Which place is cheaper, Santillana or Marrakech?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Marrakech or Santillana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Marrakech or Santillana? 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: Marrakech or Santillana?
Marrakech
Marrakech is on of the most popular travel destinations in Morocco. It is the third largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat and is located near the foothills of the Atlas Mountains only a few hours from the Sahara Desert. It's a beautiful city that is often referred to as the "Pink City" because of the pale pink color of many of the city's buildings. These striking colors make the city particularly beautiful during the evening hours when the low sun creates a very dramatic lighting.
Santillana
A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMarrakech $69Santillana $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Marrakech is $69, while the average daily cost in Santillana is $112. 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 Marrakech and Santillana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarrakech $46Santillana $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarrakech $92Santillana $128
Compare Hotels in Marrakech and Santillana
Looking for a hotel in Marrakech or Santillana? 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: Marrakech Hotel Prices and Santillana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marrakech $6.30Santillana $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marrakech
Also for Marrakech, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Marrakech Transfer one way: $22
- Hammam Massage Transfers Included: $71
- Private Transfer Agadir airport - Marrakech: $164
- Private Transfer From or To Marrakesh Menara Airport RAK: $9.83
- private transfer to or from Marrakech and Taroudant one trip: $98
- transfer from Marrakech city to Agadir city (AGA) one-way: $82
- "Marrakech to Chefchaouen: Your Exclusive Private Transfer": $250
- "Marrakech to El Jadida: Private Transfer for Your Comfort": $109
- 2h Buggy Adventure in the Marrakech Desert with Transfer and Tea Break: $49
- Agadir and Marrakech airport transfer : $290
- Agadir private transfer from Imlil to Agadir airport (AGA): $271
- Agadir private transfer from Ouirgane to Agadir airport (AGA): $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Marrakech or Santillana?
Prices for flights to both Santillana and Marrakech 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 dayMarrakech $13Santillana $33
Typical Food Prices in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orange Juice on the Square$0.30
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Breakfast$1.20
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Dates$0.60
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Olives$0.90
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Sandwich$1.29
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Souvenir Spices$6.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Agafay Desert Sunset, Camel Ride and Dinner from Marrakech: $15
- Online Moroccan Cooking Class: $17
- Cooking Lesson at the Ouirgane Ecolodge with Lunch: $19
- Restaurant Dinner Experience with Hotel Pickup: $21
- Sunset in Agafay: Dinner, Camel, Quad-Book Adventure with Viator: $22
- Typical Moroccan Dinner at the inhabitant in Marrakech: $22
- Marrakesh: Agafay Desert Sunset Dinner with a Show and Transfers : $22
- Dinner Show in Agafay Desert with Quad Bike & Camels: $22
- Dinner Show Under stars in Agafay Desert with Sunset Camel Ride: $22
- Dinner in Desert Marrakech and Camel ride at Sunset: $23
- Magical Dinner & Agafay Desert ,Under The Stars: $24
- Moroccan Cooking Class with a Local Chef: $24
Typical Food Prices in Santillana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:
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Breakfast$7.50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Marrakech $7.01Santillana $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Marrakech
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Marrakech's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Palace Tickets$1.99
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Golf at Atlas Golf$56
Tours and Activities in Marrakech
For Marrakech, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3-Hour Colorful Souks Tour: $5.00
- Marrakesh: Cactus Thiemann Entry Ticket: $8.24
- Atlas Mountains Tour with Camel Ride: $9.00
- Palmerai adventure on quad atv: $10
- Marrakech:Quad Tour in Palmeraie: $14
- Historical Marrakech Walking Tour: $15
- Full Day Hiking Tour to Atlas Mountains from Marrakech: $15
- Full Day Tour to Atlas Mountains in Imlil Valley: $15
- Marrakech Sightseeing Tour: $15
- Marrakech activities: Camel ride tour Marrakech: $15
- Essaouira 1 Day Tour From Marrakech: $16
- Anima Garden Admission Ticket: $16
Tours and Activities in Santillana
Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Memorable Family Walking Tour in Ancient Santillana del Mar: $428
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarrakech $15Santillana $4.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Santillana
Also in Santillana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Santillana Uncorked: A Wine Tasting Adventure: $1,022
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marrakech and Santillana, we can see that Santillana is more expensive. And not only is Marrakech much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Marrakech is in Africa and Santillana is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Marrakech would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marrakech 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 Santillana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santillana than you might in Marrakech.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Marrakech Expensive? and Is Santillana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Marrakech or Santillana?
Marrakech has a larger population, and is about 210 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Marrakech and Santillana, 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.
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.