Which place is cheaper, Playa del Ingles or San Sebastian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles?
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.
Playa del Ingles
Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, and The Best Budget Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Sebastian €90Playa del Ingles €180
The average daily cost (per person) in San Sebastian is €90, while the average daily cost in Playa del Ingles is €180. 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 San Sebastian and Playa del Ingles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Sebastian €40Playa del Ingles €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Sebastian €80Playa del Ingles €186
Compare Hotels in San Sebastian and Playa del Ingles
Looking for a hotel in San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles? 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: San Sebastian Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Sebastian €14Playa del Ingles €61
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 San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Ingles and San Sebastian 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 daySan Sebastian €31Playa del Ingles €49
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€55
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Lunch for 2€10
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Lunch for 2€31
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.San Sebastian €33Playa del Ingles €33
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€6.00
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 daySan Sebastian €20Playa del Ingles €7.86
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Sebastian and Playa del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles 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 Playa del Ingles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Ingles 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 San Sebastian Expensive? and Is Playa del Ingles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of San Sebastian and Playa del Ingles, 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 San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles?
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 San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles in the Summer?
Both Playa del Ingles and San Sebastian during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, San Sebastian is generally around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in San Sebastian average around 20°C (68°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Sebastian. In the summer, San Sebastian often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian usually gets more rain in July than Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Sebastian 20°C (68°F)Playa del Ingles 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Sebastian and Playa del Ingles. The shopping scene are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
San Sebastian is cooler than Playa del Ingles in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Sebastian averages around 16°C (60°F) in October, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. San Sebastian usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during autumn. San Sebastian gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Sebastian usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Sebastian 16°C (60°F)Playa del Ingles 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Sebastian as well as Playa del Ingles. Many travelers come to San Sebastian for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, San Sebastian is much colder than Playa del Ingles. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Sebastian in January average around 8°C (47°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 17°C (63°F).
In the winter, San Sebastian often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian gets 85 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Sebastian usually gets more rain in January than Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Sebastian 8°C (47°F)Playa del Ingles 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?
Both Playa del Ingles and San Sebastian are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to San Sebastian in the spring for the beaches.
In April, San Sebastian is generally much colder than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in San Sebastian average around 12°C (54°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during spring. San Sebastian gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. In April, San Sebastian usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. San Sebastian gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Sebastian 12°C (54°F)Playa del Ingles 19°C (66°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and San Sebastian
| San Sebastian | Playa del Ingles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 21 mm (0.8 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.