A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santorini vs. Ephesus for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santorini or Ephesus?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Ephesus, 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 Ephesus?

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.

Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC). It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The temple was destroyed in 401 AD and rebuilt by Emperor Constantine I along with new public baths. The town was again partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Kucuk Menderes).

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Cultural Tours in Turkey, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Turkey.


Which place is cheaper, Ephesus 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 Ephesus is €133. 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 Ephesus in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santorini 93
    Ephesus 65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santorini 186
    Ephesus 130
Compare Hotels in Santorini and Ephesus

Looking for a hotel in Santorini or Ephesus? 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 Santorini


Hotels in Ephesus


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 Ephesus Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santorini 28
    Ephesus 48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini

Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini: $3,800
  • Private Sunset Tour with Picnic & Transfer: $163
  • Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise with BBQ,drinks,transfer: $144
  • Santorini Airport(JTR) to Santorini - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $144
  • Caldera Cruise with Greek Meal and Transfer: $141
  • Santorini to Heraklion Crete: Ferry Ticket & Hotel Transfer: $127
  • Santorini to Mykonos: Ferry Ticket & Hotel Transfer: $127
  • Santorini Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Transfer: $121
  • Santorini Private transfer up to 8 persons: $121
  • Santorini Sunset Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, drinks, transfer: $121
  • Wine Tasting Tour to 3 Wineries with Transfer: $117
  • Private Arrival Transfer From Santorini Port To All Destinations: $110

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ephesus

Also for Ephesus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Airport Transfer In Ephesus: $205
  • Private Transfer From Kusadasi to Pamukkale: $199
  • Private Transfers From Kusadasi: $176
  • Kusadasi Hotels to Bodrum Airport BJV Transfers: $171
  • Akbuk Hotels to Izmir Airport ADB Transfers: $165
  • Milas Bodrum Airport (BJV) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $140
  • Kusadasi to Pamukkale Hotels Private Transfer: $138
  • Private Transfers İzmir City Adnan Menderes Apt to/from Selçuk, Ephesus, Şirince: $131
  • VIP Transfer Kusadasi From/To Bodrum Airport: $128
  • Private Transfer | KUSADASI - IZMIR Airport: $121
  • Kusadasi Private Transfer from Kusadasi hotels to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport: $101
  • Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) Transfer to OR from Kusadasi: $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Ephesus?

Prices for flights to both Ephesus 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
    Ephesus 31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini

For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Live Virtual Cooking Class: $25
  • Traditional Greek Night live Music & Dinner Show in Santorini: $55
  • Romantic Sunset Caldera Cruise with Dinner: $71
  • Santorini Caldera: Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $71
  • Virtual Private Cooking Class Live from Santorini: $72
  • Volcanic Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $81
  • Santorini Caldera Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Wine: $88
  • Catamaran Tour with BBQ Dinner, Drinks, and Music: $92
  • Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise: $98
  • Santorini Volcano Sunset Cruise Including Dinner on Board: $109
  • Cooking Class in Traditional cave house in Santorini!: $121
  • Sunset Cruise with Swim Stops, Dinner, and Drinks: $122

Typical Food Prices in Ephesus

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ephesus:


  • Sandwiches
    0.14
  • Dessert
    0.16
  • Lunch at Beach (for 2)
    0.55
  • Snacks
    0.23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ephesus

For Ephesus, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cooking Class in Kusadasi Ephesus: $110
  • Ephesus Tour with Cooking Class in the Village: $159
  • Cooking Class in Ephesus Selcuk Town: $230

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santorini 36
    Ephesus 54

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: $63
  • Santorini Secrets & Gems for Cruise Passengers: $97
  • Oia Sunset- Cultural Walking Tour : $66
  • 3-Hour Santorini Highlights Tour: $72
  • 4 Hour Private Guided Tour in Santorini: $221
  • 4 Hours Private Custom Tour in Santorini: $188
  • 4 Hours Santorini Private Tour: $150
  • 4 hours Private Half Day Tour in Santorini Island: $177
  • 4 hrs island tour and photoshooting, Oia Blue domes, Red beach : $199
  • 5 Hour Sightseeing Tour in the Magical Santorini: $113
  • 5-Hour Private Tour of Southern Santorini: $407
  • 6 Hours Land Tour Ideal for Cruise Ship Passengers: $287

Tours and Activities in Ephesus

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ephesus.

  • Ephesus Half Day Small Group Tour: $40
  • Ephesus Shared Tour from Kuşadası Port: $130
  • Ephesus Tour With Small Group From Kusadasi: $87
  • Ephesus Tour from Kusadası Port: $140
  • Ephesus small groups Tour For Cruisers (skip the line): $100
  • Ephesus tours Sirince Village from Kusadasi Port with lunch: $63
  • Ephesus tours and Virgin Mary's House Temple Artemis tours : $67
  • Private Kusadasi Walking Tour : $89
  • Private Tour to Ephesus, Virgin Mary, and Artemis Temple From Cruise Ship/Hotel: $120
  • Small Group Pamukkale Day Tour from Selcuk or Kusadası : $93
  • "Ephesus Tours" Port Kusadasi lunch guide bus shopping Caravanserai artemis : $58
  • "No Better Way to Explore History - Affordable Ephesus Tour": $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santorini 26
    Ephesus 14

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: $61
  • Top Sights of Santorini with Wine Tasting and Sunset in Oia: $61
  • Top Sights Day Trip, Wine Tasting, & Oia Sunset: $70
  • Fira Town Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $76
  • Santorini 4-Hour Private Tour including Wine Tasting, Shore Excursion: $105
  • Santorini 4 Hour Private Oia Tour & Wine Tasting : $106
  • Santorini Highlights Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Fira: $110
  • Wine Tour with Sunset in Oia: $119
  • Santorini Wine Adventure in 3 Wineries with Wine Tastings, Sunset: $133
  • Wine Adventure in 3 Wineries and 12 Wine Tastings: $157
  • Three Wineries and One Brewery Tour with Tastings: $163
  • Wine Tasting Tour & Sunset Viewing: $163

Typical Alcohol Prices in Ephesus

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


  • Beer
    0.12

Sample the Local Flavors in Ephesus

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

  • Ephesus port tours and Wine Tasting Tours : $70
  • Ephesus&Sirince Village with Wine Tasting Shore Ex: $100
  • Ephesus and Sirince with Wine tasting Private Half Day Shore Excursion: $100
  • Ancient Ephesus tour with Wine Tasting in the village and visit to Mother's Mary House: $131
  • Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting: $149
  • Full-Day Private Ephesus Tour with Wine Tasting from Kusadasi: $150
  • Ephesus and Wine Tasting Tour From Kusadasi with Private Guide and Van: $219
  • Virgin Mary Bread and Wine Tour included Lunch: $300


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Ephesus, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Ephesus much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ephesus would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ephesus 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 Ephesus.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santorini Expensive? and Is Ephesus Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Santorini or Ephesus?

Santorini has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Ephesus. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Ephesus, 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.