Which place is cheaper, Santander or Marseille?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Marseille or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marseille 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: Marseille or Santander?
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
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 Contiki Tours to France, The Best G Adventures Tours to France, 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 dayMarseille €148Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Marseille is €148, 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 Marseille and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMarseille €71Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMarseille €142Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Marseille and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Marseille 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: Marseille Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Marseille €28Santander €24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass€3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- “Airport-Marseille Center Transfers: Luxury and Comfort VTC.”: $87
- Airport Marseille Transfer to Marseille Old Port: $91
- Aix en Provence-Transfer from or to Marseille Airport: $102
- Arles-Transfer From or To Airport MARSEILLE: $218
- Arrival Private Transfer Marseille Airport MRS to Marseille city or Port by Van: $101
- Arrival Transfer: MRS Airport to Marseille in Business Car: $109
- Cannes Private Transfer to Marseille Airport: $642
- Departure Private Transfer Marseille city or Port to Marseile Airport MRS by Van: $101
- Departure Private Transfer from Marseille city to Marseille Cruise Port by Van: $101
- Departure Transfer: Marseille to MRS Airport in Business Car: $109
- Marseille Airport (MRS) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Marseille Hotel or Address): $215
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to (MPCT) Marseille Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Marseille or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Marseille 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 dayMarseille €42Santander €41
Typical Food Prices in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina€2.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $35
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $63
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $93
- Sunset Apéro Food tour: $95
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $97
- Marseille Sunset Apéro Food tour: $97
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Marseille Miam Miam Food tour: $104
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Marseille €38Santander €18
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.28
- Marseille:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.28
- Marseille Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.36
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Marseille Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-guided Like a Local Highlights Day Tour: $9.52
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Game & Sightseeing: $9.84
- Panier District Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Humorous and Informative Tour of the Historic Center of La Ciotat: $11
- Mucem Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket: $12
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: $55
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Gastronomy tour: $120
- 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: $213
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMarseille €27Santander €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $21
- Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $96
- Delicious Food and Wine Tour: $117
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $143
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $143
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $146
- Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $146
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $164
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marseille and Santander, we can see that Marseille is more expensive. And not only is Santander much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santander would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santander 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille than you might in Santander.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Marseille Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Marseille or Santander?
Marseille has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Marseille 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 Marseille 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 Marseille or Santander in the Summer?
Both Santander and Marseille during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Marseille is a little warmer than Santander in the summer. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Santander, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Marseille. In the summer, Marseille often gets more sunshine than Santander. Marseille gets 366 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.
Marseille usually gets less rain in July than Santander. Marseille gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMarseille 24°C (75°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Marseille or Santander in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Marseille and Santander. The autumn months attract visitors to Marseille because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Marseille is around the same temperature as Santander. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Marseille in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Santander averages at about 16°C (60°F).
In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Santander during autumn. Marseille gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Marseille usually receives less rain than Santander. Marseille gets 78 mm (3.1 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 OctoberMarseille 16°C (61°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Marseille or Santander in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Marseille as well as Santander. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.
In January, Marseille is generally cooler than Santander. Daily temperatures in Marseille average around 7°C (44°F), and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Marseille often gets more sunshine than Santander. Marseille gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Santander. Marseille usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Marseille gets 47 mm (1.9 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 JanuaryMarseille 7°C (44°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Marseille or Santander in the Spring?
Both Santander and Marseille are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Marseille is a little warmer than Santander in the spring. The daily temperature in Marseille averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Marseille. Marseille usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Marseille gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In April, Marseille usually receives less rain than Santander. Marseille gets 48 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 AprilMarseille 13°C (56°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Marseille
| Marseille | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.