A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Cantabria vs. Catalonia for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cantabria or Catalonia?

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 Catalonia can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Cantabria or Catalonia?

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.

Catalonia

Catalonia is a famous autonomous community in Spain. It is situated in the northeastern part of the country and consists of four provinces. The provinces consist of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. Barcelona is not only the capital of Catalonia, but is also the biggest city in the region. Because Barcelona is such a large city and Catalonia’s long history of international trade, the area is a very popular tourist destination. Another reason for Catalonia’s success is its temperate climate. Two other reasons that make Catalonia different from other areas in Spain are, people speak Catalan, Spanish and Aranese, and its climate has both beaches and mountain ranges.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Catalonia or Cantabria?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Cantabria Prices
    Spain Prices
    Catalonia Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Cantabria €130
    Catalonia €112,418

The average daily cost (per person) in Cantabria is €130, while the average daily cost in Catalonia is €112,418. 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 Catalonia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cantabria €54
    Catalonia €16,343
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cantabria €108
    Catalonia €
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Compare Hotels in Cantabria and Catalonia

Looking for a hotel in Cantabria or Catalonia? 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.

Hotels in Cantabria


Hotels in Catalonia


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 €22
    Catalonia €13,042

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Catalonia

Also for Catalonia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 24 Hour Private Transfer from Barcelona Airport to City Centre: $23
  • Airport Transfer: $172
  • Arrival Private Transfer by Sedan from BCN airport to Barcelona: $90
  • Arrival Transfer El Prat Airport BCN to Barcelona by Luxury Van: $96
  • Arrival Transfer from Barcelona Airport BCN to Barcelona in Private Car/Van: $84
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport BCN to Barcelona by Business Car: $91
  • Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to Barcelona by Luxury Van: $95
  • Barcelona - Salou private transfer: $194
  • Barcelona Airport (BCN) to Barcelona - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
  • Barcelona Airport (BNC) to Port Aventura/Salou Arrival Transfer: $203
  • Barcelona Airport (BNC) to Sitges - Arrival Private Transfer: $114
  • Barcelona Airport BCN Round-Trip Private Transfer by Luxury Van: $190

Is it cheaper to fly into Cantabria or Catalonia?

Prices for flights to both Catalonia 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 day
    Cantabria €60
    Catalonia €73,008

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Catalonia

For Catalonia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona with Set Lunch or Dinner: $33
  • Barcelona Guided Street Food Tour and Gothic Quarter Visit: $40
  • Top Awarded Flamenco Show Tablao Cordobes with dinner option: $40
  • Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit: $52
  • Paella and Sangria Cooking Class in Three Hours: $52
  • Barcelona Street Food Tour with Local Market & City Center Visit: $52
  • Tipsy Food Tour with Paella and Sangria and History in Barcelona: $55
  • Barcelona : Paella Cooking Experience + Boqueria Market Exclusive Tour: $68
  • Barcelona Morning Tapas Crawl by Food Tour: $68
  • Evening Cruise with Dinner and Drinks in Barcelona: $74
  • Barcelona Culture & Food Tour: Stories, Traditions & Flavors: $79
  • Barcelona Tapas Food Tour in El Born: $82

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cantabria €20
    Catalonia €32,435

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: $212
  • Private Walking Tour of Altamira and Neocave Museum: $212

Tours and Activities in Catalonia

For Catalonia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Self-Guided Private City Tour in Barcelona's Best Kept Secrets: $1.12
  • Sagrada Familia Exterior Tour: $3.43
  • Barcelona Guided Tour on Segway: $3.43
  • Barcelona Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.43
  • Welcome to Barcelona Segway and eScooter Tour: $3.43
  • Self-Guided Tours Barcelona: 150+ Captivating Audio Stories: $3.43
  • Barcelona Electric Scooter Tour: $3.43
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Barcelona: $3.43
  • Discover Girona and Costa Brava: A Self-Audio Guided Tour: $3.43
  • Barcelona Segway Tour: $3.43
  • Gothic Quarter Donation-Based Walking Tour in English: $3.44
  • Barcelona Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cantabria €12
    Catalonia €24,656

Sample the Local Flavors in Catalonia

Also in Catalonia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Night Pub Crawl Tour in Barcelona: $14
  • Amazing Bar Crawl in Barcelona: $15
  • Visit winery and wine tasting: $16
  • Barcelona Pub Crawl by KING -The Best Party tour & VIP Club Entry: $17
  • Largest Pub Crawl in Barcelona: $17
  • Pub Crawl Barcelona | 4h Experience | Club Entry: $17
  • Pub Crawl Barcelona: 4 nightclubs + skip-the-line entry: $17
  • Pub Crawl Barcelona by EVOLVE The BEST night experience: $23
  • Barcelona Rooftop Party + Bar crawl with VIP Club Entry: $23
  • Estrella Damm Old Brewery Barcelona Guided Tour with Beer Tasting: $23
  • Barcelona Speakeasy Pub Crawl with Hidden Bars & Optional Tapas: $27
  • Vineyard walk and wine tasting in l’Empordà: $30


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cantabria and Catalonia, we can see that Catalonia 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 Catalonia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Catalonia 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 Catalonia Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Cantabria or Catalonia?

Catalonia has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cantabria. When comparing the sizes of Cantabria and Catalonia, 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.