Should you visit Granada or Santiago de Compostela?
Should I visit Granada or Santiago de Compostela? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Granada
Granada is a city of southern Spain located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the autonomous community of Andalucia. Perhaps the most notable feature of the city is its medieval architecture that dates to the Moorish occupation of Spain. Each example stands from another time and place, strong fortresses and castles against the backdrop of lumbering mountains. Yet they are surrounded by a city thriving with modern day quirks. From castles and fortresses to bars, restaurants, and cafés, Granada is a unique setting for an otherworldly getaway.
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of northwest Spain's Galicia region. Its famous cathedral marks the culmination of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route, and is the alleged burial site of the apostle himself. The pilgrimage route begins in the Pyrenees, 500 miles away, though travelers can decide to join the journey at certain points in between, depending on how far they want to walk and how much they want to see.
Which city is cheaper, Santiago de Compostela or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is €98, while the average daily cost in Santiago de Compostela is €73. 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 Granada and Santiago de Compostela in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €94 in Granada For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €30. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Santiago de Compostela the cost is €60 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Granada €47
Santiago de Compostela €30
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Granada
€94
Santiago de Compostela
€60
Food
The average traveler spends about €29 per day in Granada for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Food in Santiago de Compostela costs travelers about €16 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
Typical Food prices in Granada
For Granada, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Sangria
€2.50
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Sandwich to go
€3.00
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Bocadillo & Drink
€6.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Granada
For Granada, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Middle Eastern 6-course dinner in Granada with a professional chef:
$49
-
AlbaicÃn & Sacromonte Guided Walking Tour with Flamenco & Tapas Dinner:
$81
-
Small Group Food Tour in Granada:
$88
-
Spanish Tapas Cooking Class in Granada:
$116
Typical Food prices in Santiago de Compostela
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santiago de Compostela:
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Raspberries
€3.50
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Ice Cream
€2.00
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Cookie
€1.00
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Kebab
€7.25
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Dinner & Tapas (for 2)
€28
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Tuna Empanada
€3.50
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Fruit Shake
€3.50
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Crepe
€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago de Compostela
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago de Compostela.
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Santiago Market and Food Tour:
$75
-
Dinner Tapas Tour of Santiago:
$93
Local Transportation
To get around in Granada, the average visitor spends €17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The average price of local transportation around Santiago de Compostela is €30 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Granada €17
Santiago de Compostela €30
Typical Local Transportation prices in Granada
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Granada are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Also for Granada, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Granada Airport Private Arrival Transfer:
$51
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Granada Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$51
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Granada Private Departure Transfer:
$51
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Granada Private Transfer from the city centre to Granada Airport:
$62
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Granada Private Transfer to Seville with a Visit to Cordoba:
$348
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Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes Sedan:
$81
-
Granada airport private arrival transfer, Mercedes minivan:
$107
-
Granada to Cordoba Private Transfer:
$275
-
Granada to Malaga Airport Private Transfer:
$216
-
Granada to Seville Private Transfer:
$388
-
Private Transfer IN or OUT in Upscale Vehicle with Professional Driver:
$93
-
One-Way Private Transfer from Granada to Managua:
$83
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago de Compostela
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago de Compostela:
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Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport:
$58
-
Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport:
$58
-
Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from SCQ Airport to City centre:
$58
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Santiago de Compostela Private Departure Transfer:
$71
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Santiago de Compostela Private Arrival Transfer:
$71
-
Santiago de Compostela Departure Private Transfer to SCQ Airport in 6 Seater Van:
$78
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Santiago de Compostela Airport Arrival Private Transfer to City Center:
$60
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Private Transfer From/To Santiago de Compostela Airport:
$53
-
Private Premium Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon + 2h Sightseeing:
$450
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Private Airport Transfer: Santiago De Compostela Airport (SCQ) to Compostela:
$27
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Private Airport Transfer: Compostela to Santiago De Compostela Airport (SCQ):
$27
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Porto Private Transfer to or from Santiago de Compostela:
$129
Entertainment
In Granada, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €23 per person, per day.
Santiago de Compostela's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €31 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Granada €23
Santiago de Compostela €31
Tours and Activities in Granada
For Granada, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Self-guided Virtual Tour of Alhambra Palace: The Highlights:
$11
-
Albaicin and Sacromonte Walking Tour:
$12
-
Jewish and Christian Neighborhoods Guided Tour:
$13
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Illustration Walking Tours in Albayzin Granada:
$15
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Granada Walking Tour:
$15
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Granada Walking Tour: Albaicin and Sacromonte Quarters:
$16
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Albaicin & Sacromonte regular tour:
$17
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Tour AlbaicÃn & Sacromonte:
$17
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Albaicin & Sacromonte nigth tour:
$17
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Tour De Misterios Y Leyendas Por Granada:
$17
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Tour AlbaicÃn y Sacromonte:
$17
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Old Jewish Quarter Walking Tour in Realejo Granada:
$19
Tours and Activities in Santiago de Compostela
Here are a few actual costs in Santiago de Compostela for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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5-Day Galicia Tour: Santiago de Compostela to Allariz:
$1,300
-
6-day Walking Tour from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre:
$632
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8 Days Guided Tour from Santiago to Lisbon:
$1,113
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Finisterre, Muxía and Coast of Death: Full-Day Cultural Tour:
$41
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Full-Day Finisterre & Muxia Guided Tour from Santiago:
$41
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Full-day Rias Baixas Guided Tour from Santiago:
$56
-
Galicia 4-day Food & Wine Private Tour:
$1,723
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Galicia's Death Coast Private Day Tour:
$319
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Gourmet Lunch Tour of Santiago:
$106
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Lugo & Cathedrals Beach Private Tour:
$447
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Luxury Finisterre Saint James Way Private Tour:
$558
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Old Town of Santiago de Compostela Walking Tour:
$1.24
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Granada spend on average €19 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Santiago de Compostela may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Granada
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Granada:
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Wine Tasting in Granada:
$57
-
Granada Tapas and wine tour!:
$67
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Granada Traditional Tapas and Wine Tour - by Oh My Good Guide!:
$81
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Small-Group Granada Tapas Bar Crawl Evening Tasting Experience:
$83
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BEST OF Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour - by OhMyGoodGuide!:
$106
Typical Alcohol prices in Santiago de Compostela
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santiago de Compostela from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago de Compostela
Also in Santiago de Compostela, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Albariño Private Wine Tour from Santiago de Compostela:
$351
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and Santiago de Compostela, we can see that Granada is more expensive. And not only is Santiago de Compostela much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santiago de Compostela would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago de Compostela 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 Granada would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Granada than you might in Santiago de Compostela.
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