Should you visit Santorini or Cappadocia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Cappadocia, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Santorini or Cappadocia?
Santorini
Santorini is a volcanic island that is part of the Cyclades group of the Greek Islands. It has some spectacular views, beautiful sunsets, and excellent beaches. As one of the most popular of the Greek Islands to visit, Santorini sees many tourists every year. However, it's for a good reason, as the famous white-washed buildings that spill down the hill, some with blue domes that match the gorgeous color of the water, are set against the beautiful mountainous backdrop of one of the most scenic areas of the Mediterranean. Home to several of these small and scenic towns such as Oia, Kamari, Perissa, and Fira, visitors can explore the large island, enjoy delicious food, swim at the beaches, hike the hills, and sail the blue waters.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Turkey, and The Best Adventure Tours to Turkey.
Which place is cheaper, Cappadocia or Santorini?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is €175, while the average daily cost in Cappadocia is €142. 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 Santorini and Cappadocia in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Santorini or Cappadocia? 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:
Santorini Hotel Prices and
Cappadocia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini
Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini:
$3,725
-
Santorini Airport Transfer For Group:
$298
-
Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise with BBQ,drinks,transfer:
$180
-
Santorini Airport(JTR) to Santorini - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$142
-
Santorini Small-Group Catamaran Sailing Trip(BBQ,drinks, transfer):
$142
-
Santorini Luxury Catamaran Sunset Cruise with BBQ, Drink and Transfer:
$142
-
Caldera Cruise with Greek Meal and Transfer:
$138
-
Private Sunset Tour with Picnic & Transfer:
$128
-
Santorini to Heraklion Crete: Ferry Ticket & Hotel Transfer:
$125
-
Santorini to Mykonos: Ferry Ticket & Hotel Transfer:
$125
-
Santorini Private transfer up to 8 persons:
$120
-
Santorini Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Transfer:
$120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia
Also for Cappadocia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Cappadocia Balloon Ride with Breakfast, Champagne and Transfers:
$250
-
2 Days 1 Night Cappadocia Tour (Airport Transfer, Hotel, Daily Tour And Atv):
$235
-
Cappadocia Package Tour withTransfers + 1 Night Hotel,1 Day Tour:
$190
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride with Transfers:
$185
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Hacibektas Hotels:
$168
-
Kayseri Airport ASR Transfers to Nigde City Centre Hotels:
$163
-
Transfer from Kayseri and Nevsehir Airport Cappadocia mercedes for 16 people:
$162
-
Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport NAV Transfers to Guzelyurt Hotels:
$157
-
Cappadocia Private Transfer round trip NAV&ASR Airports to Hotels:
$155
-
Transfer from Cappadocia Hotels to Nevşehir or Kayseri Airport (private):
$147
-
Private Transfer from Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) to Cappadocia Hotels:
$140
-
Private Transfers Kayseri Apt to/from Kaymaklı or Özkonak Underground Cities:
$131
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Cappadocia?
