Which place is cheaper, Santander or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paris or Santander?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris or Santander? 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: Paris or Santander?
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, The Best 10-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 dayParis €232Santander €108
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €232, 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 Paris and Santander in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €151Santander €51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €302Santander €102
Compare Hotels in Paris and Santander
Looking for a hotel in Paris 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: Paris Hotel Prices and Santander Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €21Santander €24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bus Transfer : Paris to the Palace of Versailles Round-Trip : $44
- Disneyland Private Transfer - Luxury Minivan Service: $185
- Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer for 1 to 3 Persons in Paris: $196
- Private transfer from Beauvais airport to Paris or back: $268
- Airport Transfer Service Shuttle Disneyland Paris Taxi: $120
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Business Car: $101
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Luxury EQS: $142
- Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Luxury EQS: $143
- Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $185
- Arrival Private Transfer Paris Airport CDG to Paris by Sedan : $87
- Arrival Private Transfer: Airport Charles de Gaulle OR Orly TO La Defense: $23
- Arrival Transfer CDG or ORY Airport to Disneyland París by Van: $126
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $251
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $251
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $251
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $43
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $43
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Santander?
Prices for flights to both Santander and Paris 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 dayParis €41Santander €41
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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Cheese€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1h30 Cooking Activity in English: $22
- Hard Rock Cafe Paris with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner : $33
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $44
- No Diet Club - A selection of the best pizzas in Paris !: $45
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris : $49
- Paris : Seine River Bistronomic Dinner Cruise: $52
- Seine River Panoramic Views Dinner Cruise: $56
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $58
- No Diet Club - Paris : Night food tour - Montmartre: $67
- 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise with Bistro Dinner: $68
- Paris : No Diet Club Food Tour - Best Spots in Le Marais: $68
- Dinner with Customized Wine Selection: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paris €77Santander €18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Free Walking Tour of Montmartre: $2.14
- Montmartre Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt Tour: $3.21
- Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $3.26
- Self Guided Tours in Paris with 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Marais Walk Self Guided Audio Tour: $4.35
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $5.35
- Père-Lachaise Cemetery audio guide tour: $5.35
- Private Self-guided Audio Tour of the Eiffel Tower: $5.45
- Self-Guided Tour - Père Lachaise Cemetery Audioguide, Paris: $5.45
- Self Guided Latin Quarter Audio Tour in Paris: $5.45
- Private Self Guided Walking Tour in Montmartre Paris: $5.46
- Kid-Friendly Marais: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.49
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: $54
- Full Day Tour Lakes of Covadonga and Santillana from Santander: $46
- Gastronomy tour: $119
- 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: $212
- 1-Hour City Cruise Around the Bay: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis €24Santander €14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $11
- Original Paris Pub Crawl : $16
- Daily Paris Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $20
- Latin Quarter Guided Pub Crawl to Bars and Clubs: $22
- Paris Bar Crawl: $24
- Paris Latin Quarter Pub Crawl Bars and Clubs: $24
- Paris Pub Crawl: $25
- Audio guided tour and wine tasting at Caves du Louvre: $32
- Paris Craft gin distillery guided Tour & Tasting in English: $32
- Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $33
- Wine Museum Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $39
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Santander, we can see that Paris 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive? and Is Santander Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paris or Santander?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Paris 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 Paris 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 Paris or Santander in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Paris as well as Santander. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Paris this time of year.
In July, Paris is generally around the same temperature as Santander. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 20°C (68°F), and Santander fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santander. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Paris this time of the year. In the summer, Paris often gets more sunshine than Santander. Paris gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 213 hours of full sun.
Paris usually gets more rain in July than Santander. Paris gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Santander receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyParis 20°C (68°F)Santander 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Paris or Santander in the Autumn?
Both Santander and Paris are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Paris for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Paris is cooler than Santander in the autumn. The daily temperature in Paris averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Santander fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Paris usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santander during autumn. Paris gets 127 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 133 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. In October, Paris usually receives less rain than Santander. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 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 OctoberParis 13°C (56°F)Santander 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Paris or Santander in the Winter?
Both Santander and Paris during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Paris in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Paris can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Paris is much colder than Santander. Typically, the winter temperatures in Paris in January average around 5°C (40°F), and Santander averages at about 9°C (49°F).
In the winter, Paris often gets less sunshine than Santander. Paris gets 62 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santander receives 91 hours of full sun.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Paris usually gets less rain in January than Santander. Paris gets 55 mm (2.2 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 JanuaryParis 5°C (40°F)Santander 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Paris or Santander in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Paris and Santander. Most visitors come to Paris for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Paris is generally around the same temperature as Santander. Daily temperatures in Paris average around 11°C (52°F), and Santander fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Paris usually receives more sunshine than Santander during spring. Paris gets 172 hours of sunny skies, while Santander receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Paris usually receives less rain than Santander. Paris gets 50 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 AprilParis 11°C (52°F)Santander 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Santander and Paris
| Paris | Santander | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (40°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (42°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (52°F) | 50 mm (1.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (67°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 17°C (63°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (47°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°F) | 55 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.