Which place is cheaper, Cagliari or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Cagliari?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Cagliari? 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 Cagliari?
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.
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the Italian island, Sardinia, located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is best known for its abundance of seafood, beach access, and an array of architecture that reflects both Roman and medieval history.
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 in Italy, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Cagliari €120
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Cagliari is €120. 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 Cagliari in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Cagliari €66
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Cagliari €132
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Cagliari
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Cagliari? 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 and Cagliari Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Cagliari €31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer and Hiking PR8 Sao Lourenço : $44
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Sunrise Transfer to Hike Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo: $71
- Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Funchal airport to Madeira south area: $59
- Private Transfer from Funchal Airport to Madeira Island: $123
- Private Transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport to Funchal Hotels: $69
- Private One way Transfer Madeira Airport to or from Funchal: $22
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $44
- PR18 Levada do Rei Private transfer: $71
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cagliari
Also for Cagliari, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Cagliari airport City - Orosei city Marina: $513
- Cagliari Elmas Airport: 1-Way Private Transfer to Cagliari: $65
- Transfer / taxi Cagliari Airport - Cagliari city: $60
- Private Transfer from Cagliari hotels to Cagliari Cruise Port: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Cagliari?
Prices for flights to both Cagliari 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
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Food Meals for one dayFunchal €31Cagliari €35
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
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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: $31
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $41
- Sunset Tour to Pico do Arieiro with Dinner and Drinks included: $76
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cagliari
For Cagliari, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sardinia Cooking Class: Fresh Handmade Pasta: $75
- Cooking Class and Wine Tasting: $80
- Homemade fresh pasta cooking: $82
- Sardinia Traditional Food Tour: $87
- Sardinian Cooking Class with Meal and Drinks: $96
- Traditional Sardinian Lunch and Cooking Class In Cagliari: $116
- Romantic sunset dinner experience with private chef: $159
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Cagliari €17
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Low Cost Wheelchair Handicap Half Day Tour, Fully Accessible Tour : $76
- “Le tour de Churchill” - From Funchal to Câmara de Lobos: $58
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- 4 Hours Adventure Jeep Tour in Central Madeira Portugal: $47
- 4x4 Jeep Safari Porto Moniz - the "Farowest" tour - Full Day Small Groups : $71
- Accessible Half Day Tour Cabo Girão: $120
- Adventure Trikes Private Tour in Madeira : $158
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Amazing West - Jeep Safari Tour - Full Day: $60
- Arieiro Peak, Santo da Serra and Cristo Rei 4x4 Experience: $49
- Around The Island - Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day): $65
- Around the island - Two days tour: $82
Tours and Activities in Cagliari
For Cagliari, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hours Guided Tour of San Pancras and Castello: $43
- 3 Hours Guided Tour of the Historical Cagliari: $64
- Archaeological tour of Nora: $91
- Barumini Unesco Site and Giara of Gesturi Tour from Cagliari: $98
- Beach Tour Porto Pino & Piscinnì from Cagliari: $91
- Beachtour Marina Rei & Sant'Elmo from Cagliari: $91
- Beachtour Porto Giunco & Cala Sinzias from Cagliari: $91
- Beachtour to Chia & Tuerredda from Cagliari: $91
- Boat Tour at Devil's Saddle: 4 Swim Stops, Snorkeling & Prosecco: $60
- Boat Tour in the Gulf of Cagliari with aperitif on board: $84
- Cagliari : Highlights & Hidden gems Private Walking Tour: $70
- Cagliari : Private Custom Walking Tour with Local Guide: $51
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Cagliari €7.57
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skywalk and 4x4 Adventure with Amazing Views and Wine Tasting: $49
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $53
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $53
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $56
- Pub Crawl: $59
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $86
- Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $97
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $98
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $102
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $109
- Wine Tour by Overland Madeira: $150
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $158
Sample the Local Flavors in Cagliari
Also in Cagliari, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Guided Artisanal Food and Wine Tasting Experience: $48
- WINE TOUR with sommelier in a winery near Cagliari: $66
- Small-Group Food and Wine Tour from Cagliari: $98
- Wine Tour Sardinia: $107
- Wine tour aroud vineyards of Cagliari : $109
- Wine Tasting & Winery Tour: $266
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting with Lunch: $641
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Cagliari, we can see that Cagliari 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 Cagliari would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cagliari 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 Cagliari Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Cagliari?
Cagliari has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Cagliari, 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 Funchal or Cagliari?
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 Funchal or Cagliari in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Cagliari. Furthermore, many travelers come to Cagliari for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Funchal is around the same temperature as Cagliari in the summer. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Cagliari fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cagliari this time of the year. In Funchal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Cagliari during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Cagliari receives 337 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives more rain than Cagliari. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cagliari receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Cagliari 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Cagliari in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Cagliari. Additionally, many visitors come to Cagliari in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Funchal is a little warmer than Cagliari. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Funchal in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Cagliari averages at about 18°C (65°F).
In the autumn, Funchal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Cagliari. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cagliari receives 192 hours of full sun.
Funchal receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal usually gets more rain in October than Cagliari. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cagliari receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Cagliari 18°C (65°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Cagliari in the Winter?
Both Cagliari and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Cagliari for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Funchal is generally much warmer than Cagliari. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 16°C (61°F), and Cagliari fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
Funchal usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cagliari during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Cagliari receives 131 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Funchal. In January, Funchal usually receives more rain than Cagliari. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cagliari receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Cagliari 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Cagliari in the Spring?
Both Cagliari and Funchal during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Cagliari because of the beaches and the activities around the city.
Funchal is a little warmer than Cagliari in the spring. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Cagliari fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Cagliari, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Cagliari. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cagliari receives 202 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets more rain in April than Cagliari. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cagliari receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Cagliari 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Cagliari and Funchal
| Funchal | Cagliari | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 54 mm (2.1 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.