Which place is cheaper, Pontevedra or San Sebastian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Sebastian or Pontevedra?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Sebastian or Pontevedra, 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 Pontevedra?
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.
Pontevedra
An important port city with a medieval past, Pontevedra sits on the northwestern coast of Spain where the Lerez River opens out into the ocean. It is a part of the Galicia region and is known for its seafood, charming plazas, and old world architecture that include a number of chapels, churches, and cathedrals.
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 €90Pontevedra €120
The average daily cost (per person) in San Sebastian is €90, while the average daily cost in Pontevedra is €120. 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 Pontevedra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Sebastian €40Pontevedra €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Sebastian €80Pontevedra €122
Compare Hotels in San Sebastian and Pontevedra
Looking for a hotel in San Sebastian or Pontevedra? 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 and Pontevedra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Sebastian €14Pontevedra €23
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 Pontevedra?
Prices for flights to both Pontevedra 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 €31Pontevedra €42
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
Typical Food Prices in Pontevedra
For Pontevedra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for 2€11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pontevedra
For Pontevedra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Galician Cooking Class with Chef Instructor: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Sebastian €33Pontevedra €19
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
Tours and Activities in Pontevedra
For Pontevedra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Pontevedra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
- O Grove Aquarium Experience: $16
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $43
- NEW!! Private Walking Tour with local guide: $64
- Walking Tour and Galician Food Tasting: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Sebastian €20Pontevedra €20
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Pontevedra
Also in Pontevedra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Albariño Wine Tasting with Winery Tour: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Sebastian and Pontevedra, we can see that Pontevedra 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 Pontevedra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pontevedra 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 Pontevedra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Sebastian or Pontevedra?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pontevedra. When comparing the sizes of San Sebastian and Pontevedra, 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 Pontevedra?
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 Pontevedra in the Summer?
Both Pontevedra 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.
San Sebastian is around the same temperature as Pontevedra in the summer. The daily temperature in San Sebastian averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Pontevedra fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
In Pontevedra, 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 Pontevedra. San Sebastian gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pontevedra receives 299 hours of full sun.
San Sebastian usually gets more rain in July than Pontevedra. San Sebastian gets 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Pontevedra receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Sebastian 20°C (68°F)Pontevedra 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Pontevedra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Sebastian and Pontevedra. The shopping scene are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.
In the autumn, San Sebastian is around the same temperature as Pontevedra. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Sebastian in October average around 16°C (60°F), and Pontevedra averages at about 17°C (62°F).
San Sebastian usually receives less sunshine than Pontevedra during autumn. San Sebastian gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Pontevedra receives 174 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Pontevedra receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Sebastian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Sebastian usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pontevedra. San Sebastian gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Pontevedra receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Sebastian 16°C (60°F)Pontevedra 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Pontevedra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to San Sebastian as well as Pontevedra. Many travelers come to San Sebastian for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, San Sebastian is generally cooler than Pontevedra. Daily temperatures in San Sebastian average around 8°C (47°F), and Pontevedra fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the winter, San Sebastian often gets less sunshine than Pontevedra. San Sebastian gets 85 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pontevedra receives 110 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Pontevedra. San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Sebastian usually gets less rain in January than Pontevedra. San Sebastian gets 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Pontevedra receives 232 mm (9.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Sebastian 8°C (47°F)Pontevedra 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit San Sebastian or Pontevedra in the Spring?
Both Pontevedra 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.
San Sebastian is around the same temperature as Pontevedra in the spring. The daily temperature in San Sebastian averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Pontevedra fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
San Sebastian usually receives less sunshine than Pontevedra during spring. San Sebastian gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Pontevedra receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Pontevedra. It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. In April, San Sebastian usually receives more rain than Pontevedra. San Sebastian gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Pontevedra receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Sebastian 12°C (54°F)Pontevedra 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Pontevedra and San Sebastian
| San Sebastian | Pontevedra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (47°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (49°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (51°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 15°C (59°F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) |
| Jun | 18°C (64°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 20°C (68°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Aug | 20°C (68°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (60°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (49°F) | 184 mm (7.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 228 mm (9 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.