Which place is cheaper, Bilbao or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bilbao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bilbao, 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: Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bilbao?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Not everyone traveling to Spain is looking to collapse on a beach somewhere. If you're in search of a bustling, vibrant and colorful Spanish capital city without the crowds of Barcelona, you might want to book a few days in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Tenerife on the Canary Island chain, Santa Cruz's bright buildings, charming shops and rich, green scenery are there to greet visitors from all over the world - including you.
Bilbao
The industrial city of Bilbao is located on a port of the Nervión River in northern Spain, an important location of Basque country. While the downtown is filled with skyscrapers and innovative architecture, it sits between a river and mountains of natural allure. A city of hard-workers to the core, Bilbao displays remnants of its industrial past, though in more recent years it has transformed into a center for art. It is now a popular location for visitors looking to experience art galleries and museums.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Cruz de Tenerife €126Bilbao €137
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €126, while the average daily cost in Bilbao is €137. 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Bilbao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Cruz de Tenerife €48Bilbao €72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Cruz de Tenerife €96Bilbao €144
Compare Hotels in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Bilbao
Looking for a hotel in Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bilbao? 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: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Hotel Prices and Bilbao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Cruz de Tenerife €64Bilbao €26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
- Mount Teide Tour with Transfer and Optional Cable Car Ticket: $43
- Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: Transfer to Tenerife hotels: $252
- Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Costa Adeje Hotels to Airport): $98
- Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Playa de las américas to Airport): $59
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet : $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Business Car: $60
- Arrival Private Transfer from Bilbao airport BIO to Bilbao City by Luxury Van: $80
- Bilbao Airport Private Arrival Transfer to Various Cities : $45
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Business Car: $50
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Car: $70
- Bilbao Airport Transfers : Bilbao City to Bilbao Airport BIO in Luxury Van: $66
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Pamplona: $417
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to San Sebastian: $315
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Santander: $315
- Bilbao Airport Transfers to Vitoria-Gasteiz: $209
- Bilbao Airport to the Basque Country: Private Transfers: $91
- Departure Private Transfer from Bilbao City to Bilbao airport BIO by Luxury Van: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bilbao?
Prices for flights to both Bilbao and Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 daySanta Cruz de Tenerife €40Bilbao €45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bilbao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bilbao.
- Basque Food Tour with Guide: $86
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairings: $102
- Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao : $109
- Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class with Open Bar: $112
- The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
- Basque Flavours: High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
- Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $134
- Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $134
- Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
- Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $155
- Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $197
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Cruz de Tenerife €25Bilbao €29
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tenerife: Forestal Park Tenerife Entry Ticket: $28
- Guided Tour to Teide National Park in Tenerife: $44
- Full Day Tour of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal de La Laguna: $49
- Volcano Teide National Park Shared Tour from Costa Adeje Los Cristianos Tenerife: $64
- Full Day Guided Tour of Teide by Cabrio Bus : $75
- Private Paragliding Flight Experience in Tenerife: $109
- Taucho Flight Experience: $118
- Tenerife: Introductory Dive for Cruise Ship Passengers: $128
- Private VIP Tour Tenerife Magic Circle: $258
Tours and Activities in Bilbao
Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bilbao Cathedral and San Anton Church Entry Ticket: $4.28
- Bilbao Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour: $7.48
- VITORIA DE LEGEND night tour: $11
- Bilbao Confidential Tour: Industrialists and Bourgeois: $13
- 1- or 2-Hour Sightseeing Boat Tour: $15
- Tour of the Great Villas in Getxo and Hanging Bridge: $16
- Bilbao tour: $17
- San Mamés Museum and Stadium Tour: $18
- Bilbao Estuary and Abra Bay Boat Tour: $20
- Bilbao Historical Small Group Tour : $28
- Walking tour of Bilbao with pintxo and drink: $31
- Private Kayak Tour along the Getxo Coast and Hanging Bridge: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Cruz de Tenerife €7.50Bilbao €21
Sample the Local Flavors in Bilbao
Also in Bilbao, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Bilbao: $25
- Immersive Evening Spanish Wine Tasting w/ Sommelier: $53
- Spanish Wine Tasting with Sommelier (close to Guggenheim museum): $54
- Pintxos and Wine Tasting Tour with Local Guide: $79
- Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $80
- Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
- Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $176
- Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $187
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $240
- From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $241
- Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $246
- Architectural Rioja Small Group Wine Tour with Lunch from Bilbao : $246
When comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expensive? and Is Bilbao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Bilbao?
Bilbao has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Bilbao, 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.