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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cantabria is €0.00, while the average daily cost in Catalonia is €0.00. 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 -
    Catalonia -
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cantabria 0.00
    Catalonia 0.00
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 -
    Catalonia -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Catalonia

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

  • Barcelona City to Sant Train Station Barcelona private transfer: $31
  • Transfer From Barcelona Airport to Barcelona Cruise Port: $40
  • Airport Transfer: $120
  • Airport Transfers Barcelona Minivan : $75
  • Arrival Barcelona Airport Private Transfer: $31
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Barcelona Airport BCN to Barcelona: $33
  • Arrival Transfer El Prat Airport BCN to Barcelona by Luxury Car: $129
  • Arrival Transfer El Prat Airport BCN to Barcelona by Luxury Van: $91
  • Arrival Transfer by Luxury Van from Barcelona Port to Barcelona: $75
  • Arrival Transfer from Barcelona Airport BCN to Barcelona in Private Car/Van: $80
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport BCN to Barcelona by Business Car: $86
  • Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to Barcelona by Business Car: $86

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 -
    Catalonia -

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Catalonia

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

  • Barcelona Street Food Tour with Local Market & City Center Visit: $21
  • Barcelona Guided Street Food Tour and Gothic Quarter Visit: $21
  • Hard Rock Cafe Barcelona with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
  • Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit : $32
  • Barcelona Street Food Tour: Local Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide: $42
  • Paella Cooking Experience and Wine in Barcelona: $60
  • Barcelona street food tour La Boqueria Market: $63
  • Barcelona Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $68
  • Tablao de Carmen Flamenco Show with Tasting Menu or Dinner: $74
  • Barcelona Tipsy Tapas Guided Food Tour with Dinner: $75
  • Guided Food Tour with Tapas and Dinner in El Born Barcelona: $75
  • Barcelona : Paella Cooking Experience + Boqueria Market Exclusive Tour: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cantabria -
    Catalonia -

Tours and Activities in Cantabria

Here are a few actual costs in Cantabria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • From Bilbao: Villages of Cantabria Private Tour with Lunch: $263

Tours and Activities in Catalonia

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

  • Self-Guided Tours Barcelona: 150+ Captivating Audio Stories: $3.25
  • Sagrada Familia Comedy Tour: $3.25
  • Barcelona Gothic Quarter: History&Legends Comedy Tour: $3.25
  • Gaudí & Sagrada Familia Free Tour in English : $3.26
  • Barcelona Gaudi and Sagrada Familia Tour: $3.26
  • Gaudi and La Sagrada Familia Exterior Self-Guided Audio Tour : $5.00
  • Gothic Quarter & Old Town Barcelona Walking Tour : $5.43
  • Tarragona Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self Guided Tour: $5.43
  • Walking Tour in Barcelona with Arabic Guide: $5.43
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Barcelona: $5.43
  • Walking Tour to Parc de la Sèquia from Manresa: $5.99
  • Entrance ticket to the Girona Art Museum: $6.52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cantabria -
    Catalonia -

Sample the Local Flavors in Catalonia

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

  • Visit winery and wine tasting: $13
  • Barcelona: Original Pub Crawl: $13
  • Barcelona Pub Crawl by KING - Free shot and VIP Entry: $16
  • Night Pub Crawl Tour in Barcelona: $16
  • Estrella Damm Old Brewery Barcelona Guided Tour with Beer Tasting: $22
  • Nightlife Tour - Barcelona Bar Crawl with Flamingos: $23
  • Barcelona Bar Crawl: $26
  • Barcelona Halloween Bar Crawl: $27
  • Barcelona Art & Wine Tour: $30
  • Wine Tasting Experience in Barcelona: $33
  • Small-Group Natural and Organic Wine Tasting near Sitges: $33
  • Bar Crawl at Gaixample: $43


When comparing the travel costs between Cantabria and Catalonia, we can see that Cantabria 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 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.