Is Bilbao expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Bilbao is moderately priced: cheaper than San Sebastián, Paris or London, a little dearer than southern Spain. A budget day is about €85 per person and a mid-range day about €160. Most of the money goes on hotels and on eating out, which here means pintxos at €2.50–6 each, and it adds up fast.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €40 | €75 | €150 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €90 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €30 | €50 |
| Local transport | €4 | €10 | €30 |
| Per person, per day | €84 | €160 | €320 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Bilbao day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Café con leche at a bar | about €1.80–2.50 |
| Cold pintxo on the bar | about €2.50–4 |
| Gilda pintxo | about €2–3 |
| Zurito (small beer) or glass of txakoli | about €1.50–3 |
| Guggenheim Museum ticket | about €18–20 |
| Metro Bilbao single (one zone) | about €1.50–2 |
| Menú del día lunch | about €14–20 |
| 3★ double room, summer | roughly €110–180 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Hotels are the biggest cost, especially during Aste Nagusia in late August and on football or concert weekends, and the Basque Country has moved to add a tourist tax on overnight stays. Food is the second: a pintxo crawl costs about €4–6 a stop with a drink, so a full evening can reach €30–40 per person, and grilled-meat asadores or fish restaurants are pricier. Sights are reasonable: the Guggenheim at about €18–20, the Fine Arts Museum at €12–15 and the Artxanda funicular for a few euros. Local transport is cheap with a Barik card.
When it is cheaper
November to March (outside Christmas) is cheapest for hotels, often 20–30% below summer rates, though it is the rainiest time. Weekdays are also cheaper than weekends.
How to spend less
- Eat the menú del día at lunch: three courses with wine or water for roughly €14–20.
- Get a Barik card for the metro, tram, Bizkaibus and Artxanda funicular instead of buying singles.
- Check the Fine Arts Museum's free-entry hours on some afternoons.
- Order one pintxo and a zurito per bar rather than filling a plate; that is how locals do it and it keeps the bill honest.
- Base yourself in Bilbao and day-trip to San Sebastián by bus (about 1h15) instead of sleeping in pricier San Sebastián.
- Book well ahead or avoid the nine days of Aste Nagusia if price matters.
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Common questions
Is Bilbao cheaper than San Sebastián?
Usually yes, especially for hotels, and the pintxos are just as good. Many travellers base themselves in Bilbao and visit San Sebastián as a day trip.
How much does a pintxo crawl cost in Bilbao?
About €4–6 per stop for one pintxo and a small drink. Four or five bars make a full evening for about €20–30 per person.
How much is the Guggenheim?
About €18–20 for adults, with discounts for students and seniors. It is closed most Mondays outside summer.