Is Santorini Expensive To Visit? Santorini Prices In 2026
Wondering is Santorini expensive to visit? You’re in the right place!
I visited Santorini several times throughout the years, and one thing is for sure – Santorini is not cheap.
You’ll find luxury accommodations, fine dining restaurants, and extravagant yacht tours in Santorini.
However, if you don’t stay in a cliffside villa in Oia or eat out for every meal, you can easily visit Santorini on a budget because there is something for everyone.
Let’s find out exactly how expensive is Santorini!
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Is Santorini Expensive?
Yes. Santorini is an expensive island to visit.
It is one of the most expensive destinations in Greece, but you can also visit Santorini on a budget.
Accommodation in Santorini is expensive, especially if you want to stay in one of those bucket-list cliffside cave villas in Oia or Fira.
Yet, the accommodation prices in Perissa or Kamari are similar to those in most other Mediterranean countries.
Santorini is considered a romantic getaway destination, so you’ll find many fine dining restaurants along the caldera with stunning sunset views.
It is popular with couples for a reason, and you can feel like you’re in a fairytale.
But there are also places where you can get a gyros or falafel wrap for 3-5€!
If you’re in the mood for a private sailing tour, you can get that in Santorini, but it comes with quite a hefty price tag.
Why is Santorini expensive?
Santorini is the most popular place to visit in Greece. Also, it is an island, so the space for accommodation is limited, and most products need to be imported from mainland Greece.
People come to Santorini looking for luxury, so that’s what Santorini offers!
Also, summer in Europe is expensive in most coastal destinations, so you can save money just by avoiding summer.
Santorini Budget Breakdown
| Accommodation 🏡 | 70-150€ (High Season) 40-80€ (Shoulder Season) |
| Getting Around Bus 🚌 | 0-10€ |
| Food 🥙 | 15-30€ |
| Drinks 🍸 | 0-15€ |
| Activities 👯 | 0-100€ |
TOTAL: 85-300€ per day in high season
Santorini is one of the more expensive destinations in Greece, and you can expect to spend 85-300€ per person per day in high season!
How much it costs to visit Santorini depends dramatically on your travel style.
I tracked everything I spent in Santorini, and I can tell you that Santorini on a budget is possible!
I visited Santorini in September, so the accommodation prices were significantly lower than during the summer.
This is a budget travel blog, so I’ll assume you’re not getting a villa with a private pool for 1.500€ per night.
If you want to stay on a budget, I suggest having at least one meal at home. Expect to spend 10€ to 20€ per restaurant meal, even breakfast, so it adds up.
You don’t have to spend any money on attractions, as there are many free things to do in Santorini.
However, if you want to go on a boat tour, wine tasting, or anything else, it will cost you €50 to €100.
On average, this is how much you should budget for Santorini per day:
Accommodation Prices in Santorini
Price: €70 to 150€ per night in high season
Accommodation will be your biggest expense in Santorini, but also the one that changes the most depending on when you visit.
If you’re set on visiting Santorini in summer, the accommodation prices will be almost 50% higher than in the shoulder season.
I was in Santorini in mid-September. The weather was fantastic, and the accommodation was way cheaper than from June through August.
Still, Santorini accommodation prices were higher than prices in Corfu.
Also, you can cut the accommodation cost in half by strategically choosing where to stay in Santorini.
Oia and Fira are usually the most expensive areas, while Perissa and Kamari are the budget-friendly options.
I stayed 1 night in Fira and 2 nights in Perissa, and the second two nights cost me as much as just one night in Fira!
Mid-Range Accommodation in Santorini
- Apricus is a stunning boutique hotel in Perissa. You’ll love their beautifully decorated rooms, with lots of light wood and airy colors.
- Christos Apartments Oia is the best mid-range option in Oia, with fantastic ratings and unmatched sunset views.
- Markakis Studios is a perfect choice if you’re looking for mid-range accommodation in Fira.
Santorini Luxury Hotels
There is no limit when it comes to luxury hotels in Santorini. Here are my favorite affordable luxury places on the island.
- Kapari Natural Resort features iconic cave-style rooms with private pools on the cliffside of Santorini.
- Kastro Oia is an Instagram-famous villa. It is known for its unique orange walls and private hot tubs overlooking the caldera.
- Caldera Cliff Illusion is the best option for a budget-friendly caldera side villa in Fira and a true bucket list accommodation.
Budget Options in Santorini
There are several hostels in Santorini for solo travelers.
- Bedspot Hostel is the best backpacker hostel in Fira. This boutique hostel is in the heart of Fira, close to all the bars, restaurants, and the stunning caldera.
- Central Hostel Oia is a beautiful hostel for solo travelers looking for a beautiful place to stay in the heart of Oia.
- Three Harites is an excellent choice for beach enthusiasts seeking a budget-friendly option in Santorini.
Cost Of Eating Out In Santorini
Price: €15 to €25 for a meal in a restaurant
Eating out can be as expensive and as cheap as you want it to be.
Sure, there are many fine-dining restaurants in Santorini where you can pay up to 100€ for a meal and drinks.
However, I had a fantastic vegan gyro in Oia for about 6€ while most restaurants around served meals for about 2030€.
On average, you should expect to pay around 15-20€ per meal. Which is honestly not that bad compared to prices in Paris or London.
Coffee is 3-5€ in Santorini, depending on the place and whether you take plant-based milk or not.
