Which place is cheaper, Philadelphia or Bilbao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bilbao and Philadelphia. 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.
Bilbao is a authentic, colorful, and friendly city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Bilbao travel costs.
Philadelphia is a historic, cultural, and diverse city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. Philadelphia is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife. See Philadelphia travel costs.
You'll generally find more things to do in Philadelphia than Bilbao. Philadelphia is bigger than Bilbao, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Philadelphia is better known for its museums and attractions, theatre productions, music, christmas markets, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Bilbao is more popular for its food. Bilbao is well known for it's world-class culinary scene, its modern museums, and its lovely parks. Philadelphia is well known for its diverse population, large number of universities, great restaurant and market scene, and its role in American history. Also, Philadelphia is famous for The Liberty Bell.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Philadelphia and Bilbao. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Philadelphia is an amazing city to visit for its museums and landmarks. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Philadelphia are among the most recognizable in the world. The city has a rich history with a number of museums and monuments. Popular sites around the city include the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Jewish American History.
Bilbao offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. A favorite museum in town is the popular Guggenheim Museum. From its iconic building to the unique exhibits, this is a must-see stop during your visit. Other highlights around town include the Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, the Museo Vasco, as well as the city's unique bridges.
Philadelphia is well known for its theatre productions. However, Bilbao is not a theatre destination.
Philadelphia offers many theater and performance venues for visitors. There are major Broadway shows as well as smaller venues. Head to The Avenue of the Arts along Broad Street for a popular stretch of theaters.
Bilbao is not a theatre destination.
Bilbao is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Philadelphia is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Bilbao is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. The food scene is among the best in Spain. The city has several world renowned restaurants, including a few Michelin-starred restaurants, but there are also smaller eateries that cater to the locals and tourists alike. Make sure you try the pintxos, which are small dishes that are the Basque region's answer to tapas. Many include seafood and are cooked with olive oil and garlic.
Dining out in Philadelphia is an experience not to be missed. It has grown into a well-recognized food destination. It's diversity of cultures and residents have influenced the restaurant scene and you'll find many great places to dine covering a number of international flavors. The city is famous for its Philly cheesesteak and roast pork sandwich. You can also grab some local favorites at Reading Terminal Market.
Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Bilbao and Philadelphia.
Bilbao is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's a great late night scene that centers around eating and drinking. There are lively nightclubs, a good live music scene, and no shortage of people heading out on the town.
Many people head to Philadelphia for the nightlife scene. The city's nightlife scene carries late into the evening with many rooftop and outdoor beer gardens. Most of the clubs and bars are found in the downtown area and you'll find places to dance, listen to live music, or sip a trendy cocktails.
Philadelphia is well known for its live music scene. However, Bilbao is not a live music destination.
Music is a popular form of entertainment in Philadelphia. The city's diverse music scene includes jazz, rock, and hip hop.
Bilbao is not a live music destination.
Visitors enjoy the notable old town areas in both Bilbao and Philadelphia.
Many people head to Bilbao to see the old town. The old town, often called Casco Viejo, is filled with historic architecture, great local bars, and some interesting shopping.
Philadelphia has an old town worth visiting. The Old City has a number of Colonial-era sites including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House.
Shopping is a popular activity in both Philadelphia and Bilbao.
Bilbao is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Gran Vía is the most popular shopping street in town. There are also historic boutique shops around the old town.
Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Philadelphia. With all items tax-free, this city is a great place to shop. It has many boutique shops as well as name brand stores and shopping areas. For a local vibe, head to Reading Terminal Market.
Philadelphia is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Bilbao is not a destination known for its beauty.
Philadelphia is a beautiful place to visit, too. With its diverse neighborhoods and rich history, this city offers its own type of beauty.
Bilbao is not a destination known for its beauty.
Philadelphia is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Philadelphia is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many museums and a fascinating history that is interesting to kids and adults alike. Popular activities include a zoo and Sesame Place. Kids also love the hands-on Please Touch Museum.
Bilbao offers lots of family activities. The city offers some great museums such as the Guggenheim Museum. Families will also enjoy taking a ride of the Artxander Funicular, and exploring Mercado de la Ribera. You can also enjoy walking around Park Abandoibarra and exploring the creative sculptures.
Bilbao and Philadelphia both notable destinations for a couple.
Bilbao makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with a vibrant enjoy with parks and outdoor strolls that couples will enjoy. There are also many great museums and romantic restaurants as well as some great shopping streets.
