A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tehran vs. Bilbao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tehran or Bilbao?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tehran and Bilbao. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Tehran or Bilbao?

Tehran

The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.

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 G Adventures Tours to Spain, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Bilbao or Tehran?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, while the average daily cost in Bilbao is $147. 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 Tehran and Bilbao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Bilbao $78
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Bilbao $156
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Bilbao

Looking for a hotel in Tehran 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.

Hotels in Tehran


Hotels in Bilbao


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: Bilbao Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.39
    Bilbao $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bilbao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bilbao:

  • Bilbao Airport Transfers to Pamplona: $420
  • Bilbao Airport Transfers to Santander: $318
  • Bilbao Airport Transfers to San Sebastian: $318
  • Private Transfer from Vitoria city to San Sebastian Airport: $291
  • Private Transfer from Bilbao to San Sebastian: $268
  • Private Transfer from Bilbao city to San Sebastian Airport: $268
  • Private Transfer from Bilbao Airport to Santander Port: $253
  • Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Logroño city: $245
  • Private Transfer from Vitoria to Logroño: $245
  • Private Transfer from Vitoria city to Logroño Airport : $245
  • Private Transfer from Vitoria Airport to Pamplona city: $230
  • Bilbao Airport Transfers to Vitoria-Gasteiz: $210

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Bilbao?

Prices for flights to both Bilbao and Tehran 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
    Tehran $14
    Bilbao $48

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: $113
  • Basque Pintxos and Tapas Cooking Class in Bilbao: $115
  • The Original Bilbao Food Tour with Wine Pairing: $115
  • The High End Food Tour of Bilbao with a Local: $120
  • Paella Cooking Class with Sangria in Bilbao: $135
  • Private Food Tour, Food Lovers with Tastings: $135
  • Paella Cooking Class (with Basque Sangria) in Bilbao: $142
  • Traditional Basque Cooking Class with Wine Tasting: $156
  • Guggenheim Museum Visit & Private Walking Food Tour: $198

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Bilbao $31

Tours and Activities in Bilbao

Here are a few actual costs in Bilbao for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • PRIVATE San Sebastian and Basque Coast Tour from Bilbao: $290
  • Pintxos Tasting in Bilbao Small Group or Private Walking Tour: $81
  • Awesome Bilbao – Private Family Walking Tour: $386
  • BILBAO-City Highlights Bike Tour: $36
  • Basque Coast Tour: Vizcaya Bridge, Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo and Gernika: $66
  • Basque Country 7-Day Guided Tour from Bilbao: $1,152
  • Bike tour with Pintxos & Drinks in Getxo (Scenic Bilbao Seaside): $60
  • Bilbao & Guggenheim Museum Private Walking Tour with guide: $286
  • Bilbao & Guggenheim Private Walking Tour from Hotel/Center: $281
  • Bilbao - Private Historic walking tour: $377
  • Bilbao 3-Day Package: Guggenheim, Hotel Stay and Bike Tour: $253
  • Bilbao : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $48

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    Bilbao $23

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: $80
  • Txakoli, Gaztelugatxe, & Urdaibai with wine tasting: $81
  • Guided tour of Txakoli wine tasting and tasting of wine and typical products: $148
  • Bilbao Txakoli Wine Tour: $178
  • Guided Txacoli Wine Tasting: $188
  • Rioja Wine Tour: Winery & Traditional Lunch From Bilbao: $201
  • Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Bilbao: $217
  • Rioja Wine Tour: 2 Wineries From Vitoria: $241
  • From Rioja Architecture and Wine Tour: $242


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Bilbao, we can see that Bilbao is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Bilbao 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 Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Bilbao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bilbao than you might in Tehran.

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Bilbao?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bilbao. When comparing the sizes of Tehran 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.