Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Albufeira?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Albufeira or Madeira Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Albufeira or Madeira Islands? 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 Madeira Islands?
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.
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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Albufeira Prices
Portugal PricesMadeira Islands Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlbufeira €183Madeira Islands €117
The average daily cost (per person) in Albufeira is €183, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €117. 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 Madeira Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlbufeira €74Madeira Islands €52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlbufeira €148Madeira Islands €104
Compare Hotels in Albufeira and Madeira Islands
Looking for a hotel in Albufeira or Madeira Islands? 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 and Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Albufeira €34Madeira Islands €9.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albufeira
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:
- Stork Transfers - Private Transfer From Albufeira to Faro Airport (up to 4 pax): $52
- Private Transfer to Faro Albufeira Alvor Seville Lisbon and Lagos: $54
- Private Transfer from Vilas Guerreiro (Olhos de Água) to Faro (FAO) Airport: $96
- Private Transfer from Silves to Faro (FAO) Airport: $111
- Private Transfer from Pera to Faro (FAO) Airport: $126
- Private Transfer from Olhos de Água to Faro (FAO) Airport: $88
- Private Transfer from Hotel to Faro Airport: $54
- Private Transfer from Ferreiras to Faro (FAO) Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Cacela Velha to Faro (FAO) Airport: $141
- Private Transfer from Alte to Faro (FAO) Airport: $126
- Private Transfer from Albufeira to Faro Airport (5 to 8 pax): $68
- Private Transfer Algarve to Lisbon or Return Trip: $270
Is it cheaper to fly into Albufeira or Madeira Islands?
Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands 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 €82Madeira Islands €55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Albufeira
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Albufeira.
- A Portuguese Dinner and Cocktail Experience with pick up: $54
- Portuguese Traditional Dinner and Cocktail Experience: $59
- 6-Hour Sunset Dinner Catamaran Cruise with Open Bar: $70
- Sunset Beach Safari w/ Champagne & Chicken Piri Piri Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Albufeira €39Madeira Islands €15
Tours and Activities in Albufeira
Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Private Tour in Silves and Coast Gems: $210
- 3 Hour Benagil Sunset and Coastline Boat Tour in Albufeira: $43
- 70 Minutes Guided Secrets of Albufeira Walking Tour: $24
- A Story of Adventure in Algarve Hills: $216
- Adventure between friends - Private safari, from 1 to 6 PAX: $179
- Albufeira 1.5 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour: $52
- Albufeira 1.5 hour Off-Road Tour Quad Adventure Tour: $36
- Albufeira 3 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour: $72
- Albufeira 3 hour Off-Road Tour Quad Adventure Tour: $57
- Albufeira Beach BBQ with Caves and Coastline Cruise with Open Bar: $73
- Albufeira City & Beach E-Bike Tour: $71
- Albufeira City Tour & Best Beaches 2h (TukTuk or Jeep): $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlbufeira €26Madeira Islands €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Albufeira
Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5 Bars and 1 Nightclub Pub Crawl with Free Shots: $21
- Albufeira/Vilamoura: Winery Tour with Wine Tasting and Tapas: $68
- City Highlights & WINE TASTING: $68
- Small-Group Wine Tour & Silves Exploration (from Albufeira): $78
- Wine Tasting Tour in Algarve Winery : $78
- Winery, Wine Tasting, Chicken Piri Piri & Sightseeing tour : $83
- Algarve Wine Tasting, Gastronomical-Cultural Tour: $92
- Lagos and Ponta Da Piedade Private Tour & Algarvian Wine Tasting: $105
- Full day Tour in Silves with Wine Tasting: $168
- Private Yoga and Wine Tasting Experience from Albufeira: $180
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Albufeira Expensive? and Is Madeira Islands Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Albufeira or Madeira Islands?
Madeira Islands has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Albufeira. When comparing the sizes of Albufeira and Madeira Islands, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.