Which place is cheaper, Split or Marbella?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Split, 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.
Marbella is a glamorous, fun-filled, and high energy resort town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the live music, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.
Split is a budget-friendly, historic, and active city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.
You'll generally find more things to do in Split than Marbella. Split is bigger than Marbella, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Split is better known for its museums, food, and big city activities, while Marbella is more popular for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty. Split is more touristy than Marbella and is known for its historical sights, high energy coastal setting, and waterfront promenades. Also, Split is famous for Diocletian's Palace. Marbella is well known for its luxury hotels, beautiful beaches, and lively nightlife.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Split and Marbella. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Split is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Split can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with historical sights, some of which were used in the shooting of the famed television series, Game of Thrones. Highlights include Diocletian's Palace, the Cathedral of St. Domnius, and the Ivan Mestrovic Gallery.
Marbella does not have museums and landmarks.
Split is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Split has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's the second largest city in Croatia and the food scene reflects this. You'll find a mix of Dalmatian restaurants and international options. There's also everything from fine dining to local taverns, so whatever your budget or food preference, you won't be disappointed.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Marbella area. The area is filled with tourists, so finding an authentic dining experience can be difficult. Several favorite dishes include croquetas, boquerones, and pulpo.
The world-class nightlife scene is relatively similar in Marbella and Split.
Marbella is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. European tourists flock to the town for its beaches and resorts. The town has a glamorous nightlife scene with exclusive clubs and ritzy cocktail bars, particularly in Puerto Banus and along the Golden Mile.
People head to Split just to party. It has some of the best nightlife on mainland Croatia. Backpackers and students flock to this city for its parties and nightclubs. There's a great live music scene as well as DJs who keep the party going well into the early morning.
Marbella is an excellent place to visit for its live music scene. However, Split is not a live music destination.
Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Marbella has diverse options. Some of the best music venues include Starlite, Kitch Social Club, and Momento.
Split is not a live music destination.
Marbella is terrific for its luxury resorts. Also, Split is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its resorts.
Vacationers flock to Marbella for its luxury resorts. From luxury to family-friendly, this area has plenty of resorts to choose from. Popular resorts in the area include Marbella Club Hotel, Puente Romano Marbella, and Don Carlos Resort and Spa.
Split is known as a popular and fun resort destination. You'll find a mix of popular resort chains, local boutique hotels, vacation rentals, and hostels. Whatever your budget or travel style there are options available.
Marbella is terrific for its diving and snorkeling. Also, Split is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for snorkeling and scuba diving.
People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Marbella. There are more than 100 dive sights and endless snorkeling opportunities in the area. There are deep offshore reefs that you can explore as well as shallower wrecks and caves.
Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Split. Some of the best snorkeling is found around the Kornati Islands. There are many boat trips that take visitors to some of the best snorkeling spots near Split.
Marbella is terrific for the beache. Also, Split is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.
Marbella offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The area boasts some of the best beaches in Europe. They are hubs of activity with lots of energy, and there are more than 18 miles of sandy beach in the area. Popular options include Guadalmina Beach, San Pedro de Alcántara Beach, and Nueva Andalucía Beach.
Split is considered a top beach destination. There are many beaches in the area that are a mix of pebbly or sandy. Many have restaurants or bars nearby and the vibe is social and laid back. Some of the best beaches near town are Bacvice Beach, Žnjan Beach, and Kasjuni Beach.
Marbella and Split both have notable historical old towns that attract visitors.
Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Marbella. Head into the old town to explore a quaint area with small, meandering streets, churches, restaurants, shops, and cafes.
Split offers a nice historic old town area. The old town spreads out from Diocletian's Palace and People's Square. It's filled with cobblestone streets and restaurants that spill into the outdoors.
Marbella is terrific for its shopping opportunities. Also, Split is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.
Known for shopping, Marbella draws large crowds to its stores. This area attracts vacationers from around Europe and the shopping is some of the best in Europe.
Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Split. Shopping and sightseeing are intermixed in town. Make sure you don't miss the Old Market, which is the city's main outdoor market. There are many shops all through the old town as well.
Marbella and Split are both great destinations for the whole family.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Marbella is very family-friendly. The area has beautiful, family-friendly beaches and many resorts with pools that are great for kids.
Split is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. With its parks, beaches, and outdoor activities, kids will love this spot. Zvonac Park is one of the best in town for kids. Young kids will appreciate the Dinasour Playground. Also make sure you allow time to explore Diocletian's Palace and Klis Fortress. There are also beaches and other water activities that are fun for the whole family.
