A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Albufeira vs. Positano for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Albufeira or Positano?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Albufeira or Positano? 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.

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.

Positano

Located on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is a very scenic town that offers spectacular coastal views. The town sits on the edge of a hill and flows down toward the sea. Because of its dramatic beauty, Positano attracts thousands of visitors year around.

The town dates back to medieval times when it was a port for the Amalfi Republic. It thrived throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the mid-nineteenth century its prosperity was falling. During those times more than half of the population left, migrating predominantly to America. During the 1950s the town gained popularity as a tourist destination, in part because of John Steinbeck's essay about the area in Harper's Bazaar (May, 1953).

Which city is cheaper, Positano 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 Positano is €180. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Albufeira and Positano in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Albufeira €59
    Positano €120
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Albufeira €118
    Positano €240

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Albufeira €27
    Positano €6.19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Albufeira

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Albufeira:

  • Transfer Algarve - Up to 7 People: $871
  • Transfer Algarve - Up to 3 People: $746
  • Lisbon Airoport Private Transfer To Algarve ( 8 Seats Van ): $566
  • Private Transfer Algarve-Lisbon (5 to 8 passangers): $442
  • Private Transfer Lisbon - Pine Cliffs Algarve (5 to 8 passangers): $442
  • Sevilha Airoport Private Transfer To Algarve ( 8 Seats Van ): $417
  • Private Transfer Central Algarve - Lisbon: $398
  • Private Transfer Lisbon - Central Algarve: $398
  • Private Transfer Lisbon - Pine Cliffs Algarve (up to 4 passangers): $360
  • Enjoy Three Days in Algarve ( Hotel & Transfers & Tours ): $330
  • Transfer From Albufeira Algarve To Lisboa: $235
  • Safe & Clean Economic Private Transfer Albufeira > Lisbon: $139

Typical Local Transportation prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:


  • Bus Ticket
    €1.60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano

Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Direct Transfer from Hotel in POSITANO (AMALFI COAST) to Hotel in ROME: $921
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Fiumicino FCO Airport to Positano or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Fiumicino FCO Airport or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Rome or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Rome or viceversa: $610
  • Door-To-Door Private Transfer Positano to Rome or viceversa: $610

Is it cheaper to fly into Albufeira or Positano?

Prices for flights to both Positano 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Albufeira €38
    Positano €42

Typical Food prices in Positano

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:


  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    €31
  • Pizza in a Restaurant
    €9.32
  • Sandwich in a Restaurant
    €12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano

For Positano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Positano for Foodies- The authentic food tour in Town: $106
  • Dining experience at a local's home in Positano & cooking demo: $106
  • Dining experience at a local's home in Positano with show cooking: $106
  • Small-group Street food tour in Positano: $111
  • Market tour and lunch or dinner at a local's home in Positano: $173
  • Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a local's home with tasting in Positano: $180
  • Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Positano: $180
  • Vico Equense: Market Tour, Home Cooking Class, and Dinner: $214
  • Local market visit and private cooking class at a local's home in Positano: $235
  • Exclusive hands-on cooking class with a local in Positano: $372
  • Sorrento: Private Local Products and Food Tour: $510

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Albufeira €31
    Positano €48

Tours and Activities in Albufeira

Here are a few actual costs in Albufeira for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 'Leaozinho' Pirate Ship Cruise from Albufeira: $30
  • 1.5 Hour Quad Off-Road Tour from Albufeira: $31
  • Abulferia: 3-Hour Yacht Cruise to Benagil: $34
  • Albufeira 1.5 hour Off-Road Tour Buggy Adventure Tour: $40
  • Albufeira 1.5-Hour Off-road Quad Tour: $75
  • Albufeira 3-Hour Off-Road Quad Tour: $137
  • Albufeira Beach Tour: $25
  • Albufeira Coast and Countryside Mountain Bike Tour: $73
  • Albufeira Jeep Safari Tour (Full Day): $65
  • Albufeira to Algibre Trails Bike Tour: $73
  • 2-Hour Caves and Cliffs Kayaking Experience: $40
  • 2.5-Hour Dolphin Watching and Caves Cruise: $31

Typical Entertainment prices in Positano

For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Chair & Umbrella at Spiaggia Grande
    €17
  • Day Trip of Capri & Amalfi
    €80
  • Sunset Cruise
    €24
  • Full Day Wine Tour
    €97
  • Cooking Class
    €65

Tours and Activities in Positano

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.

  • Positano Walking tour: $50
  • Half-Day Ancient Pompeii Tour from Amalfi Coast: $56
  • Half Day Herculaneum Guided Tour from Amalfi Coast: $56
  • Sorrento & Amalfi Drive guided tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour: $62
  • Pompeii and Vesuvius guided group tour from Amalfi Coast: $65
  • Pompeii and Herculaneum group tour from Amalfi Coast: $81
  • From Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Tour: $91
  • Small-Group Amalfi Coast Day Cruise from Positano: $96
  • Amalfi Coast: Path of the Gods Private Walking Tour: $102
  • Amalfi Coast COLLECTIVE boat tour: $118
  • Positano Private Sunset Tour by Classic Car: $119
  • Private Full-Day Tour of Pompei Sorrento and Positano: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Albufeira €21
    Positano €12

Sample the Local Flavors in Albufeira

Also in Albufeira, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Small group Wine Tasting Tour from Albufeira: $61
  • sunset wine tasting from Albufeira: $87
  • Half Day Small Group Premium Wine Tour from Albufeira: $93
  • Wine Tour & Walking 7 Hanging Valleys - Coast Algarve: $156
  • From Algarve: Medieval Évora with Lunch and Wine Tasting: $319
  • Algarve Art and Wine Tour from Albufeira: $653

Typical Alcohol prices in Positano

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:


  • Bottle of Limoncello
    €16

Sample the Local Flavors in Positano

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Positano:

  • Pompeii & Vesuvius Wine Tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour: $162
  • Pompeii,Vesuvius with Lunch & wine tasting from Positano all inclusive: $260
  • Private Irpinia Wine Tour from Positano, Amalfi or Ravello with Sommelier: $301
  • Pompeii-Vesuvius-Wine Tasting tour with licensed guide included: $373
  • Paestum Temples+Bufala Mozzarella Farm+Wine tasting in Cilento (from Positano): $809

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Albufeira and Positano, we can see that Positano is more expensive. And not only is Albufeira much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Albufeira would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Albufeira 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 Positano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Positano than you might in Albufeira.

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Albufeira vs. Positano Travel Comparison

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