Should you visit Albufeira or Marbella?
Should I visit Albufeira or Marbella? 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.
Marbella
Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.
Which city is cheaper, Marbella 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 Marbella is €93. 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 Marbella 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.
The prices for places to stay in Marbella can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €49, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €98.
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.
While meal prices in Marbella can vary, the average travelers spends about €31 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Marbella should cost around €12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Marbella is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Albufeira €38
Marbella €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marbella
For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Cooking courses at home & online:
$75
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Tapas & Paella Cooking Course:
$80
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 Marbella than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €19 on transportation in Marbella 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 Marbella
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Departure Private Transfer Business Car Marbella to Malaga airport AGP:
$62
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Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Marbella to Malaga airport AGP:
$92
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Marbella to Malaga Airport (AGP) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$61
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Marbella to Malaga Airport (AGP) - Departure Private Van Transfer:
$45
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Private Transfer Marbella, Malaga, Gibraltar or Tarifa to Seville SVQ by Minivan:
$698
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Private Transfer Marbella, Malaga, Gibraltar or Tarifa to Seville SVQ by Sedan:
$568
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Private Transfer from Elviria to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Hotel Marbella Beach Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from La Quinta Golf Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$151
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Private Transfer from Las Chapas to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Lomas De Cabopino to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Los Monteros to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$122
Is it cheaper to fly into Albufeira or Marbella?
Prices for flights to both Marbella 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.
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 Marbella, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €15 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 Marbella
For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Secrets of Marbella walking tour (Group):
$19
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Marbella small group walking Tour:
$24
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Marbella group walking tour:
$32
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Bike City Tour Marbella:
$32
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Marbella Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$41
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Paddle Boarding Tour on the beautiful Marbella Coast:
$49
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Sunset SUP Tour in Marbella:
$61
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Can-am Route Experience:
$77
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Original Marbella Tapas Adventure:
$86
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Marbella Gourmet Tapas Tour - Do Eat Better Experience:
$88
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Stand-up Paddle Sunset Tour in Marbella:
$91
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E-Mountain Bike Explorer Tour departing from Marbella:
$93
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 Marbella spend on average €4.57 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
Sample the Local Flavors in Marbella
Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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E-Mountain Bike & Wine Tour from Marbella to Sierra Blanca:
$123
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Manilva & Gaucin Wine Tour from the Costa del Sol:
$160
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Ronda Full Day Wine Tour from Marbella:
$210
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VIP Wine Tour through the Guadalhorce Valley & Wolf Sanctuary Visit:
$360
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Ronda Private Wine Tour and Tapas from Marbella:
$406
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VIP Ronda Wine Tour and Tasting and Gourmet Lunch Experience with Winemaker:
$778
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Marbella, we can see that Albufeira is more expensive. And not only is Marbella much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Marbella would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marbella 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 Marbella.
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