Which place is cheaper, Santander or Nice?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nice or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nice and Santander can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nice or Santander?
Nice
Nice, in the French Riviera, is one of the most popular destinations in France. It's located on the southeast coast along the Mediterranean Sea and is the second largest French city on the Mediterranean. It is an energetic city that attracts all types of vacationers from every age group and demographic. It's the 5th largest city in the country and is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes departement. The metropolitan area has a population of about 1 million.
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 10-Day Tours in France, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in 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 dayNice €131Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Nice is €131, 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 Nice and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNice €59Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNice €118Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Nice and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Nice 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: Nice Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nice €25Santander €24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nice
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nice:
- Arrival Transfer from Côte d'Azur Airport NCE to Nice City in Private Car: $44
- Arrival Transfer from Nice Airport NCE to Nice city by Sedan: $59
- Arrival Transfer: Nice Airport NCE to Cannes in Luxury Van: $116
- Arrival Transfer: Nice Airport NCE to Monaco in Business Car: $109
- Cruise Port Hercule to Monaco hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- Day Trip / transfer to and from aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur: $92
- Departure Transfer: Monaco to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car: $109
- Departure Transfer: Monaco to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van: $130
- Departure Transfer: Villefranche Port to Nice Airport: $53
- Ferry Transfer to Sainte Marguerite Island from Nice: $56
- From Nice Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Monaco: $150
- From Nice Airport: Private Transfer to Cannes: $128
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $44
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $44
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $252
Is it cheaper to fly into Nice or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Nice 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 dayNice €49Santander €41
Typical Food Prices in Nice
Some typical examples of dining costs in Nice are as follows:
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Slushee€2.50
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Strawberries€4.00
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Loaf of Bread€3.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nice
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nice.
- Nice Small-Group Walking Food Tour with Local Specialties & Wine Tasting: $84
- Viator Exclusive: Organic French Dinner in the Garden of Nice: $95
- The Flavors of Nice Food Tour: $103
- Old Nice Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Nice Evening Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $104
- Viator Exclusive: Local Cooking Class & Dinner with View of Nice: $107
- 3.5-Hour Original Old Town Food Tour: $107
- Private French Cooking Class with a Fun Local Noel: $112
- PRIVATE Award-Winning Nice Food Tour: 6 or 10 Tastings: $112
- Food Tour + Wine Pairing Lunch with a local Sommelier: $133
- Half Day Afternoon Walking Food Tour with Dinner: $147
- Dinner in the vineyard French Riviera: $192
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nice €12Santander €18
Tours and Activities in Nice
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nice are as follows:
- Vieux Nice : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.13
- Nice : Discovery Stroll and Reading Walking Tour: $2.13
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.41
- Ticket to Musée National du Sport: $6.42
- Nice Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Monaco Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.95
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.95
- Nice's Old Town Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Navigating A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Nice city tour: audio guide app in your smartphone: $7.49
Tours and Activities in Santander
Here are a few actual costs in Santander for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $22
- City Sightseeing Santander Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $23
- Obregón: Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno Entry Ticket: $26
- From Potes, Santillana and Altamira Day Tour: $42
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Guided Tour by Electric Bike: $53
- Full Day Self Guided Tour in Santillana del Mar and Comillas: $55
- From Santillana del Mar & Altamira Museum Tour: $64
- Santoña: Anchovy Factory Tour and Boat Trip: $70
- Tour to the Towns of the Western Coast of Cantabria: $79
- Picos, Santo Toribio Monastery and Potes Day Tour: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNice €17Santander €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Nice
Also in Nice, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Nice Bar Crawl | Best Bars In 1 Night! VIP + FREE SHOTS: $5.99
- Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entry and Free Shots: $16
- Pub Crawl Nice with Drinking Games and Optional Drink special: $17
- Nice : Guided Pub / Bar Crawl with Shots and Nightclub Entry: $21
- Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $23
- Nice Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $45
- New Year's Eve Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $52
- New Year’s Eve Bar Crawl Nice France: $53
- Provence Organic Wine Tasting Half Day Tour from Nice: $65
- Wine Tasting: Tour de France in Nice City Centre: $74
- Half-Day Saint Paul de Vence and Wine Tasting Tour: $82
- Half-Day Wine Tasting and Saint Paul de Vence Tour from Nice: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nice and Santander, we can see that Nice 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 Nice would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nice 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 Nice Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nice or Santander?
Nice has a larger population, and is about 85% larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Nice 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 Nice or Santander?
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.
Should I visit Nice or Santander in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Nice and Santander. Many visitors come to Nice in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Nice is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nice in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Santander averages at about 19°C (66°F).
In July, Nice usually receives less rain than Santander. Nice gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNice 23°C (73°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Nice or Santander in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Nice as well as Santander. Most visitors come to Nice for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Nice is generally around the same temperature as Santander. Daily temperatures in Nice average around 17°C (63°F), and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It's quite rainy in Santander. Nice receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nice usually gets less rain in October than Santander. Nice gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Santander receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNice 17°C (63°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Nice or Santander in the Winter?
Both Santander and Nice are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Nice because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Nice is around the same temperature as Santander in the winter. The daily temperature in Nice averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Santander fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In January, Nice usually receives less rain than Santander. Nice gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santander receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNice 9°C (48°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Nice or Santander in the Spring?
Both Santander and Nice during the spring are popular places to visit. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Nice this time of year.
In the spring, Nice is a little warmer than Santander. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nice in April average around 13°C (56°F), and Santander averages at about 12°C (53°F).
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Nice usually gets less rain in April than Santander. Nice gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Santander receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNice 13°C (56°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Nice
| Nice | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 16°C (62°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (69°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (49°F) | 78 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.