Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Gran Canaria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Gran Canaria 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.
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.
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 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 San Sebastian is €90. 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 San Sebastian in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Gran Canaria 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.
Also for Gran Canaria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian 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 San Sebastian are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Sebastian.
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 San Sebastian are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gran Canaria:
Also in San Sebastian, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gran Canaria and San Sebastian, we can see that Gran Canaria is more expensive. And not only is San Sebastian much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Sebastian would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Sebastian 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 Gran Canaria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gran Canaria than you might in San Sebastian.
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 San Sebastian Expensive?.
Gran Canaria has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Sebastian. When comparing the sizes of Gran Canaria 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.
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 San Sebastian and Gran Canaria during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Gran Canaria is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Gran Canaria average around 23°C (73°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
In San Sebastian, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Gran Canaria. In the summer, Gran Canaria often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Gran Canaria gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.
Gran Canaria usually gets less rain in July than San Sebastian. Gran Canaria gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gran Canaria and San Sebastian. Also, most visitors come to San Sebastian for the shopping scene during these months.
Gran Canaria is a little warmer than San Sebastian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gran Canaria averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In Gran Canaria, it's very sunny this time of the year. Gran Canaria usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Gran Canaria gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Gran Canaria usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Gran Canaria gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Gran Canaria as well as San Sebastian. Also, the winter months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Gran Canaria is much warmer than San Sebastian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gran Canaria in January average around 18°C (64°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 8°C (47°F).
In the winter, Gran Canaria often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Gran Canaria gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. Gran Canaria usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Gran Canaria gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both San Sebastian and Gran Canaria are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
In April, Gran Canaria is generally much warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Gran Canaria average around 19°C (66°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Gran Canaria gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. In April, Gran Canaria usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Gran Canaria gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Gran Canaria | San Sebastian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) |
Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) |