Which place is cheaper, Ottawa or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bilbao or Ottawa?
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 Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBilbao €137Ottawa €114
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is €137, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is €114. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBilbao €72Ottawa €17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBilbao €144Ottawa €34
Compare Hotels in Bilbao and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bilbao €26Ottawa €6.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Private transfer from Bilbao City Center to Bilbao Airport (BIO): $33
- Private transfer from Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao City Center: $33
- Private one way arrival OR departure transfer in Bilbao from/to airport: $67
- Private Transfer on arrival and departure in Bilbao: $72
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Bilbao Cruise Port: $208
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Bilbao: $153
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to San Sebastian Airport: $291
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to Logroño Airport : $245
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to Bilbao Airport: $153
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Pamplona city: $230
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Logroño city: $245
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW Private Arrival/Departure Shuttle Transfer : $52
- Ottawa to Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier Airport (YOW) - Departure Private Transfer: $66
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Bilbao or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 €45Ottawa €16
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $71
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $79
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bilbao €29Ottawa €37
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- PRIVATE San Sebastian and Basque Coast Tour from Bilbao: $290
- Pintxos Tasting in Bilbao Small Group or Private Walking Tour: $81
- Awesome Bilbao – Private Family Walking Tour: $386
- BILBAO-City Highlights Bike Tour: $36
- Basque Coast Tour: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika: $66
- Basque Country 7-Day Guided Tour from Bilbao: $1,152
- Bike tour with Pintxos & Drinks in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao Seaside): $60
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Walking Tour with guide: $286
- Bilbao & Guggenheim Private Walking Tour from Hotel/Center: $281
- Bilbao - Private Historic walking tour: $377
- Bilbao 3-Day Package: Guggenheim, Hotel Stay and Bike Tour: $253
- Bilbao : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $48
Tours and Activities in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $6.46
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Explore Canada Through Ottawa's Eyes with Walking Tours Through The City: $6.68
- Ottawa's Hidden History: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $6.99
- Ottawa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Wacky Walks: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Ottawa by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Ottawa by Crazy Dash: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBilbao €21Ottawa €17
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Epic Ottawa Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Ottawa, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao is in Europe and Ottawa is in North 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 Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Ottawa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bilbao Expensive? and Is Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bilbao or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Ottawa. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year.
In the summer, Bilbao is around the same temperature as Ottawa. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bilbao in July average around 20°C (68°F), and Ottawa averages at about 21°C (71°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ottawa. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBilbao 20°C (68°F)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Autumn?
Both Ottawa and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 16°C (62°F), and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Bilbao usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ottawa during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBilbao 16°C (62°F)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Winter?
Both Ottawa and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the winter for the museums and the shopping scene.
Ottawa can be very cold during winter. Bilbao is much warmer than Ottawa in the winter. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 9°C (48°F) in January, and Ottawa fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).
In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBilbao 9°C (48°F)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Bilbao or Ottawa in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Ottawa. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the activities around the city during these months.
In the spring, Bilbao is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bilbao in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Ottawa averages at about 6°C (44°F).
Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
Bilbao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBilbao 12°C (54°F)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Bilbao
| Bilbao | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 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.