Should you visit Cannes or Positano?
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 Cannes and Positano can help you decide which place is right for you.
Cannes
While Cannes was once little more than a small fishing village, today it is a popular, glamorous seaside town frequented by celebrities. It's the place to see and be seen, particularly during the Cannes Film Festival in the month of May. During this time the city comes alive with celebrities from all over the world. While Cannes has its share of exclusive clubs, bars and restaurants, there are alternatives for budget travelers, so don't shy away. There's a beautiful area, Le Suquet, which is nice to visit with its cobblestone streets and stunning views. It's also fun to pass some time people watching by the marina. You never know who you'll spot. At night, the city comes to life with casinos and luxurious restaurants and clubs that give the area a vibe of exclusivity.
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 Cannes?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Cannes is €110, 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Cannes and Positano in more detail.
Accommodation
Cannes's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is €120. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is €60.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Positano, €240 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Positano, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €120, such as in a hostel.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Cannes cost around €36 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 €14.
Positano food costs typically run travelers around €42 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
Cannes €36
Positano €42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cannes
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cannes.
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Summer Fireworks and Dinner Catamaran Cruise from Cannes:
$135
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From Evening Tour & Dinner in Monte Carlo:
$217
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Small-Group Evening Tour and Dinner in Monte Carlo from Cannes:
$223
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Unforgettable night photos of the French Riviera and dinner in Monaco:
$622
Typical Food prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
€31
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Pizza in a Restaurant
€9.32
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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:
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Positano for Foodies- The authentic food tour in Town:
$106
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Dining experience at a local's home in Positano & cooking demo:
$106
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Dining experience at a local's home in Positano with show cooking:
$106
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Small-group Street food tour in Positano:
$111
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Market tour and lunch or dinner at a local's home in Positano:
$173
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Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a local's home with tasting in Positano:
$180
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Private cooking class at a local's home with tasting in Positano:
$180
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Local market visit and private cooking class at a local's home in Positano:
$235
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Vico Equense: Market Tour, Home Cooking Class, and Dinner:
$240
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Exclusive hands-on cooking class with a local in Positano:
$372
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €13 per day to get around in Cannes.
Positano'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 €6.19 per person, per day on transportation in Positano.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cannes
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cannes:
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French Riviera: Half-Day Private Tour and Transfer:
$434
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Nice Airport Transfers : Cannes City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Car:
$157
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French Riviera: Private Luxury Transfer:
$149
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Private Departure Transfer from Cannes to Nice Airport:
$148
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Cannes Private Transfer from Cannes city centre to Nice Airport:
$146
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Nice Airport departure private transfer from Cannes - Mónaco - Cap d Antibes in Luxury Car:
$140
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Nice Airport Transfers : Cannes City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van:
$124
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Nice Airport departure private transfer from Cannes - Mónaco - Cap d Antibes in Luxury Van:
$114
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Transfer from Cannes to Nice airport:
$111
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Nice Airport Transfers : Cannes City to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car:
$108
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Departure Private Transfers from Cannes to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car:
$108
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Nice Airport departure private transfer from Cannes - Mónaco - Cap d Antibes in Business Car:
$98
Typical Local Transportation prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano
Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Positano Private Transfer to Sorrento, Rome or Naples:
$22
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Positano – Sorrento / Private Van Transfer:
$29
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Private Transfer: From Positano to Sorrento with hotel pick-up and drop-off:
$42
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Positano – Sorrento / Private Car Transfer:
$44
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Positano - Napoli Airport (NAP) / Private Departure Van Transfer:
$56
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Sorrento Coast - Positano Private Transfer:
$77
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Private Transfer from Positano to Naples, Door-to-Door, English-speaking driver:
$82
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Private Transfer: From Positano (hotel) to Naples (hotel-airport-train station):
$83
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Positano or Ravello to Naples Airport Private Departure Transfer:
$83
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Private transfer from Naples to positano or reverse:
$91
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Private transfer from Positano to Naples by the scenic coast:
$93
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Private transfer from Positano to Naples or Salerno:
$93
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €24 per person, per day in Cannes. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Positano can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €48 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Tours and Activities in Cannes
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cannes are as follows:
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4-Hour Private Sightseeing Tour of Nice from Cannes:
$547
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A Day in Monaco & Eze: Full-Day Guided Tour:
$98
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All French Riviera For One Day Sightseeing Tours From Cannes:
$1,011
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Antibes, St. Paul-de-Vence, St. Jeannet, and Gourdon Private Tour from Cannes:
$675
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Best of Riviera Tour: Coastal Day trip from Antibes (Nice, Monaco, Cannes):
$747
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Cannes 2 Hours Vespa Tour:
$61
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Cannes 2-Hour Segway Tour:
$62
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Cannes 2.5-Hour E-bike Tour:
$73
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Cannes Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$43
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Cannes Private Walking Tour:
$338
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Cannes Private Walking tour:
$214
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Cannes Shore Excursion: French Riviera Private Tour of Nice - Eze - Monaco - Monte Carlo:
$827
Typical Entertainment prices in Positano
For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Positano
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.
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Path of the Gods Guided Walking Tour:
$44
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Positano Walking tour:
$50
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From Amalfi and Ravello Tour:
$56
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Half-Day Ancient Pompeii Tour from Amalfi Coast:
$56
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Half Day Herculaneum Guided Tour from Amalfi Coast:
$56
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Sorrento & Amalfi Drive guided tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour:
$62
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Pompeii and Vesuvius guided group tour from Amalfi Coast:
$65
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Napoli: Historic and Panoramic Amalfi Coast Tour:
$78
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Small Group Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello with Lunch:
$81
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Pompeii and Herculaneum group tour from Amalfi Coast:
$81
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Amalfi Coast: Path of the Gods Private Walking Tour:
$88
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Naples: Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello Tour on a Luxury Bus:
$95
Alcohol
The average person spends about €14 on alcoholic beverages in Cannes per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Positano, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €12.
Sample the Local Flavors in Cannes
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cannes:
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Half and Full-Day Provencal Wine Tours:
$74
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Grasse, Valbonne & Gourdon: Day Tour with Wine Tasting:
$135
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Provence Wine Tour - Private Day Tour from Cannes:
$342
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Private Day Trip: Wine Tasting Tour Including Pinic Lunch From Cannes:
$559
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5-Hour Private Cannes Shore Excursion: Eze, Nice, Wine Tasting:
$658
Typical Alcohol prices in Positano
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:
Sample the Local Flavors in Positano
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Positano:
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Pompeii & Vesuvius Wine Tour from Amalfi Coast - small group tour:
$162
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Pompeii,Vesuvius with Lunch & wine tasting from Positano all inclusive:
$260
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Private Irpinia Wine Tour from Positano, Amalfi or Ravello with Sommelier:
$301
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Pompeii-Vesuvius-Wine Tasting tour with licensed guide included:
$373
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Paestum Temples+Bufala Mozzarella Farm+Wine tasting in Cilento (from Positano):
$809
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cannes and Positano, we can see that Positano is more expensive. And not only is Cannes much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Cannes would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cannes 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 Cannes.
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