Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Funchal or Madeira Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Madeira Islands? 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 Madeira Islands?
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.
Madeira Islands
Madeira, Portugal is an archipelago consisting of four islands, each covered with lush vegetation and mountainous landscapes. Madeira is famous for its fresh fish and namesake Madeira wine, which can be found throughout the main island. This area is the perfect blend of relaxing beaches and thrill-inducing activities such as paragliding and mountain biking. Portuguese is the main language here, although English is spoken widely 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.
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Funchal Prices
Portugal PricesMadeira Islands Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €116Madeira Islands €49,792
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €116, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €49,792. 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 Madeira Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Madeira Islands €23,797
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Madeira Islands €
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Compare Hotels in Funchal and Madeira Islands
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Madeira Islands? 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 Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Madeira Islands €4,784
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfers DE arrival or DE departure to Funchal and Airport: $23
- Transfer to Rabaçal - 25 Fontes and Levada do Risco: $46
- Transfer to Ponta de São Lourenço Natural Reserve: $37
- Transfer to PR9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde: $48
- Transfer to PR18 - Levada do Rei: $48
- Transfer to Levada do Alecrim and Vereda da Lagoa do Vento: $48
- Transfer Privado e Confiável: Aeroporto → Funchal (ou vice-versa): $24
- Ribeira Brava on Sundays with Sandro Vicente (With Transfer): $55
- Private airport transfer to Funchal 8 people more return: $103
- Private Transfer to Seixal Black Sand Beach: $206
- Private Transfer to Levada do Alecrim - Rosemary Levada (easy): $63
- Private Transfer from Madeira North area resorts to Madeira Funchal airport: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Madeira Islands?
Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands 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 €54Madeira Islands €16,889
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:
- Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $40
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $55
- Madeiran Traditional Dinner: $103
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Madeira Islands €13,949
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- 2-Day Madeira Tour: East & West with Local Guide & Tastings: $80
- 25 Fountains Levada: Hiking Tour in Madeira Rabaçal Valley (PR6): $55
- 4x4 Half Day Tour: Zipline, Giant Swing (Optional) and Seixal: $51
- Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo in Madeira (PR1.2) - Hiking Tour: $55
- Agriculture Green Tour: $103
- Amazing East Tour: $40
- Amazing West - Jeep Safari Tour - Full Day - Shared Tour: $74
- Arieiro Peak and Cristo Rei 4x4 Experience + Dolphins Watching: $102
- Arieiro Peak, Santana & Ponta São Lourenço in Open Roof 4X4 Tour: $77
- Arieiro Peak, Santo Serra, Cristo Rei in Open Roof 4x4 Experience: $51
- Around The Island - Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day): $69
- Around the island - Two days tour: $86
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Madeira Islands €3,505
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skywalk, Amazing Views & Wine Tasting in Open Roof 4x4 Adventure: $54
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $63
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $63
- Madeira Tuk-Tuk Tour with Wine Tasting and Honey Cake: $74
- Half-Day Small-Group Wine Tour in Madeira: $80
- Madeira 4WD Half-Day Tour and Wine Tasting Experience: $86
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $93
- Private Guided East Madeira Tour Waterfall and Distillery Visit: $103
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $103
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $223
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Madeira Islands, we can see that Madeira Islands 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 Madeira Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Madeira Islands 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 Madeira Islands Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Funchal or Madeira Islands?
Madeira Islands has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Madeira Islands, 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.