Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or San Sebastian?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Sebastian or Puerto del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Sebastian or Puerto del Carmen, 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 Puerto del Carmen?
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.
Puerto del Carmen
Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.
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.
-
San Sebastian Prices
Spain PricesPuerto del Carmen Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Sebastian €113Puerto del Carmen €210
The average daily cost (per person) in San Sebastian is €113, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €210. 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 Puerto del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Sebastian €40Puerto del Carmen €98
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Sebastian €80Puerto del Carmen €196
Compare Hotels in San Sebastian and Puerto del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in San Sebastian or Puerto del Carmen? 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 Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Sebastian €13Puerto del Carmen €39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:
- Transfer San Sebastian to Bilbao or San Sebastian Airports by Van: $133
- Transfer S. Sebastian to Bilbao or S. Sebastian Airports by Sedan: $74
- Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $284
Is it cheaper to fly into San Sebastian or Puerto del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen 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
-
Food Meals for one daySan Sebastian €55Puerto del Carmen €89
Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:
-
Dinner for 2€55
-
Lunch for 2€10
-
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.
- Food Tour and Pintxos in Tolosa, 4 Food and Drink Tastings: $57
- Best Street Food Tour of San Sebastian with a Local Guide: $87
- San Sebastian Food Tour: Pintxos, Drinks, and Tapas with a Local: $88
- Basque cuisine cooking class: $153
- Basque Cooking Experience: Market Tour & Hands-On Class English: $163
- Authentic Basque Cooking Class in San Sebastian with Local Chef: $163
- Dinner in a Gastronomic Club in San Sebastian: $188
- Eat Like a True Basque San Sebastian Authentic Culinary Food Tour: $194
- San Sebastian Supper Club A Progressive Dinner Experience: $233
- San Sebastián Food & History Tour: Dinner with a Local Twist: $252
- San Sebastián Walking Dinner Tour with Basque Bites: $292
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Sebastian €32Puerto del Carmen €17
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
-
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:
- " Basque Farm House & Cider house" tour + meal from San Sebastian: $109
- Bike Tour in San Sebastian: $50
- Camino de Santiago trail. Private trekking tour along the coast: $293
- Cider house experience from San Sebastian: $129
- Discover San Sebastián’s Best Pintxos on a Unique Culinary Tour: $205
- East San Sebastian Ebike Tour: $75
- Eating Beyond Pintxos Tour: $117
- El Camino and the Pyrenees Private Day Tour from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port To Roncesvalles: $141
- Guided Electric Mountain Bike Tour in Gipuzkoa: $116
- Hondarribia on Bicycle Tour of Nature and Basque Culture: $35
- La Rioja wines and Laguardia tour from San Sebastian: $129
- New Tour! Private 3H Walking City Tour in San Sebastian: $293
Tours and Activities in Puerto del Carmen
For Puerto del Carmen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Freedive & Deep Snorkel Experience For Beginners: $137
- Lanzarote: First Dive Experience at Punta Tiñosa by Boat: $182
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Sebastian €20Puerto del Carmen €60
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:
- San Sebastian Old Town Pintxos & Wine Tour Small Group Tour: $121
- Getaria Txakoli wine tour from San Sebastian: $170
- Small Group Basque Food, Pintxos and Wine Tour in San Sebastian: $192
- Best quality food & wine tasting tour in San Sebastian.: $211
- Private Half Day Txakoli Wine Tour & Getaria Fishing Village: $241
- Private Txakoli wine tour in Getaria from San Sebastian: $293
- Rioja wine tour: winery and traditional lunch from San Sebastian: $293
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Sebastian and Puerto del Carmen, we can see that Puerto del Carmen 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 Puerto del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto del Carmen 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 Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Sebastian or Puerto del Carmen?
San Sebastian has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Puerto del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of San Sebastian and Puerto del Carmen, 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.
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.