Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Faro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Faro or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Faro or Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
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.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Not everyone traveling to Spain is looking to collapse on a beach somewhere. If you're in search of a bustling, vibrant and colorful Spanish capital city without the crowds of Barcelona, you might want to book a few days in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Tenerife on the Canary Island chain, Santa Cruz's bright buildings, charming shops and rich, green scenery are there to greet visitors from all over the world - including you.
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 Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFaro €133Santa Cruz de Tenerife €126
The average daily cost (per person) in Faro is €133, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €126. 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFaro €75Santa Cruz de Tenerife €48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFaro €150Santa Cruz de Tenerife €96
Compare Hotels in Faro and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Looking for a hotel in Faro or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Faro €9.52Santa Cruz de Tenerife €64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Faro
Also for Faro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ) Transfers airport Faro X Sevilla: $91
- Aiport Transfer from FARO to TAVIRA or CABANAS: $72
- Airport Transfer to Albufeira: $62
- Airport Transfer to Armação da Pera: $81
- Airport Transfer to Burgau: $143
- Airport Transfer to Cadiz: $669
- Airport Transfer to Carvoeiro: $87
- Airport Transfer to Evora: $414
- Airport Transfer to Gale: $67
- Airport Transfer to Huelva: $155
- Airport Transfer to Isla Antilla: $129
- Airport Transfer to Lagos: $118
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
- Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: Transfer to Tenerife hotels: $252
- Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Costa Adeje Hotels to Airport): $98
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet : $64
- Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Playa de las américas to Airport): $59
- Mount Teide Tour with Transfer and Optional Cable Car Ticket: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Faro or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 €36Santa Cruz de Tenerife €40
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 €9.41Santa Cruz de Tenerife €25
Tours and Activities in Faro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Faro.
- Camera Obscura - Tavira Eye - Admission Ticket: $5.45
- Faro Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Lagos Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Tavira Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self Guided Tour: $7.84
- Faro Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Algarve Life Sciences Center Museum Family Ticket: $13
- Cork Factory Tour & Cork Shop: $18
- Ria Formosa Sunset Boat Tour: $21
- Eco Boat Tour in the Ria Formosa Lagoon from Faro: $22
- 1 or 2 Hour Speed Boat Tour - Ria Formosa: $26
- 2 Hours Boat Tour in Ria Formosa: $27
- Tavira Route Boat Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Guided Tour of Teide by Cabrio Bus : $75
- Full Day Tour of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal de La Laguna: $49
- Guided Tour to Teide National Park in Tenerife: $44
- Private Paragliding Flight Experience in Tenerife: $109
- Private VIP Tour Tenerife Magic Circle: $258
- Taucho Flight Experience: $118
- Tenerife: Forestal Park Tenerife Entry Ticket: $28
- Tenerife: Introductory Dive for Cruise Ship Passengers: $128
- Volcano Teide National Park Shared Tour from Costa Adeje Los Cristianos Tenerife: $64
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFaro €3.13Santa Cruz de Tenerife €7.50
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 comparing the travel costs between Faro and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we can see that Faro is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Faro Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Faro or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Faro. When comparing the sizes of Faro and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 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.