Should you visit Santorini or Montpellier?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Montpellier, 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.
Montpellier
Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and also has been the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. Graceful and easy-going, Montpellier is a stylish metropolis with elegant buildings, grand hotels, private mansions, stately boulevards and shady backstreets, and gorgeous white-sand beaches on its doorstep. Unlike many southern towns, Montpellier has no Roman heritage. Instead it was founded in the 10th century by the counts of Toulouse and later became a prosperous trading port as well as a scholarly center - Europe's first medical school was established here in the 12th century. The population swelled in the 1960s when many French settlers left independent Algeria and relocated here, and it's now France's fastest-growing city and one of its most multicultural areas. Students make up over a third of the population, giving it a spirited vibe.
Which city is cheaper, Montpellier 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 Montpellier is €84. 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 Montpellier 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.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €90 for a double occupancy room in Montpellier.
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.
In Montpellier travelers spend around €25 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Santorini €38
Montpellier €25
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montpellier
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montpellier.
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Montpellier countryside dinner with local food & wine:
$81
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Vintage private wine and food tour from Montpellier:
$180
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €21 per day to get around in Montpellier.
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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Oia Sunset: Evening Shuttle Transfer and Free Time:
$16
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Premium Santorini Private Day Tour Lagoon 450, BBQ, drinks, transfer:
$933
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Santorini Airport Hotels Transfer Shuttle Bus Service:
$28
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Santorini Airport Transfer to Fira or Imerovigli:
$56
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Santorini Airport and Ferry Ports Shared Transfer:
$10
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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 transfer service:
$17
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Airport, Port, and Hotels Minibus Transfer:
$8.07
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Private Deluxe Transfer:
$86
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Transfer Service:
$12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montpellier
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montpellier:
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Transfer Montpelier Airport to Avignon:
$411
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Transfer Montpelier Airport to Nimes City or Nimes Airport:
$224
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Montpellier Private Transfer from Montpellier city centre to Montpellier Airport:
$84
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Private Transfer: Montpellier Airport (MPL) to Montpellier:
$62
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Private Transfer: Montpellier to Montpellier Airport (MPL):
$62
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Departure Transfer Montpellier to Montpellier Airport MPL by Private Vehicle:
$26
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Montpellier?
Prices for flights to both Montpellier 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €9.71 per person, per day in Montpellier. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
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Firostefani & Oia Village Minibus Panoramic Tour:
$22
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Minibus Panoramic Sightseeing Tour:
$23
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Unique Oia's Sunset Tour in Santorini:
$30
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Santorini-Unique Oia’s Sunset Tour:
$31
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Royalty Unique Oia’s Sunset Tour in Santorini:
$31
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Mesa Gonia, Pyrgos and Oia Tour:
$33
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From Nea Kameni and Hot Springs 4-Hour Tour:
$38
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Archaeological Bus Tour To Akrotiri Excavations & Red Beach:
$40
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Island Bus Tour: The Majestic Spots Of Santorini:
$44
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3 Hour Santorini Walking Tour with Hotel Pickup:
$50
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Santorini Volcano and Thirassia Islands Tour:
$51
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Volcanic Sunset Cruise:
$54
Tours and Activities in Montpellier
Here are a few actual costs in Montpellier for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Camargue and Aigues-Mortes safari tour from Montpellier:
$112
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From Half-day Pic Saint Loup Wine Experience:
$48
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Full Day Pic Saint Loup Wine and Olive Tour with Lunch from Montpellier:
$373
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Full Day Private Tour of Roman Monuments:
$829
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Full day small-group tour Vineyards and Villages from Montpellier:
$149
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Montpelier Discovery : Big Historic Tour - 1h30:
$50
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Montpellier 1-Hour Old City Segway Tour:
$38
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Montpellier Private Walking Tour:
$230
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Montpellier Self-Guided Walking Tour with Qula City Trails:
$36
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Montpellier private walking tour:
$198
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Noilly Prat Vermouth Cellar Tour and Tastings in Marseillan:
$22
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Pic Saint Loup Winetour & food:
$100
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Montpellier may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €12 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 Montpellier
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montpellier:
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Hike to the top of "Pic Saint Loup" and a wine tasting:
$68
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Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Wine Tour from Montpellier:
$81
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Small-Group Half-Day Châteaux of Montpellier Wine Tour:
$81
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Private tour: Exclusive Wine Tour in Languedoc from Montpellier:
$336
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Montpellier, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Montpellier much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montpellier would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montpellier 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 Montpellier.
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