Which place is cheaper, Galway or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Galway?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Galway? 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 Galway?
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.
Galway
Galway is Ireland's fifth largest city with a population of over 70,000. Located in the province of Connacht, it is typically the first stop for travelers headed into western Ireland. It serves as a gateway for this scenic part of the country, but it truly is a destination in and of itself. The city is pleasantly quaint, and is crisscrossed by lovely pedestrian only streets that are lined with shopping and restaurants. There are also countless museums and galleries to explore. Churches and cathedrals dot the town and are fun to drop by if you're fascinated with architecture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best Budget Tours to Ireland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Ireland.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Galway €131
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Galway is €131. 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 Galway in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Galway €70
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Galway €140
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Galway
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Galway? 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 Galway Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Galway €33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Madeira Airport Shuttle Transfer one way: $9.81
- Private One way Transfer Madeira Airport to or from Funchal: $22
- Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $26
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Funchal hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Funchal Private Transfers Service to Madeira Airport: $29
- Madeira Airport Private Transfers Service To Funchal: $33
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $44
- Transfer and Hiking PR8 Sao Lourenço : $44
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
- Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galway
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Galway:
- Galway Private Driver: Personalized Tours & Transfers: $749
- One-Way Private Transfer to Killarney: $668
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Dublin Airport: $668
- From 1-Way Private Transfer to Cork City: $561
- Galway to Limerick | Private Transfer and Car Service: $294
- Galway to Shannon Airport | Private Transfer & Car Service: $294
- Shannon Airport to Seamless Private Transfers: $257
- Galway Private Transfer from Galway Airport to City centre: $90
- Galway Private Transfer from central Galway to Galway Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Galway?
Prices for flights to both Galway 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 €31Galway €33
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 Galway
Some typical examples of dining costs in Galway are as follows:
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Fish & Chips Dinner€8.12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Galway
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Galway.
- Tour & Taste Galway Food Tour: $93
- Galway Food Tour: $107
- Galway Food Tours: $109
- Private Irish Cooking Experience in the Heart of Gaeltacht: $136
- Farm to Table Experience and Irish Cooking Class in Galway: $190
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Galway €12
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 Galway
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Galway are as follows:
- Abalone farm tour and tasting with coastal seaweed walk. Guided. 2 hours: $82
- 3 Hours Guided Irish Whiskey Tour and Tasting in Galway City: $180
- Aran Island, Cliffs of Moher & Cruise tour from Galway. Guided.: $119
- Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea & Scones - Day Trip to Inisheer from Doolin: $136
- Aran Islands Bike Tour with Tea and Scones from Galway: $163
- Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Cruise from Galway: $82
- Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher Day Cruise sailing from Galway City Docks: $60
- Boat cruise with local skipper on Galway Bay. Galway city. 1 hour: $36
- Burren Botany Experience: $16
- Castles of Connemara tour departing Galway city. Guided. Full day: $134
- City Sightseeing Galway Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
- City of the Tribes Tour: $131
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Galway €15
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 Galway
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Galway:
- Traditional Irish Poitin & Gin Distillery Tour: $355
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Galway, we can see that Galway 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 Galway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galway 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 Galway Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Galway?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 43% larger than the population of Galway. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Galway, 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 Galway?
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 Galway in the Summer?
Both Galway and Funchal during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Galway for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In July, Funchal is generally a little warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 22°C (72°F), and Galway fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It's quite sunny in Funchal. In the summer, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Galway. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 142 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets less rain in July than Galway. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Galway receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Galway 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Galway in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Galway. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Galway because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Funchal is much warmer than Galway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Galway fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Galway during autumn. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 96 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Galway receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Funchal usually receives less rain than Galway. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Galway receives 142 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Galway 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Galway in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Galway. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Galway this time of year.
In the winter, Funchal is much warmer than Galway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Funchal in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Galway averages at about 6°C (42°F).
In the winter, Funchal often gets more sunshine than Galway. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Galway receives 59 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Galway. Funchal receives a lot of rain in the winter. Funchal usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Galway. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Galway receives 116 mm (4.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Galway 6°C (42°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Galway in the Spring?
Both Galway and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Galway for the activities around the city.
In April, Funchal is generally much warmer than Galway. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 17°C (63°F), and Galway fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Galway during spring. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Galway receives 153 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Funchal usually receives more rain than Galway. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Galway receives 52 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Galway 9°C (48°F)
Typical Weather for Galway and Funchal
| Funchal | Galway | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 125 mm (4.9 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.