Which place is cheaper, Milan or Santander?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santander or Milan?
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 Milan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santander or Milan?
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.
Milan
Milan, known to most of the world as the capital of fashion and style, is also the heart of Italian industry and economics. Between the stock exchange, cathedrals and boutiques, this metropolis is a city-lover's dream come true. It is an escape from the stresses of the real world, and provides a playground for all the world's most lavish luxuries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Italy.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantander €108Milan €166
The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Milan is €166. 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 Milan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantander €51Milan €96
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantander €102Milan €192
Compare Hotels in Santander and Milan
Looking for a hotel in Santander or Milan? 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 Milan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santander €24Milan €35
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Milan
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Milan:
-
Train to Airport€7.00
-
Malpensa Airport Train (for Two)€22
-
Taxi From Airport€90
-
Public Transit Day Pass€4.50
-
Short Taxi Ride€7.13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Milan
Also for Milan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Milan to Bergamo Airport (BGY) - Departure Private Transfer : $46
- Milan to Como hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $107
- Airport Transfer: Malpensa Airport MXP to Milan by Luxury Van: $140
- Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Car LIN airport to Milan: $102
- Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van LIN airport to Milan: $81
- Arrival Private Transfer: Malpensa Airport MXP to Milan in Luxury Van: $139
- Arrival Private Transfer: Toulouse Airport TLS to Toulouse in Luxury Van: $92
- BERGAMO ORIO AL SERIO - MILANO airport transfer: $191
- BERGAMO ORIO AL SERIO - Milano airport transfer with private Luxury Van: $186
- Basel : Private Transfer to/from Milan Malpensa Airport: $1,016
- Bellagio : Private Transfer to/from Milan Malpensa Airport: $278
- Bergamo Airport(BGY) to Val Gardena/Alta Badia - Arrival Transfer: $193
Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Milan?
Prices for flights to both Milan 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 daySantander €41Milan €39
Typical Food Prices in Milan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Milan:
-
Snack at Train Station€8.60
-
Restaurant Pizza€6.60
-
Casual Cafe Lunch (for Two)€27
-
Three Course Dinner (for Two)€64
-
Cappuccino€1.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Milan
For Milan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- PYT Milano Dinner Show with Live Music and DJ Set: $21
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Milan Gourmet Food Tour and Sightseeing with Local Guide: $38
- Gourmet Street Food Tour with Sightseeing and Tasting: $45
- Eating Milan Street Food Tour with Guided Tasting and Sightseeing: $46
- Tasty Milan Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $46
- Delicious Milan Street Food Tour Tasting and Sightseeing with Local Guide: $46
- Devour Milan Street Food Tour and Sightseeing: $46
- NO DIET CLUB - Best Food Tour in Milan !: $59
- NO DIET CLUB - Best Food Tour in Milan !: $60
- Local Market and Cooking Class with an Italian Chef: $70
- Italian Cooking Class with Food and Wine: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santander €18Milan €31
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Milan
For Milan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Stairs to Duomo Rooftop€7.00
Tours and Activities in Milan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Milan.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- The City Storytelling Experience: Art, History and Myths Come Together: $3.26
- Milano Walking Tour with Audio and Written Guide by a Local: $4.19
- Giuseppe Verdi in Self-Guided Audio Tour: $4.60
- Unique Self-Guided Audio Tour on Alessandro Manzoni: $4.60
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Exploring Age-Old Plants: $4.60
- Self-Guided Audio Tour Exploring the Famous Five Days: $4.60
- From Italy eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.81
- Stories of the Fashion Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Milan: $5.49
- The Best of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.36
- Branca Tower Entrance Ticket: $6.42
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySantander €14Milan €24
Typical Alcohol Prices in Milan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Milan:
-
Cocktail at a Bar€8.40
-
Beer€3.35
Sample the Local Flavors in Milan
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Milan:
- Wine Tasting Experience in the City Centre: $43
- Wine Tasting Experience in Milan city centre: $44
- Milan Wine Tasting Experience: $52
- Italian Wine Tasting in Milan: $53
- Milan Wine Tasting Aperitivo: $56
- Milan Wine Tasting with Italian Sommelier: $86
- Private Food and Wine Tasting Experience in the Center of Milan: $87
- Wine Tasting with an Italian Sommelier: $93
- Best of Guided Tour with Duomo, Food & Wine Tasting: $159
- Food and Wine Tasting enjoying the New Milan: $164
- Brescia & Franciacorta Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $181
- Brescia and Franciacorta winery area. Cultural and wine tasting small group tour: $184
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and Milan, we can see that Milan 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 Milan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milan 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 Milan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santander or Milan?
Milan has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Santander and Milan, 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 Milan?
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 Milan in the Summer?
Both Milan and Santander during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Milan in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Santander is cooler than Milan in the summer. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Milan fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In Milan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Santander. In the summer, Santander often gets less sunshine than Milan. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 250 hours of full sun.
Santander usually gets less rain in July than Milan. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Milan receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulySantander 19°C (66°F)Milan 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Santander or Milan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Milan. Furthermore, most visitors come to Milan for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In the autumn, Santander is around the same temperature as Milan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santander in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Milan averages at about 15°C (58°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Milan during autumn. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Milan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Santander usually receives more rain than Milan. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Milan receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantander 16°C (60°F)Milan 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Santander or Milan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santander as well as Milan. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Milan because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Milan can be very cold. In January, Santander is generally much warmer than Milan. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 9°C (49°F), and Milan fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Santander often gets less sunshine than Milan. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Milan receives 119 hours of full sun.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the winter. Santander usually gets more rain in January than Milan. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Milan receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantander 9°C (49°F)Milan 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Santander or Milan in the Spring?
Both Milan and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Milan this time of year.
Santander is around the same temperature as Milan in the spring. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Milan fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Santander usually receives less sunshine than Milan during spring. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies, while Milan receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Santander. In April, Santander usually receives more rain than Milan. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Milan receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantander 12°C (53°F)Milan 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Milan and Santander
| Santander | Milan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.