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.
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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.
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Cantabria Prices
Spain PricesCatalonia Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCantabria €130Catalonia €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Cantabria is €130, while the average daily cost in Catalonia is €195. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCantabria €54Catalonia €88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCantabria €108Catalonia €176
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.
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 €22Catalonia €27
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: $24
- Arrival Barcelona Airport Private Transfer: $24
- Arrival Private Transfer by Sedan from BCN airport to Barcelona: $93
- Arrival Transfer El Prat Airport BCN to Barcelona by Luxury Van: $94
- Arrival Transfer from Barcelona Airport BCN to Barcelona in Private Car/Van: $83
- Arrival Transfer: Airport BCN to Barcelona by Business Car: $89
- Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to Barcelona by Business Car: $89
- Arrival Transfer: Cruise Port to Barcelona by Luxury Van: $94
- BOOK Departure private Transfer from Barcelona city to Airport: $29
- Barcelona Airport (BCN) Private Transfer to Barcelona City/Hotels: $63
- Barcelona Airport (BCN) to Barcelona - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Barcelona Airport (BCN) to Barcelona - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $67
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
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Food Meals for one dayCantabria €60Catalonia €74
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: $35
- Barcelona Guided Street Food Tour and Gothic Quarter Visit: $42
- Tasty Barcelona Street Food Tour With Local Market Visit: $53
- Barcelona Street Food Tour with Local Market & City Center Visit: $53
- Barcelona Food Tour: Market & Gothic Quarter with Expert Guide: $57
- Top Awarded Flamenco Show Tablao Cordobes with dinner option: $57
- Barcelona Paella and Sangria Cooking Experience: $58
- Barcelona Morning Tapas Crawl by Food Tour: $70
- Barcelona: Wine Tasting and 5 Course Tapas Pairing Dinner: $70
- Barcelona Boqueria Market e Barrio Gotico Street Food Tour: $76
- Evening Cruise with Dinner and Drinks in Barcelona: $77
- Barcelona: Paella & Tapas Cooking Class with Sangria Making: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cantabria €20Catalonia €31
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 Catalonia
For Catalonia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discover Girona and Costa Brava: A Self-Audio Guided Tour: $1.15
- Self-Guided Private City Tour in Barcelona's Best Kept Secrets: $1.16
- Barcelona Segway Tour: $3.55
- Self-Guided Tours Barcelona: 150+ Captivating Audio Stories: $3.55
- Welcome to Barcelona Segway and eScooter Tour: $3.55
- Sagrada Familia Exterior Tour: $3.55
- Barcelona Electric Scooter Tour: $3.55
- Happiness Walking Tour in Barcelona: $3.56
- Barcelona Gaudi and Sagrada Familia Tour: $3.57
- Gothic Quarter Donation-Based Walking Tour in English: $3.57
- Gaudi & Sagrada Familia Donation-Based Tour in English: $3.57
- Censored Barcelona Tour: $3.57
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCantabria €12Catalonia €21
Sample the Local Flavors in Catalonia
Also in Catalonia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Amazing Bar Crawl in Barcelona: $15
- Barcelona Pub Crawl Experience with VIP Nightclub Entry: $18
- Estrella Damm Brewery in El Prat de Llobregat tour with Tasting: $18
- Pub Crawl Barcelona: 4 nightclubs + skip-the-line entry: $18
- Largest Pub Crawl in Barcelona: $18
- Pub Crawl Barcelona by EVOLVE The BEST night experience: $24
- Estrella Damm Old Brewery Barcelona Guided Tour with Beer Tasting: $24
- Barcelona: Magic Montjuïc Tour, Wine Tasting & Best photo spots!: $27
- Visit winery and wine tasting: $30
- Vineyard walk and wine tasting in l’Empordà: $31
- Winery tour & wine tasting in Penedès region 40min from Barcelona: $38
- Barcelona Picasso Museum & Optional El Born Tapas & Wine Tour: $47
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.
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.