A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santiago de Compostela vs. Costa Vicentina for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santiago de Compostela or Costa Vicentina?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Costa Vicentina? 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: Santiago de Compostela or Costa Vicentina?

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is the capital city of northwest Spain's Galicia region. Its famous cathedral marks the culmination of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route, and is the alleged burial site of the apostle himself. The pilgrimage route begins in the Pyrenees, 500 miles away, though travelers can decide to join the journey at certain points in between, depending on how far they want to walk and how much they want to see.

Costa Vicentina

Costa Vicentina is the beautiful coastal area in southwest Portugal which runs through both the Algarve and Alentejo Regions along the southern coast. This is actually part of the longest stretch of protected coastline in Portugal, making it one of the best places to experience the unadulterated beauty and nature of the country. Costa Vicentina offers miles of some of the best Portugal beaches, fantastic hiking trails, and lovely old villages to explore. The area sees far more Portuguese tourists than international ones, so expect Portuguese to be the only language spoken by many people, especially in the smaller villages.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Walking Tours in Portugal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Costa Vicentina or Santiago de Compostela?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago de Compostela is €91, while the average daily cost in Costa Vicentina is €125. 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 Santiago de Compostela and Costa Vicentina in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santiago de Compostela 37
    Costa Vicentina 66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santiago de Compostela 74
    Costa Vicentina 132
Compare Hotels in Santiago de Compostela and Costa Vicentina

Looking for a hotel in Santiago de Compostela or Costa Vicentina? 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 Santiago de Compostela


Hotels in Costa Vicentina


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: Santiago de Compostela Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santiago de Compostela 38
    Costa Vicentina 40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago de Compostela

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago de Compostela:

  • Airport Transfer Santiago de Compostela: $45
  • Airport transfer Santiago de Compostela: $71
  • Arrival Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela Airport to City Center by Minivan: $91
  • Departure Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela to SCQ Airport by Business Car: $38
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from SCQ Airport to City centre: $51
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport: $51
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport: $51
  • Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer to SCQ Airport by Van: $91

Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago de Compostela or Costa Vicentina?

Prices for flights to both Costa Vicentina and Santiago de Compostela 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
    Santiago de Compostela 19
    Costa Vicentina 34
Typical Food Prices in Santiago de Compostela

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santiago de Compostela:


  • Raspberries
    3.50
  • Ice Cream
    2.00
  • Cookie
    1.00
  • Kebab
    7.25
  • Dinner & Tapas (for 2)
    28
  • Tuna Empanada
    3.50
  • Fruit Shake
    3.50
  • Crepe
    4.00

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santiago de Compostela 39
    Costa Vicentina 17

Tours and Activities in Santiago de Compostela

Here are a few actual costs in Santiago de Compostela for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Old Town of Santiago de Compostela Walking Tour: $1.09
  • Secrets of A Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
  • Secrets of Private Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Old town walking tour with an Official Guide: $11
  • Guided Tour of the Old Town with an Official Guide: $11
  • Hostal de los Reyes Católicos Tour: $13
  • Land of Legends & Meigas Night Tour: $13
  • Night Tour Land of Legends and Meigas: $13
  • Queimada Experience Show and Tasting: $16
  • Museum Tour of Galician Culture: $16
  • Santiago: Cathedral & Museum Tour & Pórtico of Glory Option: $16
  • Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and Museum Guided Tour: $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santiago de Compostela 23
    Costa Vicentina 8.71
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santiago de Compostela

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santiago de Compostela from other travelers:


  • 1 Pint Beer
    2.00

Sample the Local Flavors in Santiago de Compostela

Also in Santiago de Compostela, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience: $31
  • Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience: $32
  • Albariño Wine Tasting with Winery Tour: $33
  • Premium Porto Santiago Compostela tour lunch & wine tasting: $214


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago de Compostela and Costa Vicentina, we can see that Costa Vicentina is more expensive. And not only is Santiago de Compostela much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santiago de Compostela would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santiago de Compostela 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 Vicentina would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Costa Vicentina than you might in Santiago de Compostela.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santiago de Compostela Expensive? and Is Costa Vicentina Expensive?.