Philadelphia is a good city for couples to visit. Like many large cities, it is a fun place to explore in the evening as a couple. This is also a great foodie destination with great markets, food trucks, and diverse restaurants that reflect the city's diverse population.
Bilbao and Philadelphia are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Bilbao. There are plenty of hostels to choose from and a good social scene that makes it easy to meet other backpackers.
Plenty of budget travelers visit Philadelphia. There are a few good hostels for backpackers and budget travelers to choose from.
Philadelphia is well known for students. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.
Many students visit Philadelphia. With its many universities and diverse population, this city is a great place for international students.
It's common for students to visit Bilbao. This is a popular study abroad destination with many great museums and educational opportunities for international students.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Bilbao and Philadelphia.
Public transit in Bilbao can get you to some places easily. The metro system has three lines. There is also a tram and bus system.
Many visitors use the public transit system in Philadelphia. The system includes a subway, trolleys, buses, and a commuter rail.
Philadelphia is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Bilbao is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.
Getting around Philadelphia on foot is easy. The Old City is particularly walkable, as is Avenue of the Arts, and Rittenhouse Square.
Bilbao is a somewhat walkable city. It's a fairly walkable city with several pedestrian-friendly areas.
For even more information, also check out Is Bilbao Worth Visiting? and Is Philadelphia Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bilbao and Philadelphia. In our opinion, Philadelphia has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Philadelphia than Bilbao. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Philadelphia than Bilbao. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Philadelphia, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Philadelphia than Bilbao. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Philadelphia that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Philadelphia than Bilbao if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Philadelphia.
In Bilbao, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this industrial city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
Philadelphia is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Bilbao is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Lots of people come for the food. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Philadelphia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the colorful destination of Bilbao. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Philadelphia. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Bilbao is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Travelers enjoy the museums and theater when visiting the historic big city of Philadelphia. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bilbao is $178, while the average daily cost in Philadelphia is $224. 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 Philadelphia in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bilbao or Philadelphia? 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:
Also for Philadelphia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Philadelphia 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.
For Philadelphia, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Philadelphia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Philadelphia's activities, tours, and tickets:
For Philadelphia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Also in Philadelphia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bilbao and Philadelphia, we can see that Philadelphia is more expensive. And not only is Bilbao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bilbao is in Europe and Philadelphia 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 Bilbao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bilbao 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 Philadelphia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Philadelphia than you might in Bilbao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bilbao Expensive? and Is Philadelphia Expensive?.
Philadelphia has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Bilbao and Philadelphia, 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.
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.
The summer brings many poeple to Bilbao as well as Philadelphia. Many visitors come to Bilbao in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Philadelphia for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Bilbao is cooler than Philadelphia in the summer. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Philadelphia. In the summer, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Philadelphia. Bilbao gets 188 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 273 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Philadelphia. Bilbao usually gets less rain in July than Philadelphia. Bilbao gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both Philadelphia and Bilbao are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Bilbao for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Philadelphia because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Bilbao is a little warmer than Philadelphia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bilbao in October average around 16°C (62°F), and Philadelphia averages at about 56°F (14°C).
It's quite sunny in Philadelphia. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Philadelphia during autumn. Bilbao gets 125 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 202 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Bilbao. In October, Bilbao usually receives more rain than Philadelphia. Bilbao gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 1.9 inches (48 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Philadelphia and Bilbao during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Bilbao because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Philadelphia this time of year.
It's quite cold in Philadelphia in the winter. In January, Bilbao is generally much warmer than Philadelphia. Daily temperatures in Bilbao average around 9°C (48°F), and Philadelphia fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).
In the winter, Bilbao often gets less sunshine than Philadelphia. Bilbao gets 77 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Philadelphia receives 152 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bilbao. Bilbao usually gets more rain in January than Philadelphia. Bilbao gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Bilbao and Philadelphia. The activities around the city are the main draw to Bilbao this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Philadelphia for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Bilbao is around the same temperature as Philadelphia in the spring. The daily temperature in Bilbao averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Philadelphia fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Philadelphia this time of the year. Bilbao usually receives less sunshine than Philadelphia during spring. Bilbao gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Philadelphia receives 216 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 Philadelphia. Bilbao gets 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Philadelphia receives 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
Bilbao | Philadelphia | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 30°F (-1°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
Feb | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.1 inches (54 mm) |
Mar | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
May | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 inches (70 mm) |
Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3 inches (76 mm) |
Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
Sep | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
Oct | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (48 mm) |
Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 46°F (8°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |