Which place is cheaper, Cologne or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Cologne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Cologne? 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 Cologne?
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.
Cologne
Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Cologne €161
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Cologne is €161. 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 Cologne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Cologne €91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Cologne €182
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Cologne
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Cologne? 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 Cologne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Cologne €19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Madeira Island - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
- Madeira Airport (FNC) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Funchal Hotels or Address): $54
- Madeira Airport (FNC) Departure Transfer (Funchal Hotels to Madeira Airport): $54
- Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
- Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $49
- Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.81
- Madeira Airport Transfers Round Trip (FNC): $65
- Madeira Island Transfers: $53
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
- Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
- Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55
- Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Cologne?
Prices for flights to both Cologne 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 €31Cologne €50
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
Typical Food Prices in Cologne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:
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Dinner€14
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Donner Kebab€4.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cologne.
- Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
- Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
- Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $481
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Cologne €20
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Portugal eSIM Tourist Data Plan: $4.81
- Sacred Art Museum of Funchal Entry Ticket: $11
- Old Funchal Walking Tour: $15
- Scenic Route - Nuns Valley Tour: $25
- Funchal Hop-On Hop-Off Tour 3 in 1: $27
- Christmas Lights in Funchal Tuk Tuk Tour: $27
- São Vicente Caves and Volcano Center Half-Day Tour: $27
- Majestic West Tour : $31
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- Exorbitant West Tour: $33
- Santana / Typical Houses Tour: $33
Tours and Activities in Cologne
Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
- 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
- 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
- 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
- Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
- Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
- Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
- Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
- Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $395
- Beethoven and Bonn Highlights Tour from Cologne by Car: $840
- Best of Cologne in 1-Day Private Guided Tour with Transport: $438
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Cologne €23
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 Cologne
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cologne:
- Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
- Public brewery tour in Cologne in English: $18
- Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
- Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
- Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
- Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
- South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
- Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
- Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $29
- Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
- The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Cologne, we can see that Cologne 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 Cologne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cologne 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 Cologne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Cologne?
Cologne has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Cologne, 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 Cologne?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Funchal or Cologne in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Cologne. Additionally, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cologne this time of year.
In the summer, Funchal is a little warmer than Cologne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Funchal in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Cologne averages at about 19°C (66°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Funchal this time of the year. In the summer, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 184 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets less rain in July than Cologne. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Cologne 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Cologne in the Autumn?
Both Cologne and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Cologne for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Funchal is generally much warmer than Cologne. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 21°C (70°F), and Cologne fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during autumn. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Funchal. In October, Funchal usually receives more rain than Cologne. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Cologne 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Cologne in the Winter?
Both Cologne and Funchal during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Cologne in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Cologne can get quite cold in the winter. Funchal is much warmer than Cologne in the winter. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and Cologne fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Cologne. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cologne receives 43 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. Funchal usually gets more rain in January than Cologne. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Cologne 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Cologne in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Cologne. Also, most visitors come to Cologne for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Funchal is much warmer than Cologne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Funchal in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Cologne averages at about 10°C (50°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Cologne during spring. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Cologne receives 152 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Funchal usually receives more rain than Cologne. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Cologne receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Cologne 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cologne and Funchal
| Funchal | Cologne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.