Should you visit Santorini or Dubrovnik?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Dubrovnik, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is a beautiful walled city in southern Croatia that sits on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. It's a small city, with only about 40,000 residents, but it's become one of the most significant tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city was historically built on maritime trade, which is not surprising given its location near major Italian and Greek ports such as Venice, Bari, Corfu, and Trieste. It was a center of language and literature and was the home of many important poets, playwrights, painters, and scientists during the 15th and 16th centuries. Today its economy is dependent on tourism and it is one of the most popular destinations in the region. People visit the city for its impressive history, beautiful setting, great weather, and interesting architecture.
Which city is cheaper, Dubrovnik or Santorini?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is €131, while the average daily cost in Dubrovnik 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Santorini and Dubrovnik in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Santorini can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €66, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €132.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €80 in Dubrovnik For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Santorini travelers spend around €38 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Dubrovnik food costs typically run travelers around €26 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Santorini €38
Dubrovnik €26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini
For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Santorini Caldera: Sunset Cruise with Dinner:
$56
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Wine & Food Tour:
$69
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A taste of Mediterranean Cuisine Dinner:
$86
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Santorini Volcano and Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise:
$92
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Fira: 4-Hour Walking Food Tour With Tastings:
$100
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Akrotiri Easy Hike, Beach Visit and Cooking Class:
$106
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Santorini : Sunset Sea Kayak & Snorkel with Dinner:
$118
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Santorini : Cooking Class, Easy Hike, and Snorkeling:
$131
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Santorini Sunset Fishing Trip with Dinner and Drinks:
$154
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Santorini Cooking Class with Wine Tasting & Lunch:
$177
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Santorini Cooking Class and Wine-Tasting Tour:
$177
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5-Hour Food Tour w/ Minibus:
$194
Typical Food prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubrovnik:
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Seafood Dinner (for 2)
€29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Unique Sunset and Dinner Cruise in the Magnificent Traditional Karaka boat:
$96
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Old Town Food Tour:
$130
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Flavours of Dubrovnik - Food Tour:
$131
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Croatian Traditional Cuisine: Peka Cooking Lesson:
$149
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Traditional Cooking Class in Dubrovnik Countryside:
$164
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Cooking Classes Traditional Meals of Konavle region:
$166
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Dubrovnik Food Tour with Friendly Local Guide:
$167
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E-Bike Tour + Farm To Table Cooking Class:
$184
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Dubrovnik Food Tour by Vidokrug:
$192
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Rural Side of Cooking Class in Local Household:
$281
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Croatian Cooking Class in a Local's Home in Rural Konavle:
$1,753
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Santorini than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €23 on transportation in Santorini on average per day.
Dubrovnik's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €9.96 per person, per day on transportation in Dubrovnik.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini
Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini:
$3,542
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Premium Santorini Private Day Tour Lagoon 450, BBQ, drinks, transfer:
$933
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Private Deluxe Transfer:
$86
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Tour of Caldera on Sailing Boat & Bus Transfer:Volcano-Hot springs-Thirassia-Oia:
$75
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Santorini Private Ride Transfer Services:
$65
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Santorini Taxi Service & Airport, Hotel and Port Transfers:
$65
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Santorini Airport Transfer to Fira or Imerovigli:
$56
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Transfer from Santorini Airport&Port all destination except OIA up to 4 customer:
$37
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Santorini Airport Hotels Transfer Shuttle Bus Service:
$28
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Santorini transfer service:
$17
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Oia Sunset: Evening Shuttle Transfer and Free Time:
$16
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Transfer Service:
$12
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubrovnik
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubrovnik:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubrovnik
Also for Dubrovnik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private transfer Dubrovnik Hvar with boat:
$2,256
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Private transfer Dubrovnik - Zagreb and explore sights along the way:
$1,680
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Transfer from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes:
$1,173
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Luxury Private Transfer from Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik airport to Sarajevo:
$1,020
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Private Transfer from Dubrovnik to Tuzla Airport (TZL):
$885
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Luxury Private Transfer from Sarajevo to Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik airport:
$846
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Private transfer Dubrovnik - Zadar and explore sights along the way:
$834
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Luxury Private Transfer from Dubrovnik/Dubrovnik airport to Hvar:
$765
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Split Private Transfer From Dubrovnik:
$690
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Dubrovnik - Hvar : Private One-Way Transfer with Mercedes Vehicles:
$639
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Transfer from Dubrovnik airport to Kolašin (Montenegro) ski resorts:
$597
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Private Transfer from Dubrovnik to Plitvice Lakes:
$585
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Dubrovnik?