Prices for flights to both Cappadocia and Santorini 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
Santorini €48
Cappadocia €46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini
For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Santorini Caldera: Sunset Cruise with Dinner:
$69
-
Romantic Sunset Caldera Cruise with Dinner:
$69
-
Volcanic Sunset Cruise with Dinner:
$80
-
Catamaran Tour with BBQ Dinner, Drinks, and Music:
$90
-
Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise:
$96
-
Santorini Cooking Class with Wine Tasting:
$108
-
The Aegean Cooking Class:
$109
-
Santorini Sunset Sailing Cruise: Dinner, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers:
$118
-
Sunset Cruise with Swim Stops, Dinner, and Drinks:
$120
-
Cooking Class in Traditional cave house in Santorini!:
$120
-
Fira: 4-Hour Walking Food Tour With Tastings:
$122
-
Half-Day Sunset Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini with dinner:
$123
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Turkish Night Show in Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Transfer:
$43
-
Turkish Night with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks İn the Rock Cave:
$43
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Entertainments:
$62
-
Turkish Night Show & Dinner:
$63
-
Romantic Cappadocia Sunset Dinner and Wine :
$65
-
Cappadocia Cave Restaurant for Dinner and Turkish Entertainments:
$70
-
2-Hour Cappadocia Turkish Night Show and Dinner Experience:
$76
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner:
$85
-
Cappadocia Home Cooking Experience Farm to table Culinary class :
$92
-
Cooking Class at Exclusive Kings Valley:
$108
-
Cappadocia Evening Cooking Class With A Local:
$110
-
Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Drinks:
$114
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
-
Santorini Panoramic Blue Shade Tour-Firostefani, Imerovigli, Oia:
$62
-
Santorini Secrets & Gems for Cruise Passengers:
$96
-
3-Hour Private Tour in Oia:
$218
-
3-Hour Santorini Highlights Tour:
$71
-
4 Hour Eat and Drink Private Tour in Santorini:
$296
-
4 Hour Private Guided Tour in Santorini:
$218
-
4 Hours Private Custom Tour in Santorini:
$186
-
4 hrs island tour and photoshooting, Oia Blue domes, Red beach :
$197
-
4-Hour Private Custom Santorini Tour:
$162
-
5 Hour Private Tour in Santorini:
$191
-
5 Hour Santorini Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers:
$71
-
5 Hours Private Island Tailormade Tour in Santorini:
$153
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia
For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Underground City Entrance for Two
€0.87
-
Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
€17
-
Horseback Riding for Two
€3.32
-
Cappadocia Driving Tour
€3.54
-
Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
€0.43
-
Whirling Dervishes Show
€2.90
-
Turkish Bath
€2.03
-
Hot air ballooning
€12
-
Goreme open air museum
€0.58
-
Bellydancing Show
€3.76
Tours and Activities in Cappadocia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.
-
2 Days Cappadocia Red & Erciyes Ski Tour:
$220
-
2 days Cappadocia Full Turkish night Show, Atv & Red Tour:
$175
-
ATV (Quad) Tour in Cappadocia-2 Hours:
$49
-
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Experience in Göreme:
$161
-
Cappadocia Red Tour Small Group:
$98
-
Cappadocia relax tour car and driver:
$130
-
Full day private cappadocia tour With professional guide:
$217
-
Highlights of Cappadocia All in One Tour:
$217
-
1 Hour ATV Tour:
$27
-
1, 2 or 3 Days Private Cappadocia Tour Best Seller:
$250
-
1-Hour Hot Air Balloon Tour in Cappadocia Goreme Valley:
$250
-
2 Days Cappadocia Tour from Ankara:
$260
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini
Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Half Day Simply Santorini Tour with Wine Tasting:
$60
-
Top Sights Day Trip, Wine Tasting, & Oia Sunset:
$62
-
Fira Town Walking Tour with Wine Tasting:
$74
-
Top Sights of Santorini with Wine Tasting and Sunset in Oia:
$75
-
Notos Day Tour through History & Wine Tasting:
$98
-
Santorini 4 Hour Private Oia Tour & Wine Tasting :
$105
-
Wine Tour with Sunset in Oia:
$105
-
Santorini Highlights Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Fira:
$109
-
3-Hour Wine Tasting in Santorini :
$126
-
Wine tasting and Carving lesson in Santorini:
$131
-
Santorini Wine Adventure with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas and Sunset:
$131
-
Small Group Local Wine Tasting Tour In Santorini :
$131
Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:
-
Wine Tasting in Cappadocia Turkey:
$22
-
Cappadocia Nightlife Experience: Bar and Pub Crawl Tour:
$32
-
Private Sunset and Wine Tasting Experience in Cappadocia:
$87
-
Full-day Cappadocia Tour with wine tasting and clay shaping :
$90
-
3-Hour Private Wine Tasting Tour in Cappadocia:
$174
-
Ancient Cappadocia's Wine Tasting - Private Tour:
$275
-
Private Tour: Best of Cappadocia with Wine Tasting:
$282
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Cappadocia, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Cappadocia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cappadocia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cappadocia 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini than you might in Cappadocia.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santorini Expensive? and Is Cappadocia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santorini or Cappadocia?
Santorini has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Cappadocia, 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.
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