Which place is cheaper, Playa de las Americas or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Playa de las Americas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Playa de las Americas? 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 Playa de las Americas?
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.
Playa de las Americas
If you are looking to escape your life - to relax on a modern day pleasure island, then you need to book a trip to the Playa de las Americas resort town. Located on the south coast of Tenerife, this party, beach, and vacation capital never goes to sleep. Packed with nightclubs, bars, live music, shops and restaurants, Playa de las Americas is the stuff Hollywood movies are made of.
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 Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Playa de las Americas €195
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Playa de las Americas is €195. 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 de las Americas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Playa de las Americas €115
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Playa de las Americas €230
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Playa de las Americas
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Playa de las Americas? 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 Playa de las Americas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Playa de las Americas €56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Funchal Airport to Madeira Island: $123
- PR18 Levada do Rei Private transfer: $71
- Sunrise Transfer to Hike Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo: $71
- Private Transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport to Funchal Hotels: $69
- Madeira Airport Transfers Round Trip (FNC): $65
- Private Transfer from Funchal airport to Madeira south area: $59
- Madeira Airport (FNC) Departure Transfer (Funchal Hotels to Madeira Airport): $54
- Madeira Airport (FNC) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Funchal Hotels or Address): $54
- Madeira Island Transfers: $53
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Madeira Island - Arrival Private Transfer: $51
- Madeira Airport Round Trip Shuttle Transfers Service: $49
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Playa de las Americas?
Prices for flights to both Playa de las Americas 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 €31Playa de las Americas €45
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 €15Playa de las Americas €30
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 €16Playa de las Americas €8.57
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 Playa de las Americas, we can see that Playa de las Americas 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 de las Americas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa de las Americas 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 de las Americas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Playa de las Americas?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Playa de las Americas. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Playa de las Americas, 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 Playa de las Americas?
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 Playa de las Americas in the Summer?
Both Playa de las Americas and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.
Funchal is around the same temperature as Playa de las Americas in the summer. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa de las Americas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Funchal. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Playa de las Americas in the Autumn?
Both Playa de las Americas and Funchal during the autumn are popular places to visit.
In the autumn, Funchal is cooler than Playa de las Americas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Funchal in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Playa de las Americas averages at about 24°C (75°F).
In Playa de las Americas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 200 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. Funchal usually gets more rain in October than Playa de las Americas. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Playa de las Americas 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Playa de las Americas in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Playa de las Americas.
In January, Funchal is generally cooler than Playa de las Americas. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 16°C (61°F), and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Playa de las Americas during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Playa de las Americas receives 191 hours of full sun in the winter.
Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Funchal usually receives more rain than Playa de las Americas. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Playa de las Americas 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Playa de las Americas in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Playa de las Americas.
Funchal is cooler than Playa de las Americas in the spring. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Playa de las Americas fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa de las Americas. In the spring, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Playa de las Americas. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa de las Americas receives 205 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets more rain in April than Playa de las Americas. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Playa de las Americas receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Playa de las Americas 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Playa de las Americas and Funchal
| Funchal | Playa de las Americas | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 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.