Marbella and Split are both world-class to visit as a couple.
Marbella has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The area has luxury resorts, nice beaches, water sports, golf, and water activities that are perfect for a honeymoon or a romantic weekend or a honeymoon.
Split is a great resort town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. It's not uncommon for couples to choose Split as their honeymoon destination. The old town is filled with character and charm. There are also parks where you can enjoy a picnic and beaches where you can soak up the fun of the Adriatic Sea. Cafes serving local cuisine spill into the streets and the old world charm offers a romantic ambiance that can only be found in Croatia.
Split is very popular for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Marbella is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
With so many budget-friendly offerings, Split is extremely popular for backpackers. There's no shortage of hostels in town. This is a not-to-be-missed backpacker destination in Croatia and the social scene, beaches, water activities, and history all make Split a highlight for many backpackers.
Marbella is a good resort town to visit for backpackers. There are a few good hostels in the area for backpackers who want to enjoy this part of Spain's cost. There's also a lively nightlife scene and plenty of opportunities to meet others.
Split is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Marbella is not popular with students.
Split is a great city to visit as a student. It's easy to visit on a student's budget. There are plenty of hostels and a huge party scene that bring backpackers and students together.
Marbella is not popular with students.
Split is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Marbella is lacking in good options for its public transit.
Split has some public transit options. There are bus services that will help you get around town.
Public transit is generally limited in Marbella. There is a bus system through the area, but most visitors prefer to get around by car.
Marbella and Split are great when it comes to walkability.
Marbella is a very walkable resort town. The old town is particularly walkable and there are a number of hotels and nice resorts within a short walk of the town along a nice promenade.
Split is a very walkable destination. The city is laid out in a pedestrian-friendly way so it's easy to explore on foot, particularly in the old town. It's also easy to get lost, but that's all part of the fun.
For even more information, also check out Is Marbella Worth Visiting? and Is Split Worth Visiting?.
It's fun to spend time in either Marbella or Split. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Marbella due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Marbella, and 2-4 days is enough time in Split.
Families should spend more time in Marbella than Split. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Marbella, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Marbella than Split. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Marbella that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Split than Marbella if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Split.
In Marbella, many people enjoy the live music and food that this high energy destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This resort town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
The city of Split offers museums and nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Marbella. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
Split is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Split, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Marbella is a fun place to experience. In Marbella, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Split is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
You'll find shopping and nightlife around the ritzy destination of Marbella. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Split is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Walking Tours in Croatia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Marbella is €117, while the average daily cost in Split is €110. 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 Marbella and Split in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Marbella or Split? 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.
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Split and Marbella 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.
For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When comparing the travel costs between Marbella and Split, we can see that Marbella 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 Marbella Expensive? and Is Split Expensive?.
Split has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Marbella. When comparing the sizes of Marbella and Split, 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.
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.
Both Split and Marbella are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Marbella for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Split in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Marbella is around the same temperature as Split in the summer. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Split fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
It's quite sunny in Split. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marbella. Marbella usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Split during summer. Marbella gets 348 hours of sunny skies, while Split receives 345 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Marbella usually receives less rain than Split. Marbella gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Split receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Split and Marbella during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Marbella in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Split for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Marbella is around the same temperature as Split. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Marbella in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Split averages at about 18°C (64°F).
In Split, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Marbella. In the autumn, Marbella often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Split. Marbella gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Split receives 200 hours of full sun.
Marbella usually gets less rain in October than Split. Marbella gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Split receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Marbella and Split. Most visitors come to Marbella for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Split because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Marbella is generally a little warmer than Split. Daily temperatures in Marbella average around 12°C (54°F), and Split fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Marbella usually receives more sunshine than Split during winter. Marbella gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Split receives 128 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Marbella usually receives around the same amount of rain as Split. Marbella gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Split receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Marbella as well as Split. The spring months attract visitors to Marbella because of the beaches and the natural beauty. Additionally, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Split this time of year.
Marbella is around the same temperature as Split in the spring. The daily temperature in Marbella averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Split fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Split. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marbella this time of the year. In the spring, Marbella often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Split. Marbella gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Split receives 212 hours of full sun.
Marbella usually gets less rain in April than Split. Marbella gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Split receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Marbella | Split | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
May | 19°C (66°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Nov | 15°C (60°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
Dec | 13°C (55°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |