Should you visit Santiago de Compostela or Pontevedra?
Should I visit Santiago de Compostela or Pontevedra? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Pontevedra
An important port city with a medieval past, Pontevedra sits on the northwestern coast of Spain where the Lerez River opens out into the ocean. It is a part of the Galicia region and is known for its seafood, charming plazas, and old world architecture that include a number of chapels, churches, and cathedrals.
Which city is cheaper, Pontevedra 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 €73, while the average daily cost in Pontevedra is €96. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Santiago de Compostela and Pontevedra in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €30. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Santiago de Compostela the cost is €60 on average.
The prices for places to stay in Pontevedra can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €49, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €98.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Santiago de Compostela €30
Pontevedra €49
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Santiago de Compostela
€60
Pontevedra
€98
Food
Food in Santiago de Compostela costs travelers about €16 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The average traveler spends about €34 per day in Pontevedra for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santiago de Compostela
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santiago de Compostela.
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Santiago Market and Food Tour:
$75
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Dinner Tapas Tour of Santiago:
$93
Typical Food prices in Pontevedra
For Pontevedra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Santiago de Compostela is €30 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Pontevedra than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €18 on transportation in Pontevedra on average per day.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Santiago de Compostela €30
Pontevedra €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santiago de Compostela
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santiago de Compostela:
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Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport:
$58
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Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from the city centre to SCQ Airport:
$58
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Santiago de Compostela Private Transfer from SCQ Airport to City centre:
$58
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Santiago de Compostela Private Departure Transfer:
$71
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Santiago de Compostela Private Arrival Transfer:
$71
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Santiago de Compostela Departure Private Transfer to SCQ Airport in 6 Seater Van:
$78
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Santiago de Compostela Airport Arrival Private Transfer to City Center:
$60
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Private Transfer From/To Santiago de Compostela Airport:
$53
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Private Premium Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon + 2h Sightseeing:
$450
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Private Airport Transfer: Santiago De Compostela Airport (SCQ) to Compostela:
$27
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Private Airport Transfer: Compostela to Santiago De Compostela Airport (SCQ):
$27
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Porto Private Transfer to or from Santiago de Compostela:
$129
Is it cheaper to fly into Santiago de Compostela or Pontevedra?
Prices for flights to both Pontevedra 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.
Entertainment
Santiago de Compostela's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €31 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Sightseeing expenses in Pontevedra, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €15 per day, per person.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Santiago de Compostela €31
Pontevedra €15
Tours and Activities in Santiago de Compostela
Here are a few actual costs in Santiago de Compostela for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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5-Day Galicia Tour: Santiago de Compostela to Allariz:
$1,300
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6-day Walking Tour from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre:
$632
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8 Days Guided Tour from Santiago to Lisbon:
$1,113
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Finisterre, Muxía and Coast of Death: Full-Day Cultural Tour:
$41
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Full-Day Finisterre & Muxia Guided Tour from Santiago:
$41
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Full-day Rias Baixas Guided Tour from Santiago:
$56
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Galicia 4-day Food & Wine Private Tour:
$1,723
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Galicia's Death Coast Private Day Tour:
$319
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Gourmet Lunch Tour of Santiago:
$106
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Lugo & Cathedrals Beach Private Tour:
$447
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Luxury Finisterre Saint James Way Private Tour:
$558
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Old Town of Santiago de Compostela Walking Tour:
$1.24
Tours and Activities in Pontevedra
For Pontevedra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Pontevedra Unveiled (walking tour):
$19
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Santiago de Compostela may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €18 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Pontevedra spend on average €16 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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:
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:
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Albariño Private Wine Tour from Santiago de Compostela:
$351
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santiago de Compostela and Pontevedra, we can see that Pontevedra 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 Pontevedra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pontevedra than you might in Santiago de Compostela.
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