A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santander vs. Costa de Prata for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santander or Costa de Prata?

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 Costa de Prata can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Santander or Costa de Prata?

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.

Costa de Prata

Costa de Prata is a region located on the Silver Coast of Portugal, an hour north of Lisbon. The area is known for its beautiful beaches, ancient architecture, and relaxed, welcoming, atmosphere. The area experiences gorgeous weather nearly all year round, with temperatures in the high 70's and 80's Fahrenheit from May-September. June-August sees the warmest ocean temperatures, making these the best months for swimming. Even during their winter, temperatures rarely dip below 60°F, although ocean temperatures drop, making swimming a bit colder.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Costa de Prata or Santander?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Costa de Prata is €151. 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 Costa de Prata in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santander 51
    Costa de Prata 78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santander 102
    Costa de Prata 156
Compare Hotels in Santander and Costa de Prata

Looking for a hotel in Santander or Costa de Prata? 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.

Hotels in Santander


Hotels in Costa de Prata


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santander 24
    Costa de Prata 53

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 Santander or Costa de Prata?

Prices for flights to both Costa de Prata 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Santander 41
    Costa de Prata 44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santander 18
    Costa de Prata 13

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santander 14
    Costa de Prata 8.13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and Costa de Prata, we can see that Costa de Prata 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 Costa de Prata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Costa de Prata 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 Costa de Prata Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Santander or Costa de Prata?

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 Costa de Prata in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Santander as well as Costa de Prata.

In July, Santander is generally cooler than Costa de Prata. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 19°C (66°F), and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santander this time of the year. In the summer, Santander often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 308 hours of full sun.

Santander usually gets more rain in July than Costa de Prata. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Santander 19°C (66°F) 
    Costa de Prata 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Santander or Costa de Prata in the Autumn?

Both Costa de Prata and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities.

Santander is cooler than Costa de Prata in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

Santander usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 184 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Costa de Prata. It's quite rainy in Santander. In October, Santander usually receives more rain than Costa de Prata. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Santander 16°C (60°F) 
    Costa de Prata 18°C (65°F)

Should I visit Santander or Costa de Prata in the Winter?

Both Costa de Prata and Santander during the winter are popular places to visit.

In the winter, Santander is cooler than Costa de Prata. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santander in January average around 9°C (49°F), and Costa de Prata averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In the winter, Santander often gets less sunshine than Costa de Prata. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Costa de Prata receives 124 hours of full sun.

Costa de Prata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Costa de Prata. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Santander 9°C (49°F) 
    Costa de Prata 11°C (51°F)

Should I visit Santander or Costa de Prata in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Costa de Prata.

In April, Santander is generally cooler than Costa de Prata. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 12°C (53°F), and Costa de Prata fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Costa de Prata this time of the year. Santander usually receives less sunshine than Costa de Prata during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Costa de Prata receives 217 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 Costa de Prata. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Costa de Prata receives 92 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Santander 12°C (53°F) 
    Costa de Prata 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Costa de Prata and Santander

Santander Costa de Prata
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 9°C (49°F) 149 mm (5.9 in) 11°C (51°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Feb 10°C (50°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Mar 10°C (51°F) 119 mm (4.7 in) 13°C (56°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Apr 12°C (53°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
May 14°C (58°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 77 mm (3 in)
Jun 17°C (62°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 21°C (69°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Jul 19°C (66°F) 50 mm (2 in) 23°C (73°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Aug 19°C (67°F) 89 mm (3.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Sep 18°C (64°F) 88 mm (3.4 in) 22°C (71°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 16°C (60°F) 138 mm (5.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Nov 12°C (53°F) 181 mm (7.1 in) 14°C (57°F) 128 mm (5 in)
Dec 10°C (50°F) 157 mm (6.2 in) 11°C (52°F) 130 mm (5.1 in)


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