Which place is cheaper, Bilbao or Ankara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ankara or Bilbao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ankara and Bilbao. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Ankara or Bilbao?
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
Bilbao
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $116Bilbao $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $116, while the average daily cost in Bilbao is $147. 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 Ankara and Bilbao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $57Bilbao $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $114Bilbao $156
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Bilbao
Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Bilbao? 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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Bilbao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $37Bilbao $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
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Metro Ride$0.04
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Short Taxi Ride$0.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $76
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $71
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $64
- Ankara Private Departure Transfer from City hotels to Airport: $60
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $109
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $109
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Private transfer: Ankara Airport (ESB) to Ankara: $39
- Private transfer: Ankara to Ankara Airport (ESB): $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Business Car: $60
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Luxury Van: $80
- Bilbao Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Various Cities : $45
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Business Car: $50
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Car: $70
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Van: $66
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Pamplona: $417
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to San Sebastian: $315
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Santander: $315
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Vitoria-Gasteiz: $209
- Bilbao Airport to the Basque Country: Private Transfers: $91
- Departure Private Transfer from Bilbao City to Bilbao airport BIO by Luxury Van: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Bilbao?
Prices for flights to both Bilbao and Ankara 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
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Food Meals for one dayAnkara $32Bilbao $48
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
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A Quick Lunch$0.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bilbao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
- Basque Food Tour with Guide: $86
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $109
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class with Open Bar: $112
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
- Basque Flavours: High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $134
- Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $134
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
- Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $155
- Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $197
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $34Bilbao $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Underground City$0.25
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Family-Friendly Smartphone Walking Tour: $6.00
- Quick Tour, Essentials of Ankara: $6.00
- Inns and Baths City Sightseeing Mobile Audio Guide: $6.00
- Private Walking tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $32
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ) : $33
- Private Tour with a Local: $37
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour: $48
- Istanbul: Half-Day Tour with Topkapi Palace: $145
- Istanbul: Golden Horn & Bosphorus Day Cruise: $165
- İstanbul: Full-Day Tour with Grand Bazaar: $180
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $215
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $218
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bilbao Cathedral and San Anton Church Entry Ticket: $4.28
- Bilbao Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour: $7.48
- VITORIA DE LEGEND night tour: $11
- Bilbao Confidential Tour: Industrialists and Bourgeois: $13
- 1- or 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour: $15
- Tour of the Great Villas in Getxo and Hanging Bridge: $16
- Bilbao tour: $17
- San Mamés Museum and Stadium Tour: $18
- Bilbao Estuary and Abra Bay Boat Tour: $20
- Bilbao Historical Small Group Tour : $28
- Walking tour of Bilbao with pintxo and drink: $31
- Private Kayak Tour along the Getxo Coast and Hanging Bridge: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $15Bilbao $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Bilbao: $25
- Immersive Evening Spanish Wine Tasting w/ Sommelier: $53
- Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier (close to Guggenheim museum): $54
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $79
- Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $80
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $176
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $187
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $240
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $241
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $246
- Architectural Rioja Small Group Wine Tour with Lunch from Bilbao : $246
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ankara and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Ankara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ankara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ankara 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 Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao than you might in Ankara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ankara Expensive? and Is Bilbao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Bilbao?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Bilbao, 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.