My favorite ice cream place in Fira had 1 scoop of ice cream for about 3,5€ – but it was a big scoop!
Also, you can always grab a gyro for 3-4€ if you’re only spending a day or two in Santorini before moving to cheaper islands.
I didn’t notice that prices in restaurants increase during the high season, which is great.
Even compared to prices in Paros or Naxos, the restaurants were not dramatically more expensive.
Is Nightlife in Santorini Expensive?
Price: €15 to €20 for a cocktail in a nice sunset bar
Santorini nightlife can be as expensive as you want it to be.
If you want to grab a cocktail while watching the sunset along the caldera, that’s going to cost you at least 20€.
However, you can get a drink on Perissa’s side of the island for half the price.
The cheapest drink option is usually a beer, and that costs on average 5€.
Supermarket Prices in Santorini
There are several supermarkets in Santorini, and prices are quite similar to Western European prices.
Sure, it is slightly more expensive than mainland Greece, but nothing dramatic. If you know where is Santorini located, it makes sense that importing food makes prices increase.
Even if you don’t buy anything else, you’ll need to buy water because tap water is not drinkable in Santorini.
If you’re staying longer on the island, try going to Lidl to stock up on breakfast foods and snacks.
They usually have the best prices, as they don’t increase the prices on the islands (at least in Croatia, they have this practice, and I think it’s so cool!)
When I say that supermarkets in Santorini aren’t expensive, I’m talking about fresh produce and Greek brands. Specially imported items are likely to be more expensive than in your home country.
Getting Around Santorini
Price: €2 to €3 per bus ticket
It is easy and cheap to get around Santorini by public transport.
KTEL buses connect virtually every village on the island with the island’s capital Fira.
That means wherever you stay, you can quickly reach Fira and switch to a different bus to get to your final destination.
The price of a bus ticket depends on the distance, but it will be 2.50€ or less for a one-way ticket.
You don’t even need a taxi to get from the airport to Fira, because there is a bus every hour.
The price of a regular ticket increases by 0,50€ for night buses, 00:30-05:00, so it is something to remember if you’re going for a night out.
Santorini is safe at night, so you can take night buses without worrying.
Cost of Renting A Car in Santorini
Price: €40 to €60 per day, depending on how long you rent it for
I don’t think you need to rent a car in Santorini, as the public transport is quite well developed.
If you prefer having your own vehicle, I recommend you book the car online as soon as possible.
By booking in advance, you can get a car for about €30 per day in the low season, which is a fantastic price!
In high season, rental cars start at about 50€ per day if you book in advance, and can be up to 100€ per day at the last minute!
I rent cars through this website, as they compare the prices of all rental companies on the island and usually offer better prices than booking directly.
The price of renting a car in Santorini is much higher than the prices in Naxos, which is considered one of the cheapest Cyclades.
Cost of Santorini Day Trips
Price: €50 to €150 per organised activity
Activities in Santorini range from free to extravagant.
Going to the beach is one of the best things to do in Europe in summer, and it is completely free in Santorini!
You’ll find several fantastic beaches on the opposite side of the caldera, like Black Perissa Beach, Red Beach, and White Beach.
Also, the popular hike from Fira to Oia is free, and so is the sightseeing.
However, sunset sailing in Santorini is one of the bucket list experiences, and it will set you back at least 100€ per person. A private boat cruise will cost up to 2000€.
Day trips to other islands and boat or kayak tours are also about 100€ per person.
So, if you want to save money in Santorini, opt for one bucket list experience and enjoy free activities the rest of the time!
FAQ: Prices In Santorini
Yes, Santorini can be expensive for food and drink, but there are many budget-friendly restaurants too. Generally, everything will be more expensive than in mainland Greece, including groceries.
Yes, Santorini is an expensive vacation destination. However, if you come to Santorini for the beaches, you can stay in Perissa or Kamari. That is where the beaches are, and the accommodation is a fraction of the price in Fira or Oia.
Yes, certain areas of Santorini are overpriced. This mostly concerns Fira, Oia, and other villages along the caldera side. However, you can find affordable accommodation and restaurants in villages on the opposite side.
Yes, if you’re backpacking Santorini, you can spend less than $50 US per day. To stay on this budget, you should stay in a hostel or share a hotel room, enjoy free activities, and get around by bus.
Yes, Santorini can be expensive to eat out for every meal. Prices are comparable to the prices in the UK or France. However, you can find budget-friendly spots too! Gyros are usually less than 5€, and Greek tavernas in villages outside of Fira and Oia have good options too!
Summary: How Expensive Is Santorini
As you can see, the cost of travel in Santorini varies wildly!
Santorini is not cheap. In fact, it can easily be one of the most expensive places in Europe in summer.
So, is Santorini worth a visit with the prices you can expect?
With its dramatic cliffside whitewashed houses, this island is one of the most picturesque destinations in Europe.
Santorini is the perfect place for a romantic getaway or a treat-yourself bucket list experience.
On average, a Santorini trip costs about 85-300€ per day in high season.
However, you can also backpack Santorini on a budget of 40€ a day as I did! If you book hostels, grab your meals in a fast food place, and enjoy all the fantastic free things to do in Santorini.
If you still want to visit Greece, but Santorini seems to be out of budget, consider visiting Corfu in May. It will be significantly cheaper than Santorini!
