Should you visit Antalya or Malaga?
Should I visit Antalya or Malaga? 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.
Antalya
Antalya is the largest city along Turkey's Mediterranean coast and the eighth largest city in the country with over one million people in the metropolitan area. The city dates back to about 200 BC when it was settled by the Attalid Dynasty of Pergamon and soon conquered by the Romans. The city was ruled by several different groups and most recently was transferred to Italian suzerainty following World War I. It became part of Turkey following the War of Independence. The city has seen an influx of development in recent years and it has grown into a tourism mecca with more than 12 million visitors in 2014.
Malaga
Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors as well.
Which city is cheaper, Malaga or Antalya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Antalya is $34, while the average daily cost in Malaga is $121. 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 Antalya and Malaga in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $32 in Antalya For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $124 for a double occupancy room in Malaga.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Antalya cost around $11 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.40.
Malaga food costs typically run travelers around $31 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Antalya $11
Malaga $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antalya
For Antalya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show with Dinner:
$83
Typical Food prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
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Sardines Espetos Cooking Workshop:
$73
-
Typical Andalusian Dinner with Wine Pairing in Málaga:
$79
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Malaga Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience:
$86
-
Sardines On Skewers Cooking Class in Malaga:
$111
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Malaga Sunset Cruise and Restaurant Dinner:
$112
-
Málaga Swim Cruise with Tapas Dinner and Flamenco Show:
$128
-
Malaga Catamaran Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Port Restaurant Dinner:
$146
-
Malaga Market Visit and Cooking Class in Malaga Countryside House:
$149
Local Transportation
Antalya's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $5.46 per person, per day on transportation in Antalya.
The average price of local transportation around Malaga is $28 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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antalya
Also for Antalya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfers:
$5.00
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya City & Beach to Antalya Airport:
$9.95
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Belek:
$11
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Private Airport Transfer: from Antalya Airport (AYT) to Antalya:
$13
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Private Airport Transfer: from Antalya to Antalya Airport (AYT):
$13
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Kemer:
$14
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One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Side:
$14
-
One-Way Shared Transfer: Antalya Airport to Alanya:
$14
-
Antalya Airport - Antalya City Hotels Private Transfers (Lara, Kundu, Old Town):
$17
-
Private Departure Transfer: Kundu / Lara Region Hotels to Antalya Airport:
$22
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Antalya Airport to Antalya, Kundu or Lara:
$22
-
Private Departure Transfer from Antalya, Kundu or Lara to Antalya Airport:
$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
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Transfer from your Hotel to Malaga Airport (Departure Transfer):
$17
-
Transfer from Nerja to Granada:
$62
-
Transfer from Malaga Airport to Costa del Sol Hotels (Any Hotel):
$17
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TRANSFER MALAGA AIRPORT from/to ESTEPONA-PRICE ALL INCLUSIVE:
$133
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Malaga Airport to Costa del Sol Hotels:
$36
-
Round Trip Malaga Airport (AGP) Transfer to Malaga City Center:
$39
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Private arrival OR departure transfer in Malaga (hotel OR airport pick-up):
$34
-
Private Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport (AGP):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Malaga Airport (AGP) to Malaga:
$622
-
Private Transfer from/to Motril to/from Malaga with private driver:
$158
-
Private Transfer from Rivera del Sol to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$88
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Private Transfer from Málaga to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$909
Is it cheaper to fly into Antalya or Malaga?
Prices for flights to both Malaga and Antalya 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
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Antalya can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.06 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Malaga's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $28 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.
Tours and Activities in Antalya
For Antalya, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Skip the Line: Yoruk Parki Kemer Admission Ticket:
$5.75
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Admission Ticket to Sandland Antalya:
$7.46
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Shopping Tour From Kemer:
$10
-
Smartphone Audio City Tour:
$14
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Sapadere Canyon Full-Day Sightseeing Tour from Alanya:
$28
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Canyoning and Rafting Tours from Antalya:
$29
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Antalya Rafting Tour:
$31
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Antalya Local Bazaar Tour:
$33
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Koprulu Canyon Water Rafting Adventure with Lunch from Antalya:
$34
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Turkey: Day Tour of Ancient Lycia:
$34
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Day Tour to Xanthos City, Saklikent Canyon and Patara Beach:
$36
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Antalya Rafting Tour:
$37
Typical Entertainment prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
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Entrance to Castillos
$8.11
-
Concert
$35
Tours and Activities in Malaga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
-
1 Hour Malaga Panoramic Segway Tour:
$39
-
1-hour Segway Tour in Malaga:
$28
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1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour:
$16
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2-day Granada, Toledo & Madrid Tour from Costa del Sol:
$311
-
2-hour E-bike Tour of Malaga:
$30
-
3 Hours Malaga Tapas Crawl Tour:
$83
-
4-Day Morocco Tour: Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Tangier:
$671
-
5-Day Morocco Tour: Casablanca, Marrakech, Meknes, Fez and Rabat from Malaga:
$677
-
6-Night Morocco Tour from Fez, Meknes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier:
$899
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7-Day Morocco Tour from Costa del Sol: Fez, Meknes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier:
$899
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8 Days Morocco Tour From Spain:
$1,460
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90min Segway Small Group Tour in Malaga:
$34
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Antalya spend on average $5.08 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $20 on alcoholic beverages in Malaga per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Malaga Nightlife - Pub Crawl Tour with Skip-the-line Club Access:
$26
-
Frigiliana Small-Group Hike and Wine Tasting Tour from Malaga:
$49
-
Muscatel Winery Tour and Wine Tastings from Malaga:
$75
-
Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour:
$81
-
Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour: BEST OF Málaga in one evening!:
$108
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Private Ronda Wine Tour with Tapas Including a Visit to Ronda:
$404
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Ronda Private Full Day Wine Tour with Tapas:
$406
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Malaga Shore Excursion: Panoramic Buggy Tour with Wine Tasting in a Historical Cellar:
$481
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Antalya and Malaga, we can see that Malaga is more expensive. And not only is Antalya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Antalya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Antalya 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 Malaga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malaga than you might in Antalya.
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