Which place is cheaper, Malaga or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Bali and Malaga can help you decide which place is right for you.
Bali is a lush, frequented, and spiritual island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.
Malaga is a friendly, welcoming, and historic port city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and nightlife.
Visitors will generally find more to do in Bali than Malaga. While Malaga is larger than Bali, Bali has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Bali is better known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Malaga is more popular for its music and historical sights. Bali is more touristy than Malaga and is known for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. Also, Bali is famous for Pura Lempuyang. Malaga is well known for its perfect blend of sandy beaches, beautiful culture, fascinating history, and a lively nightlife scene.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Malaga and Bali. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Bali is a must-visit destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its restaurants.
Eat your way through Bali, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The food is rich and diverse with a lot of spices and complex flavors. Turmeric is a common spice and many dishes use coconut milk. Popular local dishes include Nasi Ayam (a chicken dish), Satay (grilled chicken), and Babi Guling (a pork dish).
Malaga has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Head to any of the local food markets and seafood shops to try local cuisine. Also make sure you try tapas and a filling Andalusian breakfast.
Both Bali and Malaga are first-rate when it comes to partying.
Bali is a world class party destination. The island is known for its crazy raves and all night pool parties. There are multi-story dance clubs as well as upscale bars and beach clubs that host parties late into the night. The best nightlife areas are around Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.
Malaga is a must-see party destination. The city has some of the most active nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of opportunities to party in Malaga and you'll find the most vibrant nightlife in the Centro Historico.
Malaga is a well-known place for its live music scene. However, Bali is not a live music destination.
The music scene in Malaga is very popular with diverse venues. The city has venues that offer pop, rock, blues, soulful, and more. Some of the most popular include ZZ club, Clarence Jazz Club, and Velvet Club.
Bali is not a live music destination.
Bali is a must-visit destination for its resorts. However, Malaga is not a resort destination.
Vacationers flock to Bali for its luxury resorts. The island has resorts as well as private villas that cater to everyone from celebrities to families or even budget travelers. Private villas offer a more secluded vacation while resorts usually have more amenities and the opportunity to socialize with other guests. There are also many family-friendly resorts around the island.
Malaga is not a resort destination.
Bali is a must-visit destination for its diving and snorkeling. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving.
People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Bali. The waters are crystal clear and the marine life is abundant making scuba diving and snorkeling popular around the island. There are many snorkeling day trips that you can arrange and there are also dive shops that will take you out on the water.
Malaga has a few good snorkeling spots. Water temperatures are mild enough for diving or snorkeling near Malaga. For the best diving, head to Cala del Canuelo Beach. Closer by, Penon del Cuervo Beach offers diving and snorkeling as well.
Bali is a must-visit destination for the beache. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for the beach.
Bali offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The island is large enough that it has a diversity of beach styles. There are popular beaches with water sports as well as secluded bays where you can enjoy a more peaceful setting. Some beaches are dramatic with limestone cliffs while others are lined with palm trees.
Malaga is a good option for a beach vacation. There are some nice beaches around Malaga, but for the best options you'll have to travel further outside of the city.
Malaga is a well-known place for its old town. However, Bali does not have a historic old town.
There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Malaga. The city's old town is compact and small, making it a fun place to walk. There are historic buildings, museums, churches, and squares, as well as many restaurants and shops.
Bali does not have a historic old town.
Bali is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Malaga is not a hiking destination.
Bali is a popular spot for hiking. Walking on the island is beautiful and with its varied landscapes you can explore scenic rice paddies or pristine rainforests. You'll find the most challenging hikes in West Bali National Park, where a guide is recommended, but there are many other shorter hikes on the island that can be explored independently.
Malaga is not a hiking destination.
Bali is a well-known place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its shopping areas.
Bali is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. A big appeal of shopping on the island is the affordability. There are many local items that are fun to bring home including jewelry, handicrafts, furniture, and clothing.
Malaga has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of shopping areas in the city with both local boutiques and name brands.
Bali is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Bali is a very kid-friendly island. The island has countless activities that kids can enjoy. There are watersports, snorkeling, surfing lessons and beautiful beaches. You can also expose your kids to the spiritual side of the island with kid-friendly yoga classes. Animals lovers will enjoy getting to see the monkeys up close and for a unique culinary experience, you can take a family cooking class.
Malaga is a family-friendly island. The city has castles that you can explore as well as a waterpark.
Bali is a must-visit destination for its romantic activities. Also, Malaga is not as famous, but is still a good port city to visit for couples.
Bali is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. This beautiful island offers stunning beaches, adventure sports, and world class snorkeling. There are beautiful resorts with spas as well as couples yoga classes impressive natural areas.
Malaga is a good island for couples to visit. It has a beautiful coastline and a rich history that makes it unique.
Both Bali and Malaga are first-rate destinations for backpackers.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Bali. Backpackers flock to this beautiful island for its stunning setting and affordable accommodation. There are many nice places where backpackers can hang out and get to know other travelers. If you want to get off the beaten path, it's best to head into the countryside and away from the main tourist hubs.
A large number of backpackers visit Malaga, as it is a very popular island for budget travelers. From an endless supply of hostels to plenty of opportunities to meet other backpackers, this is a very backpacker friendly area.
Malaga is a well-known place for students. However, Bali is not popular with students.
Malaga is very popular with students. The city has many opportunities to learn Spanish. It's also an affordable city with a young population and a lively atmosphere that appeals to international students.
Bali is not popular with students.
Both Bali and Malaga offer notable public transit options.
Bali has a few public transit options. There are minibuses and tourist shuttle buses around the island. You can also hire a taxi or rent a car, scooter, or bicycle.
Malaga has some public transit options. There is an efficient bus system as well as a light metro system.
Malaga is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Bali is not a good island for its ease of walking around.
Malaga is a very walkable port city. It has a very compact and walkable historic center with most of the tourist attractions easily accessible on foot.
Bali is generally not a very walkable island. There are some walkable towns and cities on the island, but many areas can be challenging to navigate on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Bali Worth Visiting? and Is Malaga Worth Visiting?.
Both Bali and Malaga have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bali than in Malaga. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 3-7 days is enough time in Malaga.
Families should spend more time in Bali than Malaga. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bali, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Bali than Malaga. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bali that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bali than Malaga if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bali.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Bali. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Malaga. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
Bali is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Malaga is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the nightlife. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bali. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With so much to do, five days is probably not enough time to see everything. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the beautiful destination of Malaga. This port city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the stunning destination of Bali. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the friendly port city of Malaga. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $76, while the average daily cost in Malaga is $156. 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 Bali and Malaga in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Bali or Malaga? 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.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
Prices for flights to both Malaga and Bali 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Malaga, we can see that Malaga is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali is in Asia and Malaga is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Bali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Malaga Expensive?.
Malaga has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Malaga, 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.
Malaga has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bali experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Malaga and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Malaga for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Bali is around the same temperature as Malaga in the summer. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Malaga fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Malaga. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives less sunshine than Malaga during summer. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Malaga receives 348 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Bali usually receives more rain than Malaga. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Bali is April to September.
Both Malaga and Bali during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Malaga because of the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Bali is a little warmer than Malaga. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bali in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Malaga averages at about 19°C (67°F).
In Malaga, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bali. In the autumn, Bali often gets more sunshine than Malaga. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malaga receives 213 hours of full sun.
Bali usually gets more rain in October than Malaga. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Bali.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Malaga. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Also, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Malaga this time of year.
In January, Bali is generally much warmer than Malaga. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 26°C (79°F), and Malaga fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Bali usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Malaga during winter. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Malaga receives 171 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Bali usually receives more rain than Malaga. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.
The spring brings many poeple to Bali as well as Malaga. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Malaga for the beaches and the natural beauty.
Bali is much warmer than Malaga in the spring. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Malaga fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Malaga. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bali this time of the year. In the spring, Bali often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Malaga. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malaga receives 220 hours of full sun.
Bali usually gets more rain in April than Malaga. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to September in Bali is the dry season.
Bali | Malaga | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
May | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |