Which city is cheaper, Barcelona or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bilbao and Barcelona. 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.
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.
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €110, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is €123. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bilbao and Barcelona in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Barcelona? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
Prices for flights to both Barcelona and Bilbao 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
When comparing the travel costs between Bilbao and Barcelona, we can see that Barcelona is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Barcelona. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Barcelona because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Bilbao is generally cooler than Barcelona. Temperatures in Bilbao average around 20°C (68°F), and Barcelona stays around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Barcelona this time of the year. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Barcelona during summer. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 308 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Barcelona. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Barcelona. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Barcelona this time of year.
Bilbao is around the same temperature as Barcelona in the autumn. The temperature in Bilbao is usually 16°C (62°F) in October, and Barcelona stays around 17°C (63°F).
In the autumn, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Barcelona. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 181 hours of full sun.
Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bilbao usually gets more rain in October than Barcelona. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Barcelona and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Barcelona for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Barcelona. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bilbao in January are around 9°C (48°F), and Barcelona is about 9°C (48°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Barcelona during winter. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 146 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In January, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Barcelona. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Barcelona and Bilbao during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Barcelona in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In April, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Barcelona. Temperatures in Bilbao average around 12°C (54°F), and Barcelona stays around 13°C (55°F).
In Barcelona, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Barcelona. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 204 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in April than Barcelona. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Bilbao | Barcelona | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.