Which place is cheaper, Varna or Santorini?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Santorini or Varna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Varna, 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 Varna?
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.
Varna
Varna is a coastal city on the Black Sea. It's the third largest city in Bulgaria and many people consider it the summer capital of the country. It's a major tourist destination and it can make for a relaxing escape at the beach if you're in Bulgaria during the summer. It is the only city in Bulgaria that cruises visit, and as such, it's tourist infrastructure has grown. In addition to being a tourist destination, Varna is also a business and university center, seaport, and the headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best 10-Day Tours in Bulgaria, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Bulgaria.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantorini €175Varna €61
The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is €175, while the average daily cost in Varna is €61. 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 Varna in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantorini €93Varna €33
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantorini €186Varna €66
Compare Hotels in Santorini and Varna
Looking for a hotel in Santorini or Varna? 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.
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 Varna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santorini €28Varna €8.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini
Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Skip Cable Car! Santorini Shore Excursion with Boat Transfer: $129
- 24h Luxury Santorini Transfer.Arrival/Departure one way: $76
- Arrival Private Transfer Santorini Airport JTR or Port to Santorini by Minibus: $46
- Arrival Private Transfer Santorini Airport JTR or Port to Santorini by Sprinter: $32
- Blue Dome And Oia Sunset Small Group Transfer: $37
- Blue Dome and Oia Sunset Small Group Transfer: $38
- Departure Private Transfer Santorini to Santorini Airport JTR by Sedan Car: $23
- Departure Private Transfer Santorini to Santorini Airport JTR or Port by Van: $32
- Departure Private Transfer Santorni to Santorini Airport JTR or Port by Sprinter: $46
- Departure Shared Transfer in Santorini Island: $22
- Departure Transfer To Santorini Port: $33
- Economy Roundtrip Transfer Santorini Airport ( Max 4 stop ): $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Varna:
- Varna to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $644
- Bucharest to Varna - Private Transfer: $451
- Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Sofia (SOF) Airport : $300
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sunny Beach: $219
- Private Transfer from Albena to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $155
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Sozopol: $155
- Varna Airport - Ravda | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $136
- Private Transfer from Golden Sands to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $131
- Varna Airport - Nessebar | Airport Transfer,Taxi, Bus, Van Service | Book Now: $131
- Private Transfer from Varna to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $128
- Private Transfer from Saints Constantine and Helena to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $123
- Private Transfer from Varna (VAR) Airport to Pomorie: $118
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Varna?
Prices for flights to both Varna 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 daySantorini €48Varna €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini
For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Romantic Sunset Caldera Cruise with Dinner: $70
- Santorini Caldera: Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $70
- Volcanic Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $80
- Catamaran Tour with BBQ Dinner, Drinks, and Music: $91
- Volcano and Hot Springs Sunset Dinner Cruise: $96
- Cooking Class in Traditional cave house in Santorini!: $120
- Sunset Cruise with Swim Stops, Dinner, and Drinks: $120
- Fira: 4-Hour Walking Food Tour With Tastings: $123
- Half-Day Sunset Wine Tasting Tour in Santorini with dinner: $123
- Luxury Sunset Cruise with Dinner & Open Bar: $128
- Sunset Sea Kayak with Light Dinner: $128
- Hands on Cooking Class with a Chef: $134
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santorini €36Varna €8.04
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
- Authentic A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Oia: $6.99
- Megalochori: Lost Atlantis 9D Experience Museum Entry Ticket: $15
- Skip the Line Lost Atlantis Experience Ticket: $15
- E-Ticket to Akrotiri with Audio Tour on your Phone: $15
- Akrotiri Archaeological Site Entry Ticket: $16
- Refundable Ticket for Akrotiri Archaeological Site : $20
- Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Cruise Tour from Fira Old Port: $27
- Volcanic Islands Cruise with Hot Springs Visit: $28
- Santorini Caldera Cruise Tour (Volcano, Hot Springs, Thirassia): $33
- Santorini Volcano Tour: $37
- Santorini Volcano & Hot Springs Tour : $40
- Santorini Volcano Half Day Tour: $44
Tours and Activities in Varna
Here are a few actual costs in Varna for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Action Aqua Park Entrance Ticket: $25
- Audio Guide for All Varna Sights, Attractions or Experiences: $15
- Bulgaria Day Bike & E-bike Tours - country & sea: $63
- E-Motorcycle Tour in Old Rock Monastery and Old Roman Fortress : $114
- From Hiking and Climbing Day Tour: $74
- From Rock Sanctuaries Hiking Tour: $74
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the North of Varna: $206
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour to the South of Varna: $206
- Full-Day Small-Group Tour of Bulgaria by Minivan with Lunch: $87
- GPS & Video guided Tour to The North Coast Of The Black Sea: $183
- Guided Nessebar Sightseeing Tour with Pick Up: $108
- Half Day Private Bicycle Tour in Varna: $29
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySantorini €26Varna €8.00
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: $60
- Top Sights Day Trip, Wine Tasting, & Oia Sunset: $63
- Fira Town Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $75
- Top Sights of Santorini with Wine Tasting and Sunset in Oia: $75
- Notos Day Tour through History & Wine Tasting: $98
- Santorini 4 Hour Private Oia Tour & Wine Tasting : $105
- Wine Tour with Sunset in Oia: $106
- Santorini Highlights Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Fira: $109
- 5 towns in 5 hours: Santorini Most Popular Tour with Wine tasting: $117
- Wine Tour Santorini: $118
- Wine tasting and Carving lesson in Santorini: $131
- Santorini 4-Hour Private Tour including Wine Tasting, Shore Excursion: $136
Sample the Local Flavors in Varna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Varna:
- Private Exploration: French Influence in Varna + Walking + Wine tasting tour: $53
- Bulgarian Wine Tasting & Art Gallery Experience in Varna: $53
- Varna Exquisite Wine Tasting: $64
- Private Varna Gourmet Tour with Superb Wine Tasting: $64
- The Ultimate Private Varna Walking, Culture & Wine Tasting Tour: $75
- E-bike & Wine Tour to the Bulgarian Coast: $104
- Varna Gourmet Tour including Wine Tasting: $127
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Varna, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Varna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varna 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 Varna.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santorini Expensive? and Is Varna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santorini or Varna?
Santorini has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of Varna. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Varna, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.