Which place is cheaper, Ezcaray or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Ezcaray?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Ezcaray? 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 Ezcaray?
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.
Ezcaray
Ezcaray, Spain is a great place to go if you are looking for a scenic, relaxing, and peaceful destination. It is located in the Sierra de la Demanda mountains on the banks of the Oja river. Because of the mountain range nearby, it is also a great place for mountaineers. Ezcaray is a small town with big charm and momentous possibilities. It is located right at the base of the San Lorenzo peak in the Oja valley in the La Rioja region of Spain. The town has a population of less than 2,000, so it is a far cry from big city life, but that's part of what makes it such a gem to visit. Some say it is one of the best locations to get an authentic feel of real Spain without the big touristy populations. Its sheer beauty has also been compared to something out of a fairy tale.
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 Spain, and The Best Budget Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Ezcaray €111
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Ezcaray is €111. 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 Ezcaray in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Ezcaray €56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Ezcaray €112
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Ezcaray
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Ezcaray? 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 Ezcaray Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Ezcaray €21
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Ezcaray?
Prices for flights to both Ezcaray 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 €31Ezcaray €39
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Ezcaray €21
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Ezcaray €19
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Ezcaray, we can see that Ezcaray 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 Ezcaray would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ezcaray 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 Ezcaray Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Ezcaray?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ezcaray. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Ezcaray, 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 Ezcaray?
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 Ezcaray in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Ezcaray.
In July, Funchal is generally around the same temperature as Ezcaray. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 22°C (72°F), and Ezcaray fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
In Funchal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Ezcaray during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Ezcaray receives 188 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives less rain than Ezcaray. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Ezcaray receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Ezcaray 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Ezcaray in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Ezcaray.
Funchal is a little warmer than Ezcaray in the autumn. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Ezcaray fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
In the autumn, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Ezcaray. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ezcaray receives 125 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Ezcaray. Funchal receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal usually gets less rain in October than Ezcaray. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Ezcaray receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Ezcaray 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Ezcaray in the Winter?
Both Ezcaray and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Funchal is much warmer than Ezcaray. Typically, the winter temperatures in Funchal in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Ezcaray averages at about 9°C (48°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Ezcaray during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Ezcaray receives 77 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ezcaray. It's quite rainy in Funchal. In January, Funchal usually receives less rain than Ezcaray. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Ezcaray receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Ezcaray 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Ezcaray in the Spring?
Both Ezcaray and Funchal during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Funchal is generally a little warmer than Ezcaray. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 17°C (63°F), and Ezcaray fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In the spring, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Ezcaray. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ezcaray receives 117 hours of full sun.
Ezcaray gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Funchal usually gets less rain in April than Ezcaray. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Ezcaray receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Ezcaray 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Ezcaray and Funchal
| Funchal | Ezcaray | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 135 mm (5.3 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.