Which place is cheaper, Montevideo or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bilbao or Montevideo?
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 Montevideo. 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 Montevideo?
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.
Montevideo
As the morning sun tinges the calm waters of the Rio de la Plata with a golden hue, the Rambla and its city awakens to life with new adventures for those near and far. From tanning on the luxurious beaches to peering into Uruguayan history at local museums, one can be far from bored while staying in Montevideo. Combining the quaintness of the countryside with the excitement of urban life, this city holds a unique trait that cannot easily be replicated.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.
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Bilbao Prices
Spain PricesMontevideo Prices
Uruguay Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBilbao €170Montevideo €60
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €170, while the average daily cost in Montevideo is €60. 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 Montevideo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBilbao €72Montevideo €32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBilbao €144Montevideo €64
Compare Hotels in Bilbao and Montevideo
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Montevideo? 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: Bilbao Hotel Prices and Montevideo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bilbao €26Montevideo €6.02
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Private Transfer from Bilbao to San Sebastian: $293
- Private Transfer from Bilbao Airport to Santander Port: $277
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Logroño city: $268
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $268
- Private Transfer from Bilbao city to Santander Airport : $263
- Private Transfer from Bilbao to Santander Port: $263
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Pamplona: $252
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to Pamplona Airport : $252
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Pamplona city: $252
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Laguardia town: $218
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Elciego town: $218
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Laguardia town: $218
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montevideo
Also for Montevideo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport-Hotel or Hotel-Airport Transfers: $36
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Carrasco Airport (MVD) to Montevideo - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Carrasco Airport MVD to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $77
- Carrasco Airport(MVD) to Montevideo - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
- MVD Airport Private Transfer to Montevideo City Center: $48
- Montevideo Airport Transfers: $33
- Montevideo Private Airport Transfer (MVD) to City: $20
- Montevideo Private Transfer from City to Airport (MVD): $20
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Montevideo to Carrasco Airport (MVD) - Departure Private Transfer: $39
- Private 1-Way or Round Trip MVD Airport Transfer: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Bilbao or Montevideo?
Prices for flights to both Montevideo 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
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Food Meals for one dayBilbao €77Montevideo €19
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: $96
- Bilbao Food Tour with Pintxos & Drinks with a Local: $101
- Bilbao Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $101
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class: $107
- The High End Food Tour: $113
- The Award-Winning Bilbao Food Tour & Wine Pairing by Basque Local: $117
- The High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $125
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $141
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $148
- Immersive Basque Cooking Class: $158
- Small-group Immersive Basque Cooking Class in Bilbao with Open Bar: $171
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montevideo
For Montevideo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Show + Dinner - El Milongon (No Transport): $95
- The best Montevideo Dinner Show. Tango and Candombe. El Milongon.: $98
- Montevideo Private Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $101
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bilbao €29Montevideo €17
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full-day private Bilbao tour (Guggenheim museum & full pintxo lunch included): $285
- Pintxos Tasting in Bilbao Small Group or Private Walking Tour: $97
- Year of Love in Quest Experience: $7.98
- 3-day Bilbao Bike Tour and Guggenheim Museum Ticket: $286
- Awesome Bilbao – Private Family Walking Tour: $452
- BILBAO-City Highlights Bike Tour: $40
- Basque Country 7-Day Guided Tour from Bilbao: $1,258
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Private Walking Tour from Hotel/Center: $295
- Bilbao - Private Historic walking tour: $395
- Bilbao 3-Day Package: Guggenheim, Hotel Stay and Bike Tour: $284
- Bilbao : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $51
- Bilbao All Iron Tour: Guggenheim and San Mamés with Lunch: $282
Tours and Activities in Montevideo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Montevideo.
- Montevideo's Culture and History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Museo Andes 1972 / Crash Memorial Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Palacio Salvo Official Ticket with Guided Tour: $13
- Half-day Regular City Tour at Montevideo : $22
- Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $25
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $25
- Tourist Bus Discover Montevideo: $25
- Tour and tasting at Bodega Santa Rosa: $26
- Audio Guided Tour in Montevideo City for Cruisers: $26
- Montevideo City Tour for Cruisers - AudioGuided: $26
- City tour Montevideo: $27
- Guided Walking Tour in Montevideo: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBilbao €21Montevideo -
Sample the Local Flavors in Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Unique Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier - In Bilbao: $51
- Basque Wine Tasting with Sommelier (Bilbao): $51
- Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo, Mundaka, Gernika, & Wine Tour: $56
- From La Rioja Wineries Day Trip with Wine Tastings: $85
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $96
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $186
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $198
- Marques de Riscal and Ysios Rioja Wine Tour w/ Lunch from Bilbao: $261
- La Rioja Boutique Wine Tour & Charming Lunch (From Bilbao): $262
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $273
- Boutique Rioja Wine Tour with Charming Lunch (From Bilbao): $277
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $277
Sample the Local Flavors in Montevideo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montevideo:
- Pizzorno Winery with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $116
- The best wine tour: $140
- Wine tour - Lunch & Tasting with Wine Explorers: $198
- Private Wine Tours by Wine Explorers Uruguay: $205
- Wine Tasting & Countryside Lunch Experience: $215
- Wine Tasting Tour for Cruise Passengers: $450
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Montevideo, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Montevideo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao is in Europe and Montevideo is in South 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 Montevideo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montevideo 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 Montevideo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bilbao Expensive? and Is Montevideo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Montevideo?
Montevideo has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Montevideo, 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.
When is the best time to visit Bilbao or Montevideo?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Montevideo is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Bilbao has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Bilbao or Montevideo in the Summer?
Both Montevideo and Bilbao during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Bilbao is cooler than Montevideo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Montevideo averages at about 24°C (75°F)in January.
In Montevideo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin January. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 296 hours of full sun.
Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Montevideoin January. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBilbao 20°C (68°F)Montevideo 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Montevideo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Montevideo. The autumn months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Bilbao is generally around the same temperature as Montevideoin April. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Montevideo fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 171 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montevideo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Montevideoin April. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBilbao 16°C (62°F)Montevideo 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Montevideo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Montevideo. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.
Bilbao is cooler than Montevideo in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Montevideo fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in July.
In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Montevideoin July. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montevideo receives 135 hours of full sun.
Bilbao receives a lot of rain in the winter. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Montevideoin July. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBilbao 9°C (48°F)Montevideo 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Montevideo in the Spring?
Both Montevideo and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the activities around the city.
In the spring, Bilbao is cooler than Montevideo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Montevideo averages at about 17°C (63°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Montevideo. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Montevideo during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Montevideo receives 248 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Montevideo. It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Montevideoin October. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Montevideo receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBilbao 12°C (54°F)Montevideo 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Montevideo and Bilbao
| Bilbao | Montevideo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
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.