Which place is cheaper, Playa de las Americas or Faro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Faro or Playa de las Americas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Playa de las Americas, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Faro or Playa de las Americas?
Faro
Faro (or sometimes Faros) is the capital city of the scenic Algarve Region of Portugal, located at the edge of the Ria Formosa National Park. This is a fantastic place to experience the beauty, culture, and traditions of Portugal in laid back atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities. Faro offers everything from ancient architecture to beautiful beaches all while being surrounded by the natural beauty of the Algarve Region.
Playa de las Americas
If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFaro €133Playa de las Americas €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Faro is €133, while the average daily cost in Playa de las Americas is €195. 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 Faro and Playa de las Americas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFaro €75Playa de las Americas €115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFaro €150Playa de las Americas €230
Compare Hotels in Faro and Playa de las Americas
Looking for a hotel in Faro or Playa de las Americas? 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: Faro Hotel Prices and Playa de las Americas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Faro €9.52Playa de las Americas €56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Faro
Also for Faro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer to Malaga: $743
- Airport Transfer to Cadiz: $669
- Airport Transfer to Sintra: $569
- Airport Transfer to Lisbon: $533
- Private Lisbon airport transfers (up to 8pax): $481
- Private Seville airport transfers (up to 8pax): $481
- Airport Transfer to Sevilla: $476
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer to Lisboa: $465
- Airport Transfer to Evora: $414
- From Faro Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer to Lisbon: $385
- Faro Airport: Private Transfer to Sevilha: $380
- Private Lisbon airport transfers (up to 4pax cars): $374
Is it cheaper to fly into Faro or Playa de las Americas?
Prices for flights to both Playa de las Americas and Faro 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 dayFaro €36Playa de las Americas €45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Faro
For Faro, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Most Delicious Private Food Tour of 6 or 10 Tastings: $83
- 3 Hours Classic Food Tour in Faro: $97
- Authentic Portuguese Cooking Experience in Algarve: $162
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Faro €9.41Playa de las Americas €30
Tours and Activities in Faro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Faro.
- Faro to Benagil Hiking Tour and Marinha beach: $60
- 1 or 2 Hour Speed Boat Tour - Ria Formosa: $26
- 2 Hours Boat Tour in Ria Formosa: $27
- 2:30 Hours Tour: $273
- 3 Hour Boat Tour in Ria Formosa: $33
- 3-Hour Boat Tour in Ria Formosa on Olhão Algarve: $33
- 5 hours tour in Ria Formosa: $49
- 5-hour island hopping tour: $60
- 6 hour boat tour navegating through the Islands of Ria Formosa National Park : $65
- A Timeless Private Walking Tour Experience in Tavira: $202
- Algarve Buggy Tours: $202
- Algarve Dolphin Watching & Marine Life Eco Tour: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFaro €3.13Playa de las Americas €8.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Faro
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Faro:
- Wine tastings, with Tour option - Authentic Algarve Flavours by Quinta da Tôr: $19
- Visit to a Family Brewery in Loulé with Tasting: $27
- Algarve Traditional Food and Wine Tasting: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Faro and Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas is more expensive. And not only is Faro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Faro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Faro 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 Playa de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas than you might in Faro.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Faro Expensive? and Is Playa de las Americas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Faro or Playa de las Americas?
Faro has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Playa de las Americas, 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.
When is the best time to visit Faro or Playa de las Americas?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Faro or Playa de las Americas in the Summer?
Both Playa de las Americas and Faro are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Faro for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Faro is around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Faro in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Faro. Faro usually receives more sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Faro gets 374 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Faro usually receives less rain than Playa de las Americas. Faro gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFaro 25°C (78°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Faro or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?
Both Playa de las Americas and Faro during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Faro because of the shopping scene.
In October, Faro is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Faro average around 20°C (68°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Faro. In the autumn, Faro often gets more sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Faro gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.
Faro usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Faro gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFaro 20°C (68°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Faro or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Faro and Playa de las Americas. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Faro this time of year.
Faro is much colder than Playa de las Americas in the winter. The daily temperature in Faro averages around 12°C (54°F) in January, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Faro usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Faro gets 161 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Faro usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Faro gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFaro 12°C (54°F)Playa de las Americas 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Faro or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Faro as well as Playa de las Americas. Many travelers come to Faro for the beaches.
In the spring, Faro is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Faro in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Faro this time of the year. In the spring, Faro often gets more sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Faro gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.
Faro usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Faro gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFaro 17°C (62°F)Playa de las Americas 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Faro
| Faro | Playa de las Americas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (56°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (58°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (62°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (67°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
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.