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.
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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.
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Cantabria Prices
Spain PricesBasque Country Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCantabria €130Basque Country €144
The average daily cost (per person) in Cantabria is €130, while the average daily cost in Basque Country is €144. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCantabria €54Basque Country €57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCantabria €108Basque Country €114
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cantabria €22Basque Country €25
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: $67
- Bilbao Airport (BIO) to Bilbao city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $135
- Bilbao Airport Private Departure Transfer: $53
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Car: $85
- Departure Private Transfer from Bilbao City to Bilbao airport BIO by Luxury Van: $113
- Private Transfer from Bilbao Cruise Port to Bilbao City Hotels: $94
- Private Transfer from Bilbao city to Vitoria: $179
- Private Transfer from Bilbao to Santander Port: $274
- Private Transfer from Elciego city to Vitoria: $234
- Private Transfer from Elciego city to Vitoria Airport: $234
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Biarritz Airport: $197
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Biarritz: $197
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
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Food Meals for one dayCantabria €60Basque Country €63
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 Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $85
- Bilbao Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $89
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $89
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $119
- The Award-Winning Bilbao Food Tour & Wine Pairing by Basque Local: $125
- Paella and Burnt Basque Cheesecake Cooking Class (in Bilbao): $148
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $154
- San Sebastian Market Visit and Cooking Class: $154
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $165
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian with Local Chef: $165
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $172
- Small-group Immersive Basque Cooking Class in Bilbao with Open Bar: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cantabria €20Basque Country €30
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 for Small Groups: $73
- Playa de la Arnía: Private Tour of the UNESCO Costa Quebrada: $282
- Private Guided Walking Tour of Santillana del Mar: $220
- Private Walking Tour of Altamira and Neocave Museum: $220
Tours and Activities in Basque Country
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Basque Country.
- Bilbao´s Old Town Responsible Free Walking Tour: $3.55
- Bilbao Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $4.80
- TOP Vitoria-Gasteiz : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $5.93
- San Sebastian walking tour with pintxo and drink option: $14
- Bilbao Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket with Audio Guide: $28
- Guggenheim Bilbao Museum Entry Ticket: $32
- Bilbao Guggenheim Museum Entry Ticket: $35
- Bilbao Old Town Tour: $36
- Bilbao Must See Attractions Walking Tour With A Guide: $39
- Private Kayak Tour along the Getxo Coast and Hanging Bridge: $39
- Bilbao Exclusive Private Walking Tour: $42
- Bilbao walking tour: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCantabria €12Basque Country €20
Sample the Local Flavors in Basque Country
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Basque Country:
- Rioja & Txakoli Wine Tasting in Bilbao with a Local Sommelier: $53
- Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe and wine tasting from Bilbao: $89
- Rioja wine tour: winery & Laguardia with lunch from Vitoria: $101
- Rioja Wine Tour: wineries and Laguardia from Bilbao: $107
- Rioja Wine Tour: wineries and Laguardia from San Sebastian: $113
- San Sebastian Centro Neighborhood Pintxos & Wine Tour: $117
- The Authentic Bilbao Pintxos, Food & Wine Tour with a Local: $117
- Basque Best Bites - #1 Food & Wine tour of Bilbao: $119
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $122
- Getaria Txakoli wine tour from San Sebastian: $172
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian: $195
- Txakoli wine tour from Bilbao: $196
When comparing the travel costs between Cantabria and Basque Country, we can see that Basque Country is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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.