A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aswan vs. Santillana for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aswan or Santillana?

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

Should I visit Aswan or Santillana? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Aswan or Santillana?

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

Santillana

A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Spain, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Santillana or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Aswan Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Santillana Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Aswan $31
    Santillana $149

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $31, while the average daily cost in Santillana is $149. 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 Aswan and Santillana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $10
    Santillana $70
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $20
    Santillana $140
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Santillana

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Santillana? 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 Aswan


Hotels in Santillana


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: Aswan Hotel Prices and Santillana Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.70
    Santillana $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Aswan to Luxor Private Car Transfer: $80
  • Private Transfer from Aswan to Marsa-Alam: $87
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Luxor: $35
  • Transfer Service to Luxor from Aswan: $100
  • VIP Aswan to Hurghada Transfer: Luxury and Comfort: $95
  • "Aswan to Hurghada: Luxe Private Transfer - Comfort Guaranteed ": $130
  • 3-Day Guided tours to Aswan, Abu Simbel and Luxor & Train and Transfers : $167
  • Abu Simbel Day Trip from Aswan with transfers : $45
  • Abu Simbel Shared Transfer: $27
  • Abu Simbel from Aswan in Egypt - Private Tour (guide and transfers Included): $150
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise: $40
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Santillana?

Prices for flights to both Santillana and Aswan 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
    Aswan $16
    Santillana $62

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Nubian Dinner in Nubian Village Of Aswan: $40
  • Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
  • Dinner on board a cruise on the Nile: $59
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90

Typical Food Prices in Santillana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:


  • Breakfast
    $8.21

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $9.77
    Santillana $27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:

  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $10
  • Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
  • Private 2 Hour Guided Tour to Philae Temple from Aswan: $15
  • Nubian Museum Tour: $15
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Half Day Philae Temple and High-Dam Private Tour in Aswan: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Philae Temple Secrets: Private Aswan Adventure: $20
  • High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, & Philae Private Tour: $20
  • Nubian Village Tour: $20
  • Aswan Engineering Marvels Private High Dam & Obelisk Tour: $20
  • "Aswan Gems: Private Tour of Dam, Obelisk & Philae Temple": $20

Tours and Activities in Santillana

Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Private Guided Walking Tour of Santillana del Mar: $215
  • Private Walking Tour of Altamira and Neocave Museum: $239

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.12
    Santillana $5.03


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Santillana, we can see that Santillana is more expensive. And not only is Aswan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aswan is in Africa and Santillana is in Europe, 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 Aswan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aswan 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 Santillana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santillana than you might in Aswan.

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


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Santillana?

Aswan has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Santillana, 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.