a transfer (up to 8 persons):
$373
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Small-Group Transfer from Trieste to Bergamo Airport:
$218
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Small-Group Transfer from Trieste City to Trieste Airport:
$41
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Skip-the-line to Miramare Castle w/ private transfer from Trieste train station:
$96
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Private transfer from Trieste to Ljubljana:
$151
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Private transfer Trieste Airport from & to Slovenian coast:
$147
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Private transfer Trieste Airport from & to Ljubljana:
$202
Is it cheaper to fly into Cagliari or Trieste?
Prices for flights to both Trieste and Cagliari 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
Sightseeing expenses in Cagliari, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €13 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Trieste can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €17 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Cagliari
For Cagliari, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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8 days Escorted Tour Sardinia Amore Mio:
$2,488
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Archaeological tour of Nora:
$97
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Archaeological tour of the Nuraghe Arrubiu in Orroli:
$112
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Barumini Unesco Site and Giara of Gesturi Tour from Cagliari:
$112
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Cagliari City Tour - Minivan Sightseeing and Walking:
$124
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Cagliari Easy Tour:
$45
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Cagliari Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$38
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Cagliari Private Walking Tour:
$230
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Cagliari Segway Tour:
$73
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Cagliari Shore Excursion: Amazing Hidden Beaches Jeep Tour:
$160
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Cagliari Shore Excursion: Amazing West Sulcis Boat Tour:
$328
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Cagliari Shore Excursion: Archaeological Nuraghe and Nora Tour:
$160
Tours and Activities in Trieste
For Trieste, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Explore highlights of Trieste on a private 3-hour walking tour:
$294
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Flavours of Istria Tasting Experience from Trieste:
$152
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Habsburg private walking tour with a local guide:
$336
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Lake Bled & Ljubljana - Small Group Tour from Trieste:
$144
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Lake Bled &Ljubljana- 8hr Small Group Shore Experience from Trieste with options:
$236
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Lake Bled and Ljubljana Private Tour from Trieste:
$323
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Lake Bled and Ljubljana Tour from Trieste:
$144
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Lipica Stud Farm & Skocjan Caves - Small Group Tour from Trieste:
$144
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Ljubljana Christmas Market Tour from Trieste:
$110
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Local market visit and dining experience at a local's home in Trieste:
$173
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Name your recipe: food market tour and workshop with a Cesarina in Trieste:
$193
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Panoramic Tour of Trieste and Miramare Castle:
$160
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Cagliari spend on average €6.06 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Trieste spend on average €6.40 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cagliari
Also in Cagliari, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Guided Wine tasting with a Sommelier:
$62
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WINE TOUR in a winery among the vineyards:
$80
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cultural walking tour, food and wine tasting experience:
$83
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Wine tour aroud vineyards of Cagliari:
$85
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Wine tasting:
$96
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Small-Group Food and Wine Tour from Cagliari:
$106
Sample the Local Flavors in Trieste
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Trieste:
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Regional wine tasting in Trieste:
$26
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Private Wine Tasting Tour in Slovenia from Trieste:
$194
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Collio: Cividale Del Friuli and Wine Tastings from Trieste:
$203
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Food and Wine tasting experience in Trieste traditional farmhouse Osmiza:
$534
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cagliari and Trieste, we can see that Cagliari is more expensive. And not only is Trieste much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Trieste would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Trieste 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 Cagliari would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cagliari than you might in Trieste.
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