Which place is cheaper, Playa del Ingles or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Funchal or Playa del Ingles?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Playa del Ingles? 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 del Ingles?
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 del Ingles
Translating to "Englishman's Beach," Playa del Ingles is a sea resort located on the south coast of the Gran Canaria island of Spain's Canary Islands. Since the 1960s it has been built up to accommodate tourists from around the world, especially from Europe. Some of the most popular attractions include an abundance of bars and clubs as well as beachside activities like swimming, surfing, scuba, and snorkeling.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €93Playa del Ingles €180
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €93, while the average daily cost in Playa del Ingles is €180. 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 del Ingles in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Playa del Ingles €93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Playa del Ingles €186
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Playa del Ingles
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Playa del Ingles? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Playa del Ingles €61
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 Playa del Ingles?
Prices for flights to both Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles €49
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 del Ingles €33
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 del Ingles €7.86
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 del Ingles, we can see that Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Playa del Ingles 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 del Ingles Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Playa del Ingles?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Playa del Ingles. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Playa del Ingles, 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 del Ingles?
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 del Ingles in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Playa del Ingles.
In July, Funchal is generally around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 22°C (72°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Ingles this time of the year. In Funchal, it's very sunny this time of the year. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 0 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Playa del Ingles 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Playa del Ingles in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Playa del Ingles.
Funchal is around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles in the autumn. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Ingles. In the autumn, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 213 hours of full sun.
Funchal receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Funchal usually gets more rain in October than Playa del Ingles. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Playa del Ingles 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Playa del Ingles in the Winter?
Both Playa del Ingles and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities.
In the winter, Funchal is around the same temperature as Playa del Ingles. Typically, the winter temperatures in Funchal in January average around 16°C (61°F), and Playa del Ingles averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Playa del Ingles during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Playa del Ingles receives 187 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Funchal. In January, Funchal usually receives more rain than Playa del Ingles. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Playa del Ingles 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Playa del Ingles in the Spring?
Both Playa del Ingles and Funchal during the spring are popular places to visit.
In April, Funchal is generally cooler than Playa del Ingles. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 17°C (63°F), and Playa del Ingles fluctuates around 19°C (66°F).
In Playa del Ingles, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Funchal often gets less sunshine than Playa del Ingles. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Playa del Ingles receives 225 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets more rain in April than Playa del Ingles. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Playa del Ingles receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Playa del Ingles 19°C (66°F)
Typical Weather for Playa del Ingles and Funchal
| Funchal | Playa del Ingles | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 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) | 21°C (70°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 21 mm (0.8 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.