Prices for flights to both Dubrovnik 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Santorini, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €29 per day, per person.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dubrovnik can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €15 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
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2-Hour Private Guided Tour in Akrotiri Prehistoric City:
$179
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3 Hour Santorini Walking Tour with Hotel Pickup:
$50
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5-Hour Private Tour of Southern Santorini:
$346
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5-Hour Santorini Photography Day Tour:
$606
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Archaeological Bus Tour To Akrotiri Excavations & Red Beach:
$40
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Best of Santorini Experience: 6-Hour Private Tour:
$58
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Best of Santorini Full-Day Private Guided Tour:
$649
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Cruise Traveller's Shore Excursion:
$59
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Discover Prehistoric Akrotiri & Winery Tour:
$171
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DreamCatcher Sunset Sailing Cruise in the Caldera:
$121
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Explore Akrotiri GroupTour:
$583
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Explore Akrotiri: Private Guided Tour with Hotel Pick-Up:
$272
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubrovnik
For Dubrovnik, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Boat to Lokrum Island (for 2)
€13
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Dubrovnik City Wall Tour (for 2)
€53
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Dubrovnik Cable Car (for 2)
€45
Tours and Activities in Dubrovnik
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubrovnik.
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'Up with the Chickens' or "Sunset chasing" Old Town Tour:
$16
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2 hours Elafiti Islands Private Tour by Barracuda 545:
$284
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4 Days Montenegro-Albania-Kosovo Tour from Dubrovnik or Kotor:
$918
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4 days hiking tour Valbona Valley National Park from Dubrovnik:
$762
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4 hours Private Speedboat Tour to Elaphite Islands by RANIERI SUN CRUISER 23:
$477
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4-Hours Dubrovnik Elaphiti Islands & Blue Cave Snorkeling Tour:
$75
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4-Night Three Countries Tour from Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina:
$954
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5 Days Deluxe Cruise from Dubrovnik to Split All Inclusive:
$1,534
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6-Night Independent Tour of Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast: Dubrovnik, Hvar, Korcula and Split:
$952
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7 Days Small-Group Tour from Dubrovnik to Athens via Albania:
$1,757
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8 h Private Speedboat Tour to Elaphite Islands by QUICKSILVER activ 675 open:
$584
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8 hours Dubrovnik Blue Cave Private Tour with boat:
$498
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Santorini, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €21.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Dubrovnik, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €11.
Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini
Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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5-Hour Santorini Tour with Wine Tasting:
$59
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Private Wine Tasting in a Winery With Caldera View:
$65
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Santorini Highlights Tour with Wine Tasting:
$69
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4-Hours Santorini Vothonas Village Tour with Wine Tasting:
$89
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Half-Day Santorini Tour Vothonas Village with Wine Tasting:
$93
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Authentic Santorinian Tour at Vothonas Village with Wine Tasting:
$93
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Santorini Small-Group Wine Tour:
$98
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Sunset and Wine Tasting Tour by Electric Bike:
$100
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Santorini-Wine Tour Αround Megalochori Village:
$111
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Santorini Small Group Tour with Wine Tasting:
$115
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Santorini-Wine Tour Around Megalochori Village:
$117
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Santorini-Wine Tour Around Megalochori Village:
$124
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubrovnik
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubrovnik:
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Sunset Sea Kayaking and Wine Tasting Tour Dubrovnik:
$44
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Wine tasting and visit to Ston- Group Tour:
$60
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Peljesac Peninsula Wine Tour from Dubrovnik:
$61
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Day Tour of Korcula Island from Dubrovnik with Wine Tasting:
$63
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FAMOUS LEGENDS OF PELJESAC and KORCULA with WINE TASTING:
$65
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Island of Korcula with Wine Tasting Day Trip from Dubrovnik:
$69
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Korčula tour with wine tasting from Dubrovnik:
$69
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Wine tasting and visit to Ston:
$72
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Wine Tasting Pelješac and a visit to Ston:
$72
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Konavle Valley Wine Tour from Dubrovnik with Train Ride and Wine Tasting:
$75
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Smiley wine tasting on peninsula Peljesac:
$76
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Smiley Hercegovina wine tour:
$77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Dubrovnik, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Dubrovnik much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dubrovnik would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dubrovnik 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 Dubrovnik.
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