Which place is cheaper, Como or Santander?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santander or Como?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Santander and Como can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santander or Como?
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.
Como
At the foot of the jagged cliffs of the Alps lies an expanse of shimmering waters made a golden white by the sun and pockmarked by sailors. Its blue waters beckon you to come forth and dive deep into the mystic body of Lago di Como, or Lake Como. With an area of 146 square kilometers, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, right after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore. The lake was originally named by the Romans after the city of Comum, now presently called Como. Lake Como is shaped into an inverted "Y," with towns like Como, Lecco, Bellagio, Menaggio and Lierna situated around it.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rome, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Rome.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantander €108Como €214
The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Como is €214. 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 Santander and Como in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantander €51Como €146
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantander €102Como €292
Compare Hotels in Santander and Como
Looking for a hotel in Santander or Como? 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: Santander Hotel Prices and Como Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santander €24Como €14
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Como
Also for Como, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Argegno: Private Transfer to/from Malpensa Airport: $235
- Bellagio to Malpensa Airport Milan (MXP) - Departure Private Transfer: $78
- Como Private Transfer from Como city centre to Milan Malpensa Airport: $221
- From Bellagio or Como hotels to Venice (+water taxi) - Private Transfer: $193
- From Como : Private 1-Way Transfer to Malpensa airport: $336
- From Private 1-Way Transfer to Linate airport: $306
- From Milan center : Private 1-Way Transfer to Como: $275
- Milan Private Transfer from Cernobbio (Como) to Milan airports (LIN or MPX): $243
- Pirvate transfer from Malpensa airport to Como and Cernobbio: $207
- Private Transfer From Lecco or Malgrate: $65
- Private Transfer from Como to Milan hotels: $53
- Private Transfer from Lezzeno or Pognana Lario or Faggeto Lario: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Como?
Prices for flights to both Como and Santander 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 daySantander €41Como €60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Como
For Como, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- COOKING, EATING, LOVING - Lasagna cooking Class for everyone!: $45
- Cantonese Dimsum Cooking Lesson in Como or Lugano with Chef Ling: $49
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Lentate Verbano with Show Cooking: $93
- Lake Como Food Tour - Eat like a real Local: $108
- Tour and historical dinner: Lake Como 1690: $131
- Como Food Tour and the Farmers Market: $139
- Homemade Pasta Cooking Class: $160
- Como Area: Pizza Training Experience: $160
- Pizza Training Experience. Como Area: $163
- Lecco Bike Tour & Pizza Lunch: $163
- Private Market Tour & Lunch or Dinner with a Local: $171
- Como Food Tour: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santander €18Como -
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
Tours and Activities in Como
For Como, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Agra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Como: $8.71
- Como Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
- Como Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.94
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Como and its Breathtaking Lakeside: $20
- Self-Guided Tour of Como and its Breathtaking Lakeside: $20
- Lake Self-Guided Walking Tour - Downtown Como: $21
- Como City Audio Guide and Skip The Ticket Line to Brunate: $22
- Como City Walking Tour : $27
- City Tour with Duomo Visit and First Basin Lake Cruise: $32
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- 90minutes Tea Preparation and Tasting Experience in Como: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantander €14Como -
Sample the Local Flavors in Como
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Como:
- Domaso: Wine Tasting at the Winery on Como Lake: $60
- Italian Wine Tasting & Food Como Lake: $70
- Lake Food and Wine tour in Colico: $114
- Wine Tastings with Chef Luigi Gandola: $135
- Private Wine Tasting in Bellagio with Chef Luigi Gandola: $185
- Food and Wine Tours Lake Como: $196
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and Como, we can see that Como 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 Como would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Como 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 Santander Expensive? and Is Como Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santander or Como?
Santander has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Como. When comparing the sizes of Santander and Como, 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 Santander or Como?
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 Santander or Como in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Santander as well as Como. Additionally, many travelers come to Como for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
Santander is cooler than Como in the summer. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Como fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Como. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In the summer, Santander often gets less sunshine than Como. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Como receives 250 hours of full sun.
Santander usually gets less rain in July than Como. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Como receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantander 19°C (66°F)Como 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Santander or Como in the Autumn?
Both Como and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Como in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Santander is around the same temperature as Como. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santander in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Como averages at about 15°C (58°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Como during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Como receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Como. It's quite rainy in Santander. In October, Santander usually receives more rain than Como. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Como receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantander 16°C (60°F)Como 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Santander or Como in the Winter?
Both Como and Santander during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Como for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Como can be very cold during winter. In January, Santander is generally much warmer than Como. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 9°C (49°F), and Como fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Santander often gets less sunshine than Como. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Como receives 119 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets more rain in January than Como. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Como receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantander 9°C (49°F)Como 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Santander or Como in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Como. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Como because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
Santander is around the same temperature as Como in the spring. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Como fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Como during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Como receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Santander usually receives more rain than Como. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Como receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantander 12°C (53°F)Como 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Como and Santander
| Santander | Como | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 60 mm (2.4 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.