Which place is cheaper, Alicante or Gran Canaria?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Gran Canaria or Alicante? 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.
Gran Canaria is one of Spain's Canary Islands, located just off the coast of northwestern Africa. It is the third largest of the islands, and is known for its variety of volcanic beaches. This island is sometimes called a "Miniature Continent" due to the different climates and variety of landscapes found, which allow for a range of activities like hiking, biking, surfing, and scuba diving.
Alicante is a gorgeous coastal city in the Costa Blanca region, on the east coast of Spain. The region is famous for its white sandy beaches, the party-haven of Benidorm and the stunning palm tree-lined boulevard in the city of Alicante. I have been visiting Alicante for close to 20 years, so, it has become almost a second home to me. Here are my top tips to have the best vacation in Alicante.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Spain, The Best Luxury Tours to Spain, The Best Budget Tours to Spain, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Gran Canaria is €150, while the average daily cost in Alicante is €179. 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 Gran Canaria and Alicante in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Gran Canaria or Alicante? 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 Gran Canaria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alicante:
Prices for flights to both Alicante and Gran Canaria 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.
For Gran Canaria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alicante.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gran Canaria.
Here are a few typical costs in Alicante for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Here are a few actual costs in Alicante for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gran Canaria:
Also in Alicante, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gran Canaria and Alicante, we can see that Alicante is more expensive. And not only is Gran Canaria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gran Canaria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gran Canaria 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 Alicante would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alicante than you might in Gran Canaria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gran Canaria Expensive? and Is Alicante Expensive?.
Gran Canaria has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Alicante. When comparing the sizes of Gran Canaria and Alicante, 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 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.
The summer brings many poeple to Gran Canaria as well as Alicante. Additionally, many travelers come to Alicante for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Gran Canaria is generally around the same temperature as Alicante. Daily temperatures in Gran Canaria average around 23°C (73°F), and Alicante fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Alicante. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gran Canaria this time of the year. In the summer, Gran Canaria often gets less sunshine than Alicante. Gran Canaria gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Alicante receives 341 hours of full sun.
Gran Canaria usually gets less rain in July than Alicante. Gran Canaria gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Alicante receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Alicante and Gran Canaria are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Alicante in the autumn for the shopping scene.
Gran Canaria is a little warmer than Alicante in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gran Canaria averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Alicante fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite sunny in Alicante. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Alicante during