Which place is cheaper, Santander or La Rochelle?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit La Rochelle or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit La Rochelle or Santander? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: La Rochelle or Santander?
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a lovely French city in the province of Charente-Maritime. It's located in western France and is a seaport on the Bay of Biscay. Most people who visit the city enjoy exploring the "Vieux Port" or Old Harbour area. This area is the heart of the city and it is a beautiful neighborhood that has many seafood restaurants and nice architecture. It's particularly enjoyable to walk around during the evening hours. Ile de Re is connected to the city by a bridge and is also a nice place to visit. If you head out of town, the surrounding countryside is very rural. North of the city is Venise Verte, which is very marshy and has many small canals. It's a popular area for inland boating.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Paris, The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, 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 dayLa Rochelle €114Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in La Rochelle is €114, while the average daily cost in Santander is €108. 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 La Rochelle and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Rochelle €67Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Rochelle €134Santander €102
Compare Hotels in La Rochelle and Santander
Looking for a hotel in La Rochelle 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: La Rochelle Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.La Rochelle €17Santander €24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Rochelle
Also for La Rochelle, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from La Rochelle Cruise Port to Nantes Hotels: $88
- Private Transfer from La Rochelle Port to Nantes Airport (NTE): $88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $251
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $251
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $251
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $43
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $43
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into La Rochelle or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and La Rochelle 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 dayLa Rochelle €34Santander €41
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Rochelle €13Santander €18
Tours and Activities in La Rochelle
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for La Rochelle.
- La Rochelle : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.13
- Entry Ticket to the 3 Towers: $12
- La Rochelle Towers Entrance Ticket: $12
- Les Minimes and Bay Boat Tour: $18
- Guided tour of La Rochelle The splendor of merchants in the 18th century: $22
- Planet Exotica entrance ticket: $23
- Coastline Sailing Cruise: $27
- 2-Hour Sunset Sailing Cruise: $31
- 3-Hour Sailing cruise: $37
- La Rochelle Seaside Segway Tour - 1h: $43
- Lighthouse at the End of the World Segway Tour - 1h: $43
- Discover Discovery Walking Tour of La Rochelle: $44
Tours and Activities in Santander
Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
- From Cantabria Private Tour: $492
- From Gastronomic Tour: $128
- From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
- From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
- Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $54
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Gastronomy tour: $119
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
- Picos de Europa and Potes Guided Tour from Santander : $84
- Private Puente Viesgo Caves Full-Day Tour from Santander: $212
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Rochelle €16Santander €14
When comparing the travel costs between La Rochelle and Santander, we can see that La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, La Rochelle or Santander?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of La Rochelle. When comparing the sizes of La Rochelle 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 La Rochelle or Santander?
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 La Rochelle or Santander in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to La Rochelle as well as Santander. The beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to La Rochelle this time of year.
In the summer, La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Santander. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Rochelle in July average around 20°C (67°F), and Santander averages at about 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santander. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Rochelle this time of the year. In the summer, La Rochelle often gets more sunshine than Santander. La Rochelle gets 267 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.
La Rochelle usually gets less rain in July than Santander. La Rochelle gets 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLa Rochelle 20°C (67°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit La Rochelle or Santander in the Autumn?
Both Santander and La Rochelle are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to La Rochelle for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere.
In October, La Rochelle is generally around the same temperature as Santander. Daily temperatures in La Rochelle average around 15°C (59°F), and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
La Rochelle usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santander during autumn. La Rochelle gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In October, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Santander. La Rochelle gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLa Rochelle 15°C (59°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit La Rochelle or Santander in the Winter?
Both Santander and La Rochelle during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to La Rochelle in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
La Rochelle is cooler than Santander in the winter. The daily temperature in La Rochelle averages around 7°C (44°F) in January, and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, La Rochelle often gets less sunshine than Santander. La Rochelle gets 72 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Rochelle usually gets less rain in January than Santander. La Rochelle gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLa Rochelle 7°C (44°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit La Rochelle or Santander in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Rochelle and Santander. Most visitors come to La Rochelle for the beaches and the small town charm during these months.
In the spring, La Rochelle is around the same temperature as Santander. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Rochelle in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Santander averages at about 12°C (53°F).
La Rochelle usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. La Rochelle gets 187 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, La Rochelle usually receives less rain than Santander. La Rochelle gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLa Rochelle 11°C (52°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and La Rochelle
| La Rochelle | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (44°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (45°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (67°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (51°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.