A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tangier vs. San Sebastian for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tangier or San Sebastian?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tangier and San Sebastian can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Tangier or San Sebastian?

Tangier

Welcome to the gateway to Africa. Sitting on the coast of the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier, Morocco has historically served as the meeting point of the Mediterranean and Africa.

After World War II, this city became a destination for eccentric foreigners, artists, spies and hippies. After that, the city was neglected and gained a horrible reputation for the hustlers cheating visitors left and right.

In 1999 Morocco saw the beginning of a new monarch who was more progressive with his vision for tourism. This message lit a fire under Tangier, helping the people see the amazing potential in their great city. They built a new port, a new business district and revamped the airport. The beaches and streets have been cleaned up of trash and hustlers and there's a sudden surge in cultural activities.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain.


Which place is cheaper, San Sebastian or Tangier?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tangier is $61, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is $96. 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 Tangier and San Sebastian in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tangier $23
    San Sebastian $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tangier $46
    San Sebastian $86
Compare Hotels in Tangier and San Sebastian

Looking for a hotel in Tangier or San Sebastian? 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.

Hotels in Tangier


Hotels in San Sebastian


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: Tangier Hotel Prices and San Sebastian Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tangier $23
    San Sebastian $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tangier

Also for Tangier, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Ferry Port to Tangier or Vice Versa: $19
  • Tangier Airport Transfers: $23
  • Tangier Private Transfers: $23
  • One-way Luxury Tangier Airport or Port Transfer: $24
  • Private Transfer to Tangier from Tangier City Port : $25
  • Private Transfer to Tangier City from Airport or Vice Versa: $25
  • Private Airport Transfers: $25
  • Airport Transfer to Tanger City : $26
  • Transfers from - to Tangier airport: $27
  • Private Transfer : Tangier Airport (TNG) ⇆ Tangier City: $28
  • Transfer Tangier Airport to Tangier City: $33
  • Vip Private Transfer From Airport / Port to Tangier or Vice Versa: $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Sebastian

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Sebastian:

  • Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Vitoria: $291
  • San Sebastián-Bilbao city or airport private transfer: $273
  • Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Bilbao Airport: $268
  • Private Transfer from San Sebastian to Bilbao: $268
  • Private Transfer from San Sebastian Airport to Pamplona city: $247
  • Private Transfer from San Sebastian city to Pamplona Airport : $245
  • Private Transfer from the Airport to San Sebastian City: $84

Is it cheaper to fly into Tangier or San Sebastian?

Prices for flights to both San Sebastian and Tangier 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 day
    Tangier $20
    San Sebastian $33
Typical Food Prices in Tangier

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tangier:


  • Fruit & Yogurt
    $1.69

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tangier

For Tangier, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 3 Hour Private Moroccan Food Tour in Tanger : $49
  • Tanger Local Street food tours: $60
  • Tangier Private Cooking Class With a Local Family: $66
  • Tangier Food Tour with a certified local guide!: $67
  • Tangier food tour with Rababe: $71
  • Tangier food tour : $71
  • Tangier Food Tour with a certified guide!: $71
  • Morocco Food Cooking Class and Tangier City Tour: $71
  • Moroccan 3-in-1 Cooking Experience: $75
  • Moroccan 3 in 1 Cooking Experience: $76
  • The Food tour of Tangier: $76
  • Inclusive Beach Camel Ride, Cap Spartel, Hercules & Full Dinner: $80

Typical Food Prices in San Sebastian

Some typical examples of dining costs in San Sebastian are as follows:


  • Dinner for 2
    $59
  • Lunch for 2
    $11
  • Lunch for 2
    $34

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tangier $20
    San Sebastian $36

Tours and Activities in Tangier

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tangier.

  • Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus: $14
  • Tangier City Tour Bus Hop On - Hop Off: $14
  • From Marrakesh: Discover Essaouira Full-Day Tour: $17
  • Tangier Stroll: Public Guided Tour: $17
  • Tangier walking tour: $17
  • Tangier Private Walking Tour with a Guide: $25
  • Tangier Private Walking Tour: $26
  • Tangier Guided Walking Experience: $26
  • Touristic guide: $28
  • 3 Hours Tangier walking Tour in Old Medina,Kasbah & berber market: $31
  • Walking Tour Tangier Medina: $31
  • Tangier Highlights Tour: Exploring the Cultural Gems: $31

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
    $6.43

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tangier $11
    San Sebastian $21

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 Tangier and San Sebastian, we can see that San Sebastian is more expensive. And not only is Tangier much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tangier is in Africa and San Sebastian is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Tangier would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tangier 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 San Sebastian would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Sebastian than you might in Tangier.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tangier Expensive? and Is San Sebastian Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tangier or San Sebastian?

Tangier has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of San Sebastian. When comparing the sizes of Tangier and San Sebastian, 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 Tangier or San Sebastian?

San Sebastian has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Tangier experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tangier or San Sebastian in the Summer?

Both San Sebastian and Tangier during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tangier because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to San Sebastian because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Tangier is a little warmer than San Sebastian. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tangier in July average around 24°C (74°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 20°C (68°F).

In San Sebastian, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tangier. In the summer, Tangier often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Tangier gets 346 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 209 hours of full sun.

Tangier usually gets less rain in July than San Sebastian. Tangier gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tangier 24°C (74°F) 
    San Sebastian 20°C (68°F)

Should I visit Tangier or San Sebastian in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tangier and San Sebastian. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tangier year-round. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to San Sebastian this time of year.

In October, Tangier is generally a little warmer than San Sebastian. Daily temperatures in Tangier average around 20°C (68°F), and San Sebastian fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Tangier, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tangier usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during autumn. Tangier gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 144 hours of full sun in the autumn.

San Sebastian receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Tangier usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Tangier gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tangier 20°C (68°F) 
    San Sebastian 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Tangier or San Sebastian in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tangier as well as San Sebastian. Tangier attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to San Sebastian for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Tangier is a little warmer than San Sebastian in the winter. The daily temperature in Tangier averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and San Sebastian fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Tangier often gets more sunshine than San Sebastian. Tangier gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Sebastian receives 85 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Sebastian. Tangier receives a lot of rain in the winter. Tangier usually gets less rain in January than San Sebastian. Tangier gets 104 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 183 mm (7.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tangier 13°C (55°F) 
    San Sebastian 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Tangier or San Sebastian in the Spring?

Both San Sebastian and Tangier are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tangier throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to San Sebastian in the spring for the beaches.

In the spring, Tangier is a little warmer than San Sebastian. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tangier in April average around 15°C (60°F), and San Sebastian averages at about 12°C (54°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tangier. Tangier usually receives more sunshine than San Sebastian during spring. Tangier gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while San Sebastian receives 141 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Sebastian. In April, Tangier usually receives less rain than San Sebastian. Tangier gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while San Sebastian receives 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tangier 15°C (60°F) 
    San Sebastian 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for San Sebastian and Tangier

Tangier San Sebastian
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 13°C (55°F) 104 mm (4.1 in) 8°C (47°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Feb 13°C (56°F) 99 mm (3.9 in) 9°C (49°F) 147 mm (5.8 in)
Mar 14°C (57°F) 72 mm (2.8 in) 10°C (51°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Apr 15°C (60°F) 62 mm (2.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 163 mm (6.4 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 15°C (59°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Jun 21°C (69°F) 14 mm (0.6 in) 18°C (64°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Jul 24°C (74°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Aug 24°C (75°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 115 mm (4.5 in)
Sep 23°C (73°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 18°C (65°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)
Oct 20°C (68°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 16°C (60°F) 155 mm (6.1 in)
Nov 16°C (61°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 190 mm (7.5 in)
Dec 13°C (56°F) 129 mm (5.1 in) 9°C (49°F) 184 mm (7.2 in)