Which place is cheaper, Barcelona or Gran Canaria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Gran Canaria or Barcelona? 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.
Gran Canaria is one of Spain's Canary Islands, located just off the coast of northwestern Africa. It is the third largest of the islands, and is known for its variety of volcanic beaches. This island is sometimes called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, which allow for a range of activities like hiking, biking, surfing, and scuba diving.
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with a population of over 1.5 million people. It's also the capital of Catalonia and is located on the northeastern part of the Mediterranean coast. Barcelona is one of the country's most popular travel destinations because of its rich history, interesting architecture, and vibrant culture. Barcelona hosted the 1992 Summer Olympic games and that had a strong influence over tourism in the area. Many different neighborhoods were renovated and rebuilt. Modern design became the norm in many parts of the city, although there is still an old city feel and many efforts at preservation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Gran Canaria is €125, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is €156. 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 Gran Canaria and Barcelona in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Gran Canaria or Barcelona? 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.
Also for Gran Canaria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
Prices for flights to both Barcelona and Gran Canaria 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gran Canaria.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gran Canaria:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gran Canaria and Barcelona, we can see that Barcelona is more expensive. And not only is Gran Canaria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gran Canaria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gran Canaria 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 Barcelona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Barcelona than you might in Gran Canaria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gran Canaria Expensive? and Is Barcelona Expensive?.
Barcelona has a larger population, and is about 88% larger than the population of Gran Canaria. When comparing the sizes of Gran Canaria and Barcelona, 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.
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.
Both Barcelona and Gran Canaria during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Barcelona for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Gran Canaria is around the same temperature as Barcelona. Typically, the summer temperatures in Gran Canaria in July average around 23°C (73°F), and Barcelona averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In Barcelona, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Gran Canaria. In the summer, Gran Canaria often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Barcelona. Gran Canaria gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 308 hours of full sun.
Gran Canaria usually gets less rain in July than Barcelona. Gran Canaria gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gran Canaria and Barcelona. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Barcelona because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Gran Canaria is generally a little warmer than Barcelona. Daily temperatures in Gran Canaria average around 23°C (73°F), and Barcelona fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In Gran Canaria, it's very sunny this time of the year. Gran Canaria usually receives more sunshine than Barcelona during autumn. Gran Canaria gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Gran Canaria usually receives less rain than Barcelona. Gran Canaria gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Gran Canaria as well as Barcelona. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Barcelona this time of year.
Gran Canaria is much warmer than Barcelona in the winter. The daily temperature in Gran Canaria averages around 18°C (64°F) in January, and Barcelona fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In the winter, Gran Canaria often gets more sunshine than Barcelona. Gran Canaria gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Barcelona receives 146 hours of full sun.
Gran Canaria usually gets less rain in January than Barcelona. Gran Canaria gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Barcelona and Gran Canaria are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Barcelona for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Gran Canaria is a little warmer than Barcelona. Typically, the spring temperatures in Gran Canaria in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Barcelona averages at about 13°C (55°F).
It's quite sunny in Barcelona. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria usually receives more sunshine than Barcelona during spring. Gran Canaria gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Barcelona receives 204 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Gran Canaria usually receives less rain than Barcelona. Gran Canaria gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Barcelona receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Gran Canaria | Barcelona | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |