Should you visit Santorini or Split?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Split, 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.
Split
Spit is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.
Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.
Split is also a must-visit on a trip through the country. It can easily fit in to a one-week itinerary of Croatia, or many other routes, as it's centrally located and very accessible.
Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.
Which city is cheaper, Split 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 Split is €87. 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 Split 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.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Split, €118 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Split, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €59, such as in a hostel.
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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Split than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €12 on transportation in Split on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini
Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Santorini Airport&Port all destination except OIA up to 4 customer:
$37
-
Tour of Caldera on Sailing Boat & Bus Transfer:Volcano-Hot springs-Thirassia-Oia:
$75
-
Shared Transfer Service:
$17
-
Private Transfer to/from Santorini Airport (JTR):
$50
-
Private Airport Transfer:
$25
-
Santorini transfer service:
$17
-
Santorini Taxi Service & Airport, Hotel and Port Transfers:
$62
-
Santorini Airport to Hotel: Private Arrival Transfer:
$45
-
Santorini Airport Hotels Transfer Shuttle Bus Service:
$27
-
Premium Santorini Private Day Tour Lagoon 450, BBQ, drinks, transfer:
$933
-
Oia Sunset: Evening Shuttle Transfer and Free Time:
$23
-
Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini:
$2,839
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split
Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Yacht Transfer: Split to Vis:
$1,400
-
Private Yacht Transfer: Split to Hvar:
$1,275
-
Private transfer from Split (Croatia) to Venice (Italy):
$1,182
-
Luxury Private Transfer from Split to Ljubljana:
$1,045
-
Private Transfer from Split to Tuzla Airport (TZL):
$885
-
Zagreb to Private Transfer with Plitvice Lakes:
$845
-
Private Speed Boat Transfer from Split Airport to Hvar:
$802
-
From Split to Zagreb with Plitvice Lakes private one way transfer:
$796
-
Split Airport to Hvar Island: One-Way Private Water Transfer in Speedboat:
$709
-
Private transfer from Split to Zagreb:
$663
-
Split - Budapest Transfer:
$641
-
Split to Zagreb Private Transfer with Krka or Plitvice Lakes National Park:
$597
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Split?
Prices for flights to both Split 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
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.
Food in Split costs travelers about €19 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Santorini €38
Split €19
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:
$26
-
A taste of Mediterranean Cuisine Dinner:
$90
-
Hands on Cooking Class with a Chef:
$90
-
Fira: 4-Hour Walking Food Tour With Tastings:
$108
-
Sunset Sea Kayak and Snorkel with Dinner:
$108
-
Santorini : Sunset Sea Kayak & Snorkel with Dinner:
$118
-
Santorini : Cooking Class, Easy Hike, and Snorkeling:
$131
-
Cooking Class with Santorini’s Aroma:
$506
-
Full-Day Royalty Private Cooking Class and Tour in Santorini:
$506
-
Cooking Class with Santorini’s Aroma:
$546
-
Santorini Private Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner, Drinks &Transfer included:
$1,350
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split
For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Krka Waterfalls with Dinner in Split included:Pizza or Burger with Fries & Drink:
$62
-
Private Dining: Traditional Dalmatian family dinner near Marjan Hills:
$102
-
Cooking Class in a Dalmatian Ethno Village Tour from Split:
$116
-
The Real Split Food Tour:
$118
-
Exclusive tour: NP Krka Bike Tour with traditional dinner:
$174
-
Hvar Wine Tour + Dalmatian Dinner:
$255
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 expenses in Split, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €2.96 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
-
3 Hour Santorini Walking Tour with Hotel Pickup:
$50
-
5-Hour Santorini Photography Day Tour:
$606
-
Discover Prehistoric Akrotiri & Winery Tour:
$182
-
Explore Akrotiri GroupTour:
$583
-
Exploring the Myth of Santorini - Full Day Tour:
$133
-
From Athens: Overnight Tour to Santorini:
$373
-
From Folegandros Private Rib Boat Tour:
$2,725
-
Full-Day Royalty Private Wine Walking Tour in Santorini:
$428
-
Full-Day Santorini Southeastern Side Tour with Drink Tasting:
$127
-
Half-Day Private Santorini Tour with Hidden Beaches:
$323
-
Half-Day Walking Tour in Santorini with Canava Ouzo Visit:
$413
-
Highlits Of Santorini Private Tour:
$560
Tours and Activities in Split
For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
"Blue Lagoon" Half day Chill out tour from Split:
$68
-
1 Day Pass HOP ON-HOP OFF Bus tour from Split:
$25
-
1.5-Hour Split Evening Walking Tour:
$22
-
10-Day Adriatic Island Hopping Active Tour from Split:
$1,821
-
2 Hours Private Guided Walking Tour in Split Old Town:
$187
-
2 Hours Split Walking tour with free food tasting:
$37
-
2-Hour Private Guided Tour of Split in a Classic Ford T:
$51
-
3-Day Croatia Hiking and Biking Small-Group Tour:
$775
-
3-Day Private Sailing Tour from Split:
$4,168
-
3-Hour Lavender Tour from Hvar:
$102
-
3-Hour Split Deep Water Soloing and Cliff Jumping Adventure:
$54
-
3-Island Split Boat Tour (Šolta Drvenik Mali, Drvenik Veli):
$83
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.
Typically, people visiting Split spend on average €6.35 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini
Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
4-Hours Santorini Vothonas Village Tour with Wine Tasting:
$89
-
Authentic Santorinian Tour at Vothonas Village with Wine Tasting:
$93
-
Half-Day Santorini Tour Vothonas Village with Wine Tasting:
$93
-
Santorini-Wine Tour Αround Megalochori Village:
$111
-
Sunset and Wine Tasting Tour by Electric Bike:
$114
-
Santorini-Wine Tour Around Megalochori Village:
$117
-
Santorini-Wine Tour Around Megalochori Village:
$124
-
Santorini-Sunset Caldera’s View from Megalochori with Wine Tasting:
$134
-
Santorini-Sunset Caldera’s View from Megalochori with Wine Tasting:
$140
-
Half-Day Sunset Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini with Pick Up:
$141
-
Santorini Wine Tasting and History Small Group Tour:
$153
-
4-Hour Sunset Wine Tour:
$159
Sample the Local Flavors in Split
Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Tower Pub Crawl in Split:
$37
-
Krka Waterfalls Tour & Wine Tasting from Split:
$37
-
Krka Waterfalls and Sibenik Day Trip Including Wine Tasting from Split:
$49
-
Wine Tasting With walking Small group Tour in Split:
$53
-
Blue Lagoon & Wine tasting - 3 islands tour:
$87
-
Split Wine Tasting Walking Tour:
$101
-
Hvar 3-Hour Wine Tasting Tour:
$113
-
Zinfandel Wine Tour:
$124
-
Full-Day Split Food and wine tour to Peljesac:
$133
-
Beer Tasting Split - visit to the local brewery:
$137
-
Diocletian's Palace Private Food and Wine Tour:
$147
-
Solta Island Wine Tasting Tour Including Lunch:
$152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Split, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Split much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Split would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Split 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 Split.
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