Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Gothenburg or San Sebastian?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
San Sebastian
San Sebastián is a city in northern Spain very well known for its summertime fun in the sun. While the streets are cool and happening at night, they take on a different charm by day. Beautiful beaches line the city's edge, right next to elegant historic architecture and churches, topping charts as some of the best city beaches in Europe. The food, too, is said to be some of the best with traditional Basque cuisine as well as the popular pintxo (tapas) bites. San Sebastián is a place of lively culture, teeming with beauty, flavors, and colors.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $97San Sebastian $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is $95. 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 Gothenburg and San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40San Sebastian $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80San Sebastian $86
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and San Sebastian
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or San Sebastian? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18San Sebastian $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- San Sebastián-Bilbao city or airport private transfer: $273
- Private Transfer from the Airport to San Sebastian City: $84
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Vitoria: $291
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Bilbao: $268
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $245
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Bilbao Airport: $268
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $247
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian and Gothenburg 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 dayGothenburg $38San Sebastian $33
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Dinner for 2$59
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Lunch for 2$11
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Lunch for 2$34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Sebastian
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
- San Sebastian Walking and Food Tour: $104
- Insider Best Culinary Gems Guided Food Tour in San Sebastian: $109
- Basque Cuisine Cooking Class with Market Visit: $148
- Full Day San Sebastian Food Tour : $150
- I travel for Food Tour in San Sebastian: $152
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in the Old Town: $152
- Private San Sebastian Walking Food Tour: $158
- Michelin Star Secrets Cooking Class in San Sebastian: $213
- Food tour in San Sebastian and Visit to a Gastronomical Club: $224
- History and flavors of San Sebastian for Dinner with Eskerne Falcón: $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $15San Sebastian $36
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
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Valle de los Caídos Monument$6.43
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
- Biarritz & La Côte Basque Private tour: $246
- Biarritz and French Coast Small Grop Tour from San Sebastian: $86
- Bilbao city and Guggenheim Museum small group tour: $164
- Chef-Led Market Tour & Pintxo Lunch: $163
- Chef-Led Walking Pintxo Tour of San Sebastián : $272
- Cider House Experience From San Sebastian: $120
- City tour, bike ride: $45
- City tour, by electric bicycle: $50
- Coastal "Winery Camino Trail" Walking Tour from San Sebastian: $186
- Electric scooter city tour: $45
- Evening Pintxo-Tapas Tour with Discover San Sebastian: $191
- Exclusive Private Pintxos Adventure with Premium Spanish Wines": $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $20San Sebastian $21
Sample the Local Flavors in San Sebastian
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour (Evening): $141
- Getaria Txakoli Wine Tour with Hotel Pick-up from San Sebastian: $148
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian. : $191
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries Visit with Tasting from San Sebastian: $240
- Rioja Wine Tour: Winery, Tasting & Lunch from San Sebastian: $251
- Full Rioja Wine Tour with Lunch from San Sebastian Private Tour: $298
When comparing the travel costs between Gothenburg and San Sebastian, we can see that Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg Expensive? and Is San Sebastian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or San Sebastian?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Sebastian. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg and San Sebastian, 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.
When is the best time to visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as San Sebastian. Also, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Gothenburg is generally cooler than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 16°C (61°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gothenburg this time of the year. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets less rain in July than San Sebastian. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGothenburg 16°C (61°F)San Sebastian 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian in the Autumn?
Both San Sebastian and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the shopping scene during these months.
Gothenburg is much colder than San Sebastian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 9°C (47°F) in October, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. In October, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGothenburg 9°C (47°F)San Sebastian 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian in the Winter?
Both San Sebastian and Gothenburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Gothenburg can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Gothenburg is much colder than San Sebastian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gothenburg in January average around -2°C (29°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than San Sebastian. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Gothenburg usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGothenburg -2°C (29°F)San Sebastian 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or San Sebastian in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and San Sebastian. Furthermore, the beaches are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
In April, Gothenburg is generally much colder than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 5°C (41°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Gothenburg usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGothenburg 5°C (41°F)San Sebastian 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | San Sebastian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |
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.