Should you visit Albufeira or Madeira Islands?
Should I visit Albufeira or Madeira Islands? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Madeira Islands
Madeira, Portugal is an archipelago consisting of four islands, each covered with lush vegetation and mountainous landscapes. Madeira is famous for its fresh fish and namesake Madeira wine, which can be found throughout the main island. This area is the perfect blend of relaxing beaches and thrill-inducing activities such as paragliding and mountain biking. Portuguese is the main language here, although English is spoken widely by those in the tourism industry.
Which city is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Albufeira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Albufeira is €118, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €76. 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 Albufeira and Madeira Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €59. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Albufeira the cost is €118 on average.
Travelers usually pay around €82 for a double occupancy room in Madeira Islands If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about €38 per day in Albufeira for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
Food in Madeira Islands costs travelers about €27 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Albufeira €38
Madeira Islands €27
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Albufeira is €27 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Madeira Islands than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €7.89 on transportation in Madeira Islands on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albufeira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:
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Transfer Galé - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$77
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Transfer Galé - Benamor Golf (Conceição):
$100
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Transfer Galé - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$36
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Transfer Galé - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$62
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Transfer Galé - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$62
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Transfer From Albufeira Algarve To Lisboa:
$235
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Transfer Algarve - Up to 7 People:
$871
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Transfer Algarve - Up to 3 People:
$746
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Transfer Albufeira to Faro Airport:
$36
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Transfer Albufeira - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$77
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Transfer Albufeira - Benamor Golf (Conceição):
$100
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Transfer Albufeira - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madeira Islands
Also for Madeira Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Madeira: Private Transfer to or from Machico:
$11
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Private Transfer To or From Santo da Serra and Madeira:
$11
Entertainment
Albufeira's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €31 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.
Sightseeing expenses in Madeira Islands, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €12 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Albufeira
Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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'Leaozinho' Pirate Ship Cruise from Albufeira:
$30
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1.5 Hour Quad Off-Road Tour from Albufeira:
$31
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Albufeira 1.5 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour:
$40
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Albufeira 1.5-Hour Off-road Quad Tour:
$75
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Albufeira 3-Hour Off-Road Quad Tour:
$137
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Albufeira Beach Tour:
$25
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Albufeira Coast and Countryside Mountain Bike Tour:
$73
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Albufeira Jeep Safari Tour (Full Day):
$65
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Albufeira to Algibre Trails Bike Tour:
$73
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Algarve 4x4 Combi Tours:
$199
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Algarve Coast Full-Day Private Tour:
$93
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Algarve Coastline and Beaches Land Tour:
$622
Tours and Activities in Madeira Islands
For Madeira Islands, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Porto Santo Snorkeling Tour:
$44
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Porto Santo Pirates and Corsairs Tour:
$44
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Porto Santo Night Snorkeling Tour:
$62
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Private Service The Funchal Christmas Light Tour - East Madeira:
$100
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Albufeira may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €21 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Madeira Islands spend on average €13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Albufeira
Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Small group Wine Tasting Tour from Albufeira:
$61
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sunset wine tasting from Albufeira:
$87
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Half Day Small Group Premium Wine Tour from Albufeira:
$93
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Wine Tour & Walking 7 Hanging Valleys - Coast Algarve:
$156
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From Algarve: Medieval Évora with Lunch and Wine Tasting:
$319
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Algarve Art and Wine Tour from Albufeira:
$653
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Madeira Islands, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. And not only is Madeira Islands much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Madeira Islands would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Madeira Islands 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 Madeira Islands.
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