Which place is cheaper, Azores or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Funchal or Azores?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Azores? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Funchal or Azores?
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
Azores
The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal. Although the islands were created through volcanic activity, there is far less activity now, making the Azores the perfect beach escape. Most people speak Portuguese, or a dialect of it, with English spoken primarily by those in the tourism industry.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Lisbon.
-
Funchal Prices
Portugal PricesAzores Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €116Azores €163
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €116, while the average daily cost in Azores is €163. 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 Funchal and Azores in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Azores €67
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Azores €134
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Azores
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Azores? 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: Funchal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Azores €30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Picos da Madeira - Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo: $59
- Transfer Privado e Confiável: Aeroporto → Funchal (ou vice-versa): $21
- Self Guided Transfer to Ponta de São Lourenço Natural Reserve: $38
- Private airport transfer to Funchal 8 people more return: $106
- Private Transfer to Seixal Black Sand Beach: $212
- Private Transfer to Porto Moniz Lava Natural Pools: $236
- Private Transfer from Madeira North area resorts to Madeira Funchal airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Funchal Airport to Madeira Island: $93
- Private Service Airport Transfer: $29
- Private One Way Transfer from Funchal to Madeira Airport: $24
- Private Mercedes Transfer: Madeira Airport & Funchal: $35
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Azores?
Prices for flights to both Azores and Funchal 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
-
Food Meals for one dayFunchal €54Azores €74
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
-
Coffee€1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $33
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $57
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Azores €22
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- 25 Fountains Levada: Hiking Tour in Madeira Rabaçal Valley (PR6): $57
- Amazing East Tour: $41
- Arieiro Peak, Santana & Ponta São Lourenço in Open Roof 4X4 Tour: $81
- Arieiro Peak, Santo Serra, Cristo Rei in Open Roof 4x4 Experience: $53
- Around The Island - Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day): $71
- Around the island - Two days tour: $88
- Cabo Girão & mountains 4x4 tour: $189
- Craters of Fire - 4X4 Full-Day Tour: $81
- Cristo Rei, Arieiro Peak and Santo da Serra 4x4 Experience: $53
- Enchanted Vineyards, Wine 4x4 Tour and Sea Cliff Cabo Girão: $65
- Exorbitant West Tour: $41
- Fanal & Porto Moniz - West Madeira Tour: $47
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Azores €9.64
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $65
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $65
- Madeira Tuk-Tuk Tour with Wine Tasting and Honey Cake: $77
- Half-Day Wine Tour- Shared: $88
- Madeira 4x4 Tour and Wine Tasting Experience: $88
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $93
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $106
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $230
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Azores, we can see that Azores is more expensive. And not only is Funchal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Funchal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Funchal 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 Azores would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Azores than you might in Funchal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Funchal Expensive? and Is Azores Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Funchal or Azores?
Azores has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Azores, 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.