Which place is cheaper, Playa Blanca or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Funchal or Playa Blanca? 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.
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.
Located on the southern tip of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is a resort area popular with families and couples seeking a quieter vacation alternative to the lively neighbor resort of Puerto del Carmen. The resort's white sandy beaches are peaceful and sheltered from the higher winds found on other parts of the island. Timanfaya National Park is also nearby, as well as a number of other spectacular volcanic features.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Playa Blanca is €155. 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 Playa Blanca in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Playa Blanca? 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.
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Playa Blanca 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Playa Blanca, we can see that Playa Blanca 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 Playa Blanca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa Blanca 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 Playa Blanca Expensive?.
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Playa Blanca. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Playa Blanca, 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.
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.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Playa Blanca.
Funchal is around the same temperature as Playa Blanca in the summer. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Playa Blanca fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa Blanca this time of the year. In Funchal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Playa Blanca during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Playa Blanca receives 282 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives more rain than Playa Blanca. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Playa Blanca receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Playa Blanca.
In the autumn, Funchal is around the same temperature as Playa Blanca. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Funchal in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Playa Blanca averages at about 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa Blanca. In the autumn, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Playa Blanca. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa Blanca receives 224 hours of full sun.
Funchal receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal usually gets more rain in October than Playa Blanca. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Playa Blanca receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Playa Blanca and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In January, Funchal is generally around the same temperature as Playa Blanca. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 16°C (61°F), and Playa Blanca fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa Blanca. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Playa Blanca during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Playa Blanca receives 204 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Funchal. In January, Funchal usually receives more rain than Playa Blanca. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Playa Blanca receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Both Playa Blanca and Funchal during the spring are popular places to visit.
Funchal is cooler than Playa Blanca in the spring. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Playa Blanca fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Playa Blanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Playa Blanca. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa Blanca receives 250 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets more rain in April than Playa Blanca. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Playa Blanca receives 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
Funchal | Playa Blanca | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |