Which place is cheaper, Zagreb or Santander?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santander or Zagreb?
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 Zagreb can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Santander or Zagreb?
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.
Zagreb
Zagreb, in central Croatia, is the country's capital. It has a wonderful old town that has cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and a great atmosphere. Many people travel to Croatia specifically for its beaches and coastal towns, but if you overlook this lovely capital city, you'll miss a large part of the culture and personality that is Croatia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantander €108Zagreb €77
The average daily cost (per person) in Santander is €108, while the average daily cost in Zagreb is €77. 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 Zagreb in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantander €51Zagreb €48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantander €102Zagreb €96
Compare Hotels in Santander and Zagreb
Looking for a hotel in Santander or Zagreb? 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 Zagreb Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santander €24Zagreb €9.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santander
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santander:
- One-way Private Transfer From/To Santander Airport: $41
- Private Transfer from Santander Port to Bilbao Airport: $251
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao: $251
- Private Transfer from Santander city to Bilbao Airport: $251
- Santander Private Arrival Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Departure Transfer: $35
- Santander Private Transfer from Santander Airport to City centre: $43
- Santander Private Transfer from the city centre to Santander Airport: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagreb
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagreb:
- Airport Zagreb Transfer and Shuttle : $98
- Arrival Private Transfer from Zagreb Airport ZAG to Zagreb City by Business Car: $47
- Departure Private Transfer from Zagreb City to Zagreb Airport ZAG by Minivan: $66
- Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) to Zagreb-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $33
- From Sarajevo: One-Way Transfer to Zagreb & Plitvice Lakes: $428
- From Split: Transfer to Zagreb with Stop at Plitvice Lakes: $149
- From Plitvice Lakes Round-Trip Comfort Bus Transfer: $16
- From Transfer to Split & Plitvice Lakes Guided Tour: $159
- Guided transfer from Zagreb to Split with Plitvice Lakes stop: $152
- Luxury Private Transfer Zagreb - Zagreb Airport: $40
- Luxury Private Transfer Zagreb Airport to Hotels and Vice Versa: $87
- One-Way Private Transfer to/from Zagreb Airport: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Santander or Zagreb?
Prices for flights to both Zagreb 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 €41Zagreb €16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zagreb
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zagreb.
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $74
- Taste Zagreb Food Tour: $75
- Private Authentic Croatian Cooking Class in Central Zagreb: $114
- Private Authentic Market Tour and Cooking Class in the Heart of Zagreb: $144
- PRIVATE Half-Day Food Tour: The 10 Tastings of Zagreb With Locals: $196
- Wine & Food tour of Plešivica near Zagreb: $952
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santander €18Zagreb €12
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: $54
- 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: $78
- Picos, Santo Toribio Monastery and Potes Day Tour: $82
Tours and Activities in Zagreb
Here are a few actual costs in Zagreb for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- Nikola Tesla Technical Museum Ticket: $4.28
- Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.35
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.42
- Skip-the-Ticket-Line Museum of Broken Relationships: $7.49
- Zagreb Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $9.62
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Zagreb's Old Town: Walking In-App Audio Tour(ENG): $11
- Small-Group Walking Highlights Tour: $16
- City Walking Tour w/ Funicular Ride and WW2 Tunnels: $19
- City Walking Tour with Funicular Ride & WW2 Tunnels: $19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantander €14Zagreb €8.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Zagreb
Also in Zagreb, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Zagreb Pub Crawl: $16
- Zagreb:Private Bar Crawling and Alcohol Testing with a Guide: $32
- Zagreb Wine Tasting & Jarun Lake Tour: $75
- Plesivica countryside Wine Tasting: $199
- Fairytale castle & delicious wine tasting and lunch: $202
- Private Wine Tasting Tour from Zagreb: $208
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santander and Zagreb, we can see that Santander is more expensive. And not only is Zagreb much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zagreb would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagreb 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 Santander would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santander than you might in Zagreb.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santander Expensive? and Is Zagreb Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santander or Zagreb?
Zagreb has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santander. When comparing the sizes of Santander and Zagreb, 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 Zagreb?
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 Santander or Zagreb in the Summer?
Both Zagreb and Santander are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Zagreb for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Santander is generally cooler than Zagreb. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 19°C (66°F), and Zagreb fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Zagreb. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually receives less sunshine than Zagreb during summer. Santander gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Zagreb receives 266 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Santander usually receives less rain than Zagreb. Santander gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantander 19°C (66°F)Zagreb 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Santander or Zagreb in the Autumn?
Both Zagreb and Santander during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Zagreb because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Santander is a little warmer than Zagreb in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santander averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Zagreb fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the autumn, Santander often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Zagreb. Santander gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zagreb receives 133 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santander. Santander usually gets more rain in October than Zagreb. Santander gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantander 16°C (60°F)Zagreb 13°C (55°F)
Should I visit Santander or Zagreb in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santander and Zagreb. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Zagreb this time of year.
It's quite cold in Zagreb in the winter. In the winter, Santander is much warmer than Zagreb. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santander in January average around 9°C (49°F), and Zagreb averages at about 1°C (35°F).
Santander usually receives more sunshine than Zagreb during winter. Santander gets 91 hours of sunny skies, while Zagreb receives 54 hours of full sun in the winter.
Santander gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Santander usually receives more rain than Zagreb. Santander gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantander 9°C (49°F)Zagreb 1°C (35°F)
Should I visit Santander or Zagreb in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santander as well as Zagreb. Also, many travelers come to Zagreb for the activities around the city.
In April, Santander is generally around the same temperature as Zagreb. Daily temperatures in Santander average around 12°C (53°F), and Zagreb fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
In the spring, Santander often gets less sunshine than Zagreb. Santander gets 148 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Zagreb receives 163 hours of full sun.
Santander receives a lot of rain in the spring. Santander usually gets more rain in April than Zagreb. Santander gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Zagreb receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantander 12°C (53°F)Zagreb 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Zagreb and Santander
| Santander | Zagreb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (49°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 119 mm (4.7 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 14°C (58°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (64°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (53°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 62 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.