Which place is cheaper, Basque Country or Cantabria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cantabria or Basque Country?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cantabria and Basque Country can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cantabria or Basque Country?
Cantabria
Occupying Spain's northern coast, the region of Cantabria is known for its mountains, cave paintings, and the capital city of Santander. Its diverse landscape allows for locals and visitors alike to hit the beach in the summer and go on mountain adventures in the winter. While these natural features alone are breathtaking, there is also much to say for Cantabria's quaint seaside towns, fresh cuisine, and rich history.
Basque Country
Upon its lush green hills that tower over the deep blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean, you will find its perfected oceanic climate and breathtaking landscape to be only the beginning of Basque Country, Spain. Basque Country, or Euskadi, is an autonomous community located in northern Spain. This community was based off the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, a legal document that enabled Basque people to develop on Spanish territory. Due to its strong traditional currents in Spanish heritage as well as magnificent architecture, Basque Country is a hotspot for tourists everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid, The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Spain.
-
Cantabria Prices
Spain PricesBasque Country Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCantabria €8,340Basque Country €104,676
The average daily cost (per person) in Cantabria is €8,340, while the average daily cost in Basque Country is €104,676. 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 Cantabria and Basque Country in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCantabria €4,166Basque Country €46,622
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCantabria €
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2801
8.00Basque Country €
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2805
92
Compare Hotels in Cantabria and Basque Country
Looking for a hotel in Cantabria or Basque Country? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cantabria €915Basque Country €15,638
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basque Country
Also for Basque Country, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Business Car: $60
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Luxury Van: $105
- Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao City - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
- Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $137
- Bilbao Airport Private Departure Transfer: $52
- Bilbao Private Transfer from Bilbao city centre to Bilbao Airport: $80
- Bilbao city to Bilbao Airport (BIO) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
- Private Transfer from Bilbao Airport to Santander Port: $291
- Private Transfer from Bilbao Cruise Port to Bilbao Airport (BIO): $95
- Private Transfer from Bilbao city to Bilbao Cruise Port: $200
- Private Transfer from Bilbao city to Santander Airport : $277
- Private Transfer from Bilbao city to Vitoria: $176
Is it cheaper to fly into Cantabria or Basque Country?
Prices for flights to both Basque Country and Cantabria 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 dayCantabria €1,773Basque Country €35,294
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Basque Country
For Basque Country, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bilbao Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $107
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $118
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $120
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $120
- The Award-Winning Bilbao Food Tour & Wine Pairing by Basque Local: $126
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxo Tasting Paired with Spanish Wines: $131
- Best Street Food Tour of San Sebastian with a Local Guide: $133
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $150
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $155
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $155
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian Old Town: $165
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $173
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cantabria €1,863Basque Country €30,623
Tours and Activities in Cantabria
Here are a few actual costs in Cantabria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Barcena Mayor and Carmona Tour from Santander Small Groups: $71
- From Bilbao: Villages of Cantabria Private Tour with Lunch: $292
- Playa de la Arnía: UNESCO Costa Quebrada Private Tour: $266
- Private Guided Walking Tour of Santillana del Mar: $217
- Private Walking Tour of Altamira and Neocave Museum: $241
Tours and Activities in Basque Country
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Basque Country.
- San Sebastián Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $5.13
- San Sebastian: Old Town Exploration Game and Tour: $7.44
- San Sebastian Interactive City Tour: $8.33
- Bilbao Year of Love: Romantic Exploration Game and Tour: $8.38
- San Sebastian Donostria: Self Guided Scavenger Hunt and Tour: $14
- Sampling San Sebastián's History: A Self Guided Audio Tour : $15
- San Sebastian Walking Tour with Pintxo and Drink: $18
- San Sebastian Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing Tour: $19
- Guided tour of San Sebastián: $20
- Tour por el estadio Real Sociedad: $21
- Old Town Bilbao Tour in small group: $30
- Self Guided Bike Tour in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao's Seaside): $30
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCantabria €345Basque Country €16,759
Sample the Local Flavors in Basque Country
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Basque Country:
- Basque Wine Tasting with Sommelier (Bilbao): $54
- Basque Best Bites - #1 Food & Wine tour of Bilbao: $120
- San Sebastian Centro Neighborhood Pintxos & Wine Tour: $130
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $132
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian : $177
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $198
- Private Half Day Txakoli Wine Tour & Getaria Fishing Village: $208
- Open Food & Wine tours in San Sebastian: $214
- Marques de Riscal and Ysios Rioja Wine Tour w/ Lunch from Bilbao: $274
- Marques de Riscal and Ysios Architecture Wine Tour w/Lunch, SS: $284
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $286
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cantabria and Basque Country, we can see that Basque Country is more expensive. And not only is Cantabria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cantabria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cantabria 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 Basque Country would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basque Country than you might in Cantabria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cantabria Expensive? and Is Basque Country Expensive?.
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.