Which place is cheaper, Costa Vicentina or Albufeira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Albufeira or Costa Vicentina?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Albufeira or Costa Vicentina? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Albufeira or Costa Vicentina?
Albufeira
Located in the Algarve region in the south of Portugal, Albufeira was once a small fishing village which has since evolved into a popular destination for tourists attracted by the area's beaches, pleasant climate, and fresh seafood.
Costa Vicentina
Costa Vicentina is the beautiful coastal area in southwest Portugal which runs through both the Algarve and Alentejo Regions along the southern coast. This is actually part of the longest stretch of protected coastline in Portugal, making it one of the best places to experience the unadulterated beauty and nature of the country. Costa Vicentina offers miles of some of the best Portugal beaches, fantastic hiking trails, and lovely old villages to explore. The area sees far more Portuguese tourists than international ones, so expect Portuguese to be the only language spoken by many people, especially in the smaller villages.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlbufeira €148Costa Vicentina €125
The average daily cost (per person) in Albufeira is €148, while the average daily cost in Costa Vicentina is €125. 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 Albufeira and Costa Vicentina in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlbufeira €74Costa Vicentina €66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlbufeira €148Costa Vicentina €132
Compare Hotels in Albufeira and Costa Vicentina
Looking for a hotel in Albufeira or Costa Vicentina? 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.
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: Albufeira Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Albufeira €34Costa Vicentina €40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albufeira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:
- Albufeira - Faro Airport Transfers 4pax: $49
- Car or Van Transfer from Vilamoura Area to Faro Airport FAO: $29
- Faro Airport Private Transfer - Albufeira (Departure): $27
- From One Way Private Transfer to Seville by Van: $426
- From Slide & Splash Waterpark One-Way Transfer: $59
- Private Airport Transfer To Albufeira Area: $108
- Private Airport Transfer To Albufeira Area: $98
- Private Faro Airport Transfer from Albufeira (up to 8 passangers): $76
- Private Transfer From Albufeira To Faro Airport By Minibus: $74
- Private Transfer from Albufeira to Faro Airport (5 to 8 pax): $59
- Private Transfer from Apartamentos Pescadores (Albufeira) to Faro (FAO) Airport: $47
- Private Transfer from Cacela Velha to Faro (FAO) Airport: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Albufeira or Costa Vicentina?
Prices for flights to both Costa Vicentina and Albufeira 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
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Food Meals for one dayAlbufeira €48Costa Vicentina €34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albufeira
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Albufeira.
- Dinner at the Vineyards in Lagoa: $60
- Sunset Safari with Traditional Dinner : $65
- 6-Hour Sunset Dinner Catamaran Cruise from Albufeira: $74
- Half-Day-Orange Picking &Jam Cooking/Lunch with the Orange Farmer: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Albufeira €39Costa Vicentina €17
Tours and Activities in Albufeira
Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Portugal eSIM Tourist Data Plan: $4.79
- Inflatable Waterpark Entry Ticket: $7.59
- Algarve Wines Tasting Shared Experience at Mercado Municipal de Silves: $16
- Authentic Algarve: Loulé Town Tour and Markets: $21
- Quarteira Town & Gypsy Market Tour with Beach Bliss: $21
- Albufeira Old Town: In-App Adventure Hunt: $21
- Albufeira The Strip: In-App Adventure Hunt: $21
- 70 Minutes Guided Secrets of Albufeira Walking Tour: $22
- Private Tuk-Tuk Tour of Albufeira: $22
- Tour to Benagil Caves and Coastline in Albufeira: $29
- Private Guided Tuk Tuk Tour with pick-up and drop-off in Albufeira : $30
- Jeep Tour of the City and Coast of Albufeira: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlbufeira €26Costa Vicentina €8.71
Sample the Local Flavors in Albufeira
Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Porches Algarve Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting Experience: $53
- Wine Tasting Tour in Algarve Winery : $57
- Half Day Safari Tour with Wine Tasting: $57
- Winery Tour with Wine Tasting and Tapas: $63
- Small-Group Wine Tour & Silves Exploration (from Albufeira): $67
- Wine Tour and Tasting - Semi-Private from Albufeira: $70
- Albufeira Coast Tour w/ Wine tasting & Chicken lunch: $73
- From Private Lagos Tour Whith Wine Tasting: $92
- Lagos and Ponta Da Piedade Private Tour & Algarvian Wine Tasting: $106
- Full-Day Private Algarves Wine Tour Experience from Albufeira: $153
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Costa Vicentina, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. And not only is Costa Vicentina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Costa Vicentina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Costa Vicentina 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 Albufeira would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Albufeira than you might in Costa Vicentina.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albufeira Expensive? and Is Costa Vicentina Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.