A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bilbao vs. Guatemala City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bilbao or Guatemala City?

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 Bilbao and Guatemala City. 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: Bilbao or Guatemala City?

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.

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Bilbao?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is €41. 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 Bilbao and Guatemala City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bilbao 72
    Guatemala City 22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bilbao 144
    Guatemala City 44
Compare Hotels in Bilbao and Guatemala City

Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Guatemala City? 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 Bilbao


Hotels in Guatemala City


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: Bilbao Hotel Prices and Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bilbao 26
    Guatemala City 5.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:

  • Private One way Airport Transfer Bilbao Airport to from Bilbao: $33
  • Private transfer from Bilbao City Center to Bilbao Airport (BIO): $33
  • Private transfer from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao City Center: $33
  • Bilbao Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Various Cities : $45
  • Bilbao city to Bilbao Airport (BIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
  • Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Business Car: $50
  • Departure Private Transfers: Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Business Car: $50
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Business Car: $60
  • Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Van: $66
  • Departure Private Transfers: Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Van: $66
  • Private one way arrival OR departure transfer in Bilbao from/to airport: $67
  • Private Transfer on arrival and departure in Bilbao: $72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • From Panajachel: Transfer to Guatemala City: $240
  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Guatemala Airport to San Felipe de Lara RoundTrip PrivateTransfer: $154
  • Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $66
  • Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $77
  • Guatemala City Airport(GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Round-Trip Transfer: $131
  • One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
  • PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $24
  • Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $45
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
  • Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Bilbao or Guatemala City?

Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bilbao 45
    Guatemala City 14

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: $113
  • Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $115
  • The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
  • The High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
  • Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $135
  • Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $135
  • Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
  • Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $156
  • Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $198

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bilbao 29
    Guatemala City 1.13

Tours and Activities in Bilbao

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

  • Bilbao´s Old Town Responsible Free Walking Tour: $1.94
  • Bilbao Cathedral and San Anton Church Entry Ticket: $4.31
  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
  • Panoramic boat tour through the bay of Abra: $6.46
  • Bilbao Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour: $7.52
  • VITORIA DE LEGEND night tour: $11
  • Bilbao Confidential Tour: Crime and Punishment: $13
  • 1- or 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour: $15
  • Tour of the Great Villas in Getxo and Hanging Bridge: $16
  • Bilbao tour: $18
  • San Mamés Museum and Stadium Tour: $18
  • Bilbao Estuary and Abra Bay Boat Tour: $20

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • Culinary Experience in Guatemala City: $15
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $17
  • Guided Walking Tour in Guatemala City: $25
  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
  • UNESCO JEWELS: Antigua Half Day Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • Tour around antigua's villages: $50
  • 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
  • El mejor Tour Ciudad De Guatemala (el Mas Completo): $55
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Tour : $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bilbao 21
    Guatemala City 6.38

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: $80
  • Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $81
  • Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
  • Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $178
  • Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $188
  • Rioja Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Bilbao: $201
  • Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $217
  • Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $241
  • From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $242


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Guatemala City, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao is in Europe and Guatemala City is in Central America, 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.

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


Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Guatemala City?

Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Guatemala City, 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.