Should you visit Zaragoza or San Sebastian?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Zaragoza or San Sebastian, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Zaragoza
As the sun slips below the horizon, the night is greeted by the familiar glow of the exquisite cathedral Basilica del Pilar that stands above the city like a shimmering castle. This city is none other than Zaragoza, Spain, the capital city of the Zaragoza province in Aragon, Spain. Overlooking the Ebro River, Zaragoza has a population of 701,090, ranking the 32nd most populated municipality in the European Union. Zaragoza has attracted travelers from all across the world, causing the city to host the Expo in the summer of 2008 and also stand as a candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2012. Besides its glimmering cathedral, Zaragoza is also known for its rich history in folklore, local gastronomy, as well as hosting the well-known Fiestas del Pilar, the most celebrated of festivals in Spain.
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.
Which city is cheaper, San Sebastian or Zaragoza?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Zaragoza is €101, while the average daily cost in San Sebastian is €72. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Zaragoza and San Sebastian in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Zaragoza is about €104 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
A hotel room in San Sebastian is about €64 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Zaragoza cost around €33 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €13.
While meal prices in San Sebastian can vary, the average travelers spends about €25 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in San Sebastian should cost around €10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in San Sebastian is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Zaragoza €33
San Sebastian €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zaragoza
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zaragoza.
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Midday Market Tour and Spanish Cooking Class:
$111
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.
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Accessible Cooking Class:
$308
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €18 per day to get around in Zaragoza.
The average price of local transportation around San Sebastian is €11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zaragoza
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zaragoza:
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Low Cost Private Transfer From Zaragoza Air Base to Zaragoza City - One Way:
$47
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Zaragoza Private Transfer from Zaragoza Airport to City centre:
$75
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Zaragoza Private Transfer from the city centre to Zaragoza Airport:
$75
Is it cheaper to fly into Zaragoza or San Sebastian?
Prices for flights to both San Sebastian and Zaragoza 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €28 per person, per day in Zaragoza. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
San Sebastian's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €27 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Zaragoza
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zaragoza are as follows:
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Zaragoza Aquarium Admission Ticket:
$17
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Private Tour with a Local Guide:
$40
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Midday market and tapas tour of Zaragoza:
$106
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Private Walking Tour of Zaragoza with official tour guide:
$248
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Zaragoza Private Walking Tour with Professional Guide:
$322
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Private City Tour of Zaragoza with driver & official tour guide w/ Hotel pick up:
$384
Typical Entertainment prices in San Sebastian
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in San Sebastian are as follows:
Tours and Activities in San Sebastian
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Sebastian are as follows:
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San Sebastian Walking Tour with Pintxo and a Drink:
$44
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Mysterious Urgull Hill: San Sebastian Walking and History Tour:
$45
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Private San Sebastian City Walking Tour:
$62
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San Sebastian Vegetarian Pintxos Tasting Tour:
$81
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Pintxos Tasting Paired with Spanish Wines Experience:
$81
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Daily Pintxos Tour for Gourmets:
$118
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Game of Thrones Dragonstone Experience:
$448
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Game of Thrones Dragonstone Experience - PREMIUM:
$746
Alcohol
The average person spends about €11 on alcoholic beverages in Zaragoza per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about €16 on alcoholic beverages in San Sebastian per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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:
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Ultimate San Sebastian Pintxos & Wine Tour (Evening):
$136
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zaragoza and San Sebastian, we can see that Zaragoza 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 Zaragoza would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zaragoza than you might in San Sebastian.
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