Which place is cheaper, Basque Country or La Rioja?
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 La Rioja or Basque Country?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit La Rioja or Basque Country? 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: La Rioja or Basque Country?
La Rioja
La Rioja is an area in northern Spain located in the Iberia peninsula. It is not as commonly known as some of the bigger cities, but it is a great place to visit. The area has more than 500 wineries, and though the area may not be well known as a tourist location, the name is often recognizable for its quality wine. La Rioja is full of natural beauty and Spanish culture. Because it is not as touristy as some of the larger areas of Spain, you are more likely to get a more genuine idea of real Spanish life and culture by visiting this region. The La Rioja area is nestled between cities like Burgos, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona and Zaragoza, so you are never far from the more popular northern cities.
Basque Country
Upon its lush green hills that tower over the deep blue waves of the Atlantic Ocean, you will find its perfected oceanic climate and breathtaking landscape to be only the beginning of Basque Country, Spain. Basque Country, or Euskadi, is an autonomous community located in northern Spain. This community was based off the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country, a legal document that enabled Basque people to develop on Spanish territory. Due to its strong traditional currents in Spanish heritage as well as magnificent architecture, Basque Country is a hotspot for tourists everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid, The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain.
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La Rioja Prices
Spain PricesBasque Country Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLa Rioja €137,991Basque Country €144
The average daily cost (per person) in La Rioja is €137,991, while the average daily cost in Basque Country is €144. 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 La Rioja and Basque Country in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLa Rioja €42,730Basque Country €57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLa Rioja €
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84Basque Country €114
Compare Hotels in La Rioja and Basque Country
Looking for a hotel in La Rioja or Basque Country? 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.La Rioja €9,556Basque Country €25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Basque Country
Also for Basque Country, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer San Sebastian to Bilbao or San Sebastian Airports by Van: $132
- Transfer S. Sebastian to Bilbao or S. Sebastian Airports by Sedan: $74
- Transfer Bilbao or San Sebastian Airport to San Sebastian by Car: $74
- San Sebastián: Transfer to Biarritz: $280
- Private Transfer in San Sebastian: $85
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Vitoria city: $97
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Pamplona: $266
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $282
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Laguardia town: $230
- Private Transfer from Vitoria to Elciego town: $230
- Private Transfer from Vitoria city to Bilbao Airport: $176
- Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Pamplona city: $265
Is it cheaper to fly into La Rioja or Basque Country?
Prices for flights to both Basque Country and La Rioja 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 dayLa Rioja €67,087Basque Country €63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Basque Country
For Basque Country, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour and Pintxos in Tolosa, 4 Food and Drink Tastings: $57
- Best Street Food Tour of San Sebastian with a Local Guide: $86
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $88
- Bilbao Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $88
- Bilbao Authentic Food Tour with 9 Pintxos and Local Drinks: $113
- Traditional Basque Pintxos Cooking Class in Bilbao: $117
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $117
- The Award-Winning Bilbao Food Tour & Wine Pairing by Basque Local: $123
- Paella and Burnt Basque Cheesecake Cooking Class (in Bilbao): $146
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $152
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian with Local Chef: $162
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $162
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.La Rioja €24,435Basque Country €30
Tours and Activities in La Rioja
For La Rioja, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Vineyards Tour in San Vicente de la Sonsierra: $99
Tours and Activities in Basque Country
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Basque Country.
- "A la Vasca" - Top Notch Gastro Cultural Experience: $204
- "Basque Cider House" guided tour + meal from San Sebastian: $97
- 2 Hours Private Family Guided Walking Tour in Bilbao: $219
- 3-day Bilbao Bike Tour and Guggenheim Museum Ticket: $293
- Artist-Guided Tour of the Guggenheim Museum: $104
- BILBAO ALL IRON BILBAO TOUR: Athletic Club & Guggenheim: $298
- Basque Coast Private Tour from San Sebastian: $256
- Basque Coast Road Bike Tour: $146
- Best Private Pintxos tour in San Sebastian: $169
- Big Group Paddle Adventure: $233
- Bike Tour in San Sebastian: $50
- Bike tour with Pintxos & Drinks in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao Seaside): $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLa Rioja €6,453Basque Country €20
Sample the Local Flavors in La Rioja
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Rioja:
- Rioja: Wine tasting and sampling at the Martínez Alesanco family winery: $23
- Sensory Experience With Wine Tasting: $27
- Private Wine Tasting in San Vicente de la Sonsierra: $64
- RIOJA: WINE TOUR WITH A WINERY OWNER: $343
Sample the Local Flavors in Basque Country
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Basque Country:
- Rioja & Txakoli Wine Tasting in Bilbao with a Local Sommelier: $58
- Bilbao Small Group Tour with Tapas and Wine Tasting: $112
- San Sebastian Centro Neighborhood Pintxos & Wine Tour: $116
- The Authentic Bilbao Pintxos, Food & Wine Tour with a Local: $116
- Basque Best Bites - #1 Food & Wine tour of Bilbao: $117
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $120
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $158
- Getaria Txakoli wine tour from San Sebastian: $169
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian: $191
- Txakoli wine tour from Bilbao: $192
- Private Basque Vineyard Visit: Txakoli Wine Tasting from Bilbao: $204
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian.: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Rioja and Basque Country, we can see that La Rioja is more expensive. And not only is Basque Country much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Basque Country would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Basque Country 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 La Rioja would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Rioja than you might in Basque Country.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Rioja Expensive? and Is Basque Country Expensive?.
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.