Manchester United and Tottenham fans have compared a £550 hostel room to Squid Game's dormitory as they struggle to find accommodation amid an extortionate price surge ahead of their Europa League final clash.
Bilbao is expecting 80,000 supporters to descend on the Spanish city with residents braced for an invasion on a scale they have 'never faced' before, according to reports in Spain.
Fans will be forced to fork out thousands of pounds or face sleeping on the streets because of high accommodation costs.
Prices have shot up 900% after the all English tie was confirmed, with fans clamouring to see their teams seize a place in next season's Champions League.
The cheapest apartment still available on Booking.com is a costly £1,030 for just a two night stay, with the most expensive a staggering £13,520.
While one comparatively cut price option would involve staying at the Bilbao Metropolitan Hostel, labelled 'Squid Game' accommodation by fans, for £551.
'Sleeping in Squid Game for 2k,' one Man United fan wrote on X, after seeing the cost of a three night stay.
Even those opting for a budget stay in a 10-bed shared hostel at the All Iron Hostel will have to stump up £226 for two nights.
One three-star hotel, the Hotel Ilunion Bilbao, a 10-minute walk from the San Mames stadium has no availabilty but priced its cheapest room at £2,444 a night.
The astronomical prices mean some supporters will take to staying in cars or vans as they scramble to the Basque city.
While others are even considering sleeping rough on the streets, according to El Correo.
The bad news for fans doesn't end there and they have been warned they will face sky-high beer prices having already splashed on expensive travel costs.
Last Friday, MailSport reported the cheapest flight to get from London to Bilbao on May 21 would run Spurs fans a whopping £355 for a one-way ticket.
At the time of writing, a return flight leaving London Gatwick on May 21 and returning on May 22 starts at £668, as per Skyscanner.
And local vendors are expected to exploit the explosion of visitors and raise prices.
However, Basque Consumers and Users Organization delegate Kepa Loizaga has criticised the practice that has seen prices balloon '7, 8, and even 9 times'.
Loizaga urged bars and restaurants to 'not sell pints of beer for 10 euros' as was the case during the European rugby cup finals in 2018.
Additionally, he hit out at the 'disproportionate and exorbitant' pricing policy carried out by many of Bilbao hoteliers and also issued a warning to the city about the image it is projecting to the world.
'We already know that almost all businesses operate according to supply and demand, both flights and accommodations,' he told Bilbao outlet El Correo. 'There are no limits on increases or decreases. Everyone sells their product as they wish.'
He added: 'What we are conveying to the rest of the world is very negative.
Spurs fans are expected to outnumber United supporters with thousands travelling ticketless.
While both clubs have been allocated 15,000 for San Mamés, it is believed the same number of ticketless Spurs fans will travel to Bilbao, compared to around 2,000 followers of United in a similar position.
Although Spurs reached the Champions League final, their comparative lack of European success is thought to be behind the greater numbers.
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Before 2019, their last appearance at a European final came in 1984.
United last reached the Europa League final in 2021, and won it in 2017.
Tottenham employees will be among their travelling crowd, after the north London club offered a complimentary ticket to every full-time employee.
While no such luxury was provided by United, who instead held a ballot with a small number of tickets available for their staff.
For the majority, they are hosting a screening in Manchester with the invite open to plus-ones.
Manager Ruben Amorim even ended up paying for 30 of his backroom staff and their families to attend the final after they missed out on complimentary tickets.
The two Premier League sides booked their spots in the final following impressive wins against Athletic Bilbao and Bodo/Glimt respectively, and will look to salvage their seasons at San Mames after hugely disappointing league showings.