Which place is cheaper, Playa de las Americas or Santiago de Compostela?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas? 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 Playa de las Americas?
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.
Playa de las Americas
If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantiago de Compostela €91Playa de las Americas €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Santiago de Compostela is €91, while the average daily cost in Playa de las Americas is €195. 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 Playa de las Americas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantiago de Compostela €37Playa de las Americas €115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantiago de Compostela €74Playa de las Americas €230
Compare Hotels in Santiago de Compostela and Playa de las Americas
Looking for a hotel in Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas? 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: Santiago de Compostela Hotel Prices and Playa de las Americas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santiago de Compostela €38Playa de las Americas €56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago de Compostela
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago de Compostela:
- Arrival Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela Airport to City Center by Minivan: $91
- Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer to SCQ Airport by Van: $91
- Airport transfer Santiago de Compostela: $71
- 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
- Airport Transfer Santiago de Compostela: $45
- Departure Private Transfer Santiago de Compostela to SCQ Airport by Business Car: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas?
Prices for flights to both Playa de las Americas 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
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Food Meals for one daySantiago de Compostela €19Playa de las Americas €45
Typical Food Prices in Santiago de Compostela
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santiago de Compostela:
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Raspberries€3.50
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Ice Cream€2.00
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Cookie€1.00
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Kebab€7.25
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Dinner & Tapas (for 2)€28
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Tuna Empanada€3.50
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Fruit Shake€3.50
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Crepe€4.00
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santiago de Compostela €39Playa de las Americas €30
Tours and Activities in Santiago de Compostela
Here are a few actual costs in Santiago de Compostela for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 5-day Private Tour Northern Spain (from Bilbao or Santiago): $5,294
- Christmas Enchantment: Walking Tour in Compostela: $459
- Complete Santiago Tour with tickets- Full experience in 4H: $48
- Excursion to Finisterre, Muxia and Cabo Vilan With Boat Cruise : $59
- Exploration of Compostela Walking Tour for Families: $352
- Exploring Santiago de Compostela Walking Tour for Couples: $352
- Finisterre y Costa da Morte el tour más completo desde Santiago: $53
- From Santiago: Finisterre Lighthouse Sunset Tour: $36
- From Santiago: Fuciño do Porco Hiking Tour: $80
- From Santiago: Rías Baixas Galicia Seafood & Wine Day Tour: $59
- From Santiago: Ribeira Sacra Tour & Boat Trip: $61
- Full-Day Excursion to Santiago from A Coruña- Cruisers Only: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantiago de Compostela €23Playa de las Americas €8.57
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:
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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 Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas 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 Playa de las Americas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas?
Santiago de Compostela has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Santiago de Compostela and Playa de las Americas, 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 Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas?
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 Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?
Both Playa de las Americas and Santiago de Compostela during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santiago de Compostela this time of year.
Santiago de Compostela is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in Santiago de Compostela averages around 19°C (66°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Santiago de Compostela. In the summer, Santiago de Compostela often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun.
Santiago de Compostela usually gets more rain in July than Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySantiago de Compostela 19°C (66°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Santiago de Compostela and Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Santiago de Compostela for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Santiago de Compostela is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santiago de Compostela in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa de las Americas this time of the year. Santiago de Compostela usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during autumn. Santiago de Compostela gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Santiago de Compostela gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Santiago de Compostela usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSantiago de Compostela 16°C (61°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Santiago de Compostela as well as Playa de las Americas. Many visitors come to Santiago de Compostela in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Santiago de Compostela is generally much colder than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Santiago de Compostela average around 11°C (51°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In the winter, Santiago de Compostela often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela gets 103 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun.
Santiago de Compostela receives a lot of rain in the winter. Santiago de Compostela usually gets more rain in January than Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySantiago de Compostela 11°C (51°F)Playa de las Americas 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?
Both Playa de las Americas and Santiago de Compostela are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Santiago de Compostela for the natural beauty during these months.
Santiago de Compostela is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in Santiago de Compostela averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during spring. Santiago de Compostela gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Santiago de Compostela usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Santiago de Compostela gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSantiago de Compostela 13°C (55°F)Playa de las Americas 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Santiago de Compostela
| Santiago de Compostela | Playa de las Americas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 11°C (51°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (52°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (53°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 15°C (58°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 17°C (62°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 19°C (66°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 19°C (67°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (65°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Dec | 11°C (52°F) | 128 mm (5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.