Which place is cheaper, Santander or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Santander, 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: Istanbul or Santander?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
Santander
Santander is the capital of the Cantabria Region which runs along the northern coast of Spain. Located right on the bay, it is a place of many historic churches and a handful of interesting museums that range from archaeological discoveries of the region, to maritime history, and cultural features like bullfighting. There is also a large selection of beaches for those looking for a more relaxing getaway in the sun and sand.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Santander $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Santander is $116. 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 Istanbul and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Santander $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Santander $110
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul or Santander? 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Santander $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Airport Transfer by Private Minivan + Meet & Greet Service: $85
- Istanbul Cruise Port(Galataport) Private Transfer Service: $35
- Saw Sabiha Gokcen Airport Transfers for Old City & Taksim Hotels: $55
- 1-Way Private Transfer to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport: $75
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Airport Istanbul Private Transfer IST or SAW Airport : $34
- Airport transfer Istanbul: $46
- Arrival & Departure Private Transfer in Istanbul: $43
- Arrival Private Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul in Luxury Van: $70
- Bursa Uludağ Mountain Tour From Istanbul w/Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $35
- CARPEDIEM : SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT LUXURY TRANSFER (Arrival/Departure): $45
- Daily Green Bursa Tour with Cable Car & Transfer from Istanbul: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $31Santander $44
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Show with Private Table: $17
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $21
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $29
- Half Day Sunset Luxury Yacht Dinner Cruise Tour in Istanbul: $29
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Santander $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.14
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.35
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.08
- Istanbul in a day: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $7.87
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.06
- Hippodrome and Blue Mosque Guided Tour: $8.73
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.62
- The Royal Adventure Highlights Exploration Game: $11
Tours and Activities in Santander
Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
- City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
- From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Guided Tour by Electric Bike: $53
- Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $55
- From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
- Santoña: Anchovy Factory Tour and Boat Trip: $70
- Tour to the Towns of the Western Coast of Cantabria: $79
- Picos, Santo Toribio Monastery and Potes Day Tour: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Santander $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Pub Crawl Big Nightout . Rooftop parties,party Bus & Nightlife: $22
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $80
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $245
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $844
When comparing the travel costs between Istanbul and Santander, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Istanbul Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Santander?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul and Santander, 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 Istanbul or Santander?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Istanbul or Santander in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Santander. Most visitors come to Istanbul for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Istanbul is generally a little warmer than Santander. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 24°C (74°F), and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In Istanbul, it's very sunny this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Santander during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Santander. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Santander in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Santander. The autumn months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Istanbul is around the same temperature as Santander in the autumn. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In the autumn, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Santander. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Santander. Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Santander. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Santander in the Winter?
Both Santander and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year.
In the winter, Istanbul is much colder than Santander. Typically, the winter temperatures in Istanbul in January average around 6°C (43°F), and Santander averages at about 9°C (49°F).
Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Santander during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In January, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Santander. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Santander in the Spring?
Both Santander and Istanbul during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
In April, Istanbul is generally around the same temperature as Santander. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 13°C (55°F), and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
In the spring, Istanbul often gets more sunshine than Santander. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Santander. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 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.