A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lisbon vs. Santa Cruz de Tenerife for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lisbon or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Lisbon or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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: Lisbon or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Not everyone traveling to Spain is looking to collapse on a beach somewhere. If you're in search of a bustling, vibrant and colorful Spanish capital city without the crowds of Barcelona, you might want to book a few days in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Tenerife on the Canary Island chain, Santa Cruz's bright buildings, charming shops and rich, green scenery are there to greet visitors from all over the world - including you.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Lisbon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €126. 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 Lisbon and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 58
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 116
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 96
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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.

Hotels in Lisbon


Hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife


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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz de Tenerife Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 64
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Private Transfer to Cascais | Sintra | Estoril: $29
  • Airport Private Transfer to Lisbon: $23
  • Airport Transfer - Lisbon: $60
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Luxury Van: $95
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Business Car: $66
  • Airport Transfer: Lisbon to Lisbon Airport LIS in Luxury Van: $95
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City by Luxury Van: $48
  • Arrival Transfer: Lisbon Airport LIS to Lisbon in Business Car: $65
  • Cascais transfer: Private Transfer to/from Cascais or Lisbon: $59
  • Costa da Caparica Private Transfer from / to Lisbon: $33
  • Departure Private Transfer from Lisbon City to Lisbon airport LIS by Luxury Van: $48
  • Exclusive Luxury Transfers to/from Lisbon Airport: $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:

  • Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet : $64
  • Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Playa de las américas to Airport): $59
  • Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Costa Adeje Hotels to Airport): $98
  • Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: Transfer to Tenerife hotels: $252
  • Mount Teide Tour with Transfer and Optional Cable Car Ticket: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Lisbon 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lisbon 42
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 40
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
  • Tapas Food Tour: $42
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $53
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $53
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $53
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $53
  • No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Lisbon with many Tastings: $62
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $63
  • Lisbon Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks and Food inlcuded: $70
  • Tipsy Food Crawl Walking Tour with Dinner: $70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 25

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.07
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
  • Belém Unveiled: A Free Tour Through the Age of Discoveries: $1.28
  • Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.26
  • Wonders of Lisbon Walking Tour: $3.93
  • 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour in Lisbon: $4.36
  • 2-Hour Walking Tour in the Marvels of Lisbon : $4.80
  • Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.35
  • Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.35
  • Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.35
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $5.35
  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour From Príncipe Real to Downtown Lisbon: $5.53

Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Full Day Guided Tour of Teide by Cabrio Bus : $75
  • Full Day Tour of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal de La Laguna: $49
  • Guided Tour to Teide National Park in Tenerife: $44
  • Private Paragliding Flight Experience in Tenerife: $109
  • Private VIP Tour Tenerife Magic Circle: $258
  • Taucho Flight Experience: $118
  • Tenerife: Forestal Park Tenerife Entry Ticket: $28
  • Tenerife: Introductory Dive for Cruise Ship Passengers: $128
  • Volcano Teide National Park Shared Tour from Costa Adeje Los Cristianos Tenerife: $64

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 7.50

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
  • Wine Tasting at Quinta das Murgas: $38
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl in Lisbon with Local Guide: $43


When comparing the travel costs between Lisbon and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we can see that Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lisbon or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 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.