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

Should you visit Santorini or Managua?

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

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

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.

Managua

Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Managua 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 Managua is €51. 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 Managua in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santorini 93
    Managua 21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santorini 186
    Managua 42
Compare Hotels in Santorini and Managua

Looking for a hotel in Santorini or Managua? 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 Managua


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 Managua Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santorini 28
    Managua 18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini

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

  • Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini: $3,767
  • Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise with BBQ,drinks,transfer: $180
  • Private Sunset Tour with Picnic & Transfer: $161
  • Santorini Small-Group Catamaran Sailing Trip(BBQ,drinks, transfer): $142
  • Caldera Cruise with Greek Meal and Transfer: $140
  • Skip Cable Car! Santorini Shore Excursion with Boat Transfers: $137
  • Luxury Santorini Sailing Cruise: Lunch, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers: $131
  • Santorini to Heraklion Crete: Ferry Ticket & Hotel Transfer: $126
  • Santorini to Mykonos: Ferry Ticket & Hotel Transfer: $126
  • Santorini Classic Catamaran Cruise with Meal Drinks and Transfers: $126
  • Santorini Private transfer up to 8 persons: $120
  • Santorini Sunset Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, drinks, transfer: $120

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua

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

  • Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
  • Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
  • Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
  • Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
  • Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
  • Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
  • Private Transfer from Managua Augusto Airport to Corinto Port: $71
  • Private Transfer from Managua City Hotels to Corinto Cruise Port: $71
  • Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua: $68
  • Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
  • Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
  • PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56

Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Managua?

Prices for flights to both Managua 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
    Managua 16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini

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

  • Traditional Greek Night live Music & Dinner Show in Santorini: $55
  • Santorini Caldera: Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $70
  • Romantic Sunset Caldera Cruise with Dinner: $70
  • Volcanic Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $81
  • Catamaran Tour with BBQ Dinner, Drinks, and Music: $85
  • Santorini Caldera Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Wine: $87
  • Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise: $97
  • Santorini Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $108
  • Santorini Volcano Sunset Cruise Including Dinner on Board: $108
  • The Aegean Cooking Class: $109
  • Cooking Class in Traditional cave house in Santorini!: $120
  • Fira: 4-Hour Walking Food Tour With Tastings: $124

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santorini 36
    Managua 15

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 Private Half Day Tour : $218
  • 2-Day Santorini Bus Tour with Volcanic Cruise: $109
  • 3 Hour Sightseeing Tour in the Magical Santorini: $74
  • 3 Hour Tour in Oia: $120
  • 3 Hours Private Santorini Tour: $137
  • 3-Hour Santorini Highlights Tour: $71
  • 4 Hour Eat and Drink Private Tour in Santorini: $296
  • 4 hours Private Half Day Tour in Santorini Island: $175
  • 4 hrs island tour and photoshooting, Oia Blue domes, Red beach : $197
  • 4-Hour Private Custom Santorini Tour: $162
  • 5 Hour Sightseeing Tour in the Magical Santorini: $111

Tours and Activities in Managua

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

  • 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
  • Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
  • Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
  • Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
  • Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
  • Managua City Tour: $84
  • Managua City Tour: $88
  • Managua Love Stories: A Romantic Tour: $191
  • Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $323
  • Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $164
  • Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
  • Masaya volcano Night Tour: $110

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santorini 26
    Managua 10

Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini

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

  • Top Sights Day Trip, Wine Tasting, & Oia Sunset: $63
  • Fira Town Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $75
  • Visit to a Wine Museum and Wine Tasting in Santorini : $76
  • 2 Hours Private Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini With Pick Up: $87
  • Notos Day Tour through History & Wine Tasting: $98
  • Wine Tour with Sunset in Oia: $107
  • Santorini Highlights Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Fira: $109
  • 5 towns in 5 hours: Santorini Most Popular Tour with Wine tasting: $117
  • 3-Hour Wine Tasting in Santorini : $126
  • Santorini Wine Adventure with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas and Sunset: $131
  • Santorini wine tasting and Traditional Cave Settlement Tour: $142
  • Intimate Santorini - Small Group Shore Excursion and Wine Tasting: $142


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Managua, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santorini is in Europe and Managua is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Managua.

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


Which is Bigger, Santorini or Managua?

Managua has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Santorini. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Managua, 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.