Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or Alicante?
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 Alicante or Puerto del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alicante and Puerto del Carmen can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alicante or Puerto del Carmen?
Alicante
Alicante is a gorgeous coastal city in the Costa Blanca region, on the east coast of Spain. The region is famous for its white sandy beaches, the party-haven of Benidorm and the stunning palm tree-lined boulevard in the city of Alicante. I have been visiting Alicante for close to 20 years, so, it has become almost a second home to me. Here are my top tips to have the best vacation in Alicante.
Puerto del Carmen
Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid, The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Spain, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Spain.
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Alicante Prices
Spain PricesPuerto del Carmen Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlicante €179Puerto del Carmen €210
The average daily cost (per person) in Alicante is €179, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €210. 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 Alicante and Puerto del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlicante €42Puerto del Carmen €98
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlicante €84Puerto del Carmen €196
Compare Hotels in Alicante and Puerto del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Alicante or Puerto del Carmen? 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: Alicante Hotel Prices and Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alicante -Puerto del Carmen €39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alicante
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alicante:
- VIP Transfer from Alicante/ Alicante Airport to Benidorm area: $159
- VIP Transfer Alicante Airport-Benidorm OR Benidorm-Alicante: $158
- Transfer from Benidorm to Alicante airport in private Sedan car max. 3 passengers: $99
- Transfer from Alicante city to Alicante airport with private Sedan max. 3 passengers: $54
- Transfer from Alicante airport to Calpe in private Sedan car max. 3 passengers: $171
- Private VIP Transfer from Alicante Airport to Denia area: $258
- Private Transfer from Orihuela Costa to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $157
- Private Transfer from El Plantio Golf Resort to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $80
- Private Transfer from Dehesa de Campoamor to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $157
- Private Transfer from Camping Marjal Costa Blanca to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airpor: $117
- Private Transfer from Campello Pueblo Acantilado to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $103
- Private Transfer from Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport to Villajoyosa: $117
Is it cheaper to fly into Alicante or Puerto del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen and Alicante 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 dayAlicante €124Puerto del Carmen €89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alicante
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alicante.
- Secret Flavors Food Tour: $34
- Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $34
- Evening Spanish Tapas Cooking Class with Live Guitar Music: $41
- Alicante:Evening Spanish Tapas Cooking Class with Live Music: $42
- Alicante Paella Cooking Class, Tapas, Drinks and Market: $57
- Alicante Paella Cooking Class, Tapas, Drinks & Central Market: $58
- Paella Cooking Show in Alicante: $70
- Central Market Guided Food Tour with Tapas Bars: $82
- Fuse Spanish With Italian For Dinner In Mutxamel: $97
- Cooking with us: Pasta Cooking Class in Alicante: $101
- Alicante Elche's Sweet and Savory Secrets: Food Tour: $130
- Alicante Food Tour: $153
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alicante €53Puerto del Carmen €17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Alicante
Here are a few typical costs in Alicante for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Food and Tapas Tour (for 2)€54
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Catamaran Cruise (for 2)€67
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Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)€120
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Walking Tour (for 2)€60
Tours and Activities in Alicante
Here are a few actual costs in Alicante for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Alcoy Walking Tour on the Modernist Route: $218
- Algar Waterfalls Tour from Alicante and Benidorm: $73
- Alicante 2 Hour Private City Highlights Tour by Car: $224
- Alicante : E-Bike Coast Tour, Roman Fish Farm and Snorkeling: $37
- Alicante : Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $53
- Alicante : Sailing boat tour of the Mediterranean Sea: $130
- Alicante Adventure; Paraglide in Santa Pola or Agost: $177
- Alicante Bay: Sunset Tour in Kayak with snorkel: $47
- Alicante Beach tour (min 2 people to book): $41
- Alicante Charming Villages Tour: Villajoyosa and Altea: $87
- Alicante City Bike Tour. Only Small groups: $41
- Alicante City Bike Tour: Beach & Central Market: $35
Tours and Activities in Puerto del Carmen
For Puerto del Carmen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cesar Manrique’s Lanzarote tour with Cactus Garden & LagOmar: $73
- Las Palmas: Freedive & Deep Snorkel Experience For Beginners: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlicante -Puerto del Carmen €60
Sample the Local Flavors in Alicante
Also in Alicante, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guided Pub Crawl with Shots and Beer: $26
- Santa Bárbara Castle Wine Tasting: $30
- Alicante Best Wine Tasting & Tapas Club: $41
- Alicante Wine Tasting and Tapas Club: $41
- Alicante:Winery Tour+ Wine Tasting + Old castle: $53
- Historic Winery Guided Tour + Wine Tasting / Private Transportation: $69
- Small-Group Countryside Wine Tour with 4 Tastings: $69
- Small-Group Countryside Wine Tour with 4 Tastings: $77
- Food Walking Tour with Wine Tasting and Tapas: $146
- Alicante Wine Tasting and Tapas for Foodies: $159
- Alicante Full-Day Wine Tour Two Wineries & Tastings: $176
- Private premium wine tasting and tapas: $192
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alicante and Puerto del Carmen, we can see that Puerto del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Alicante much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Alicante would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alicante 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 Puerto del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto del Carmen than you might in Alicante.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alicante Expensive? and Is Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alicante or Puerto del Carmen?
Alicante has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Puerto del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Alicante and Puerto del Carmen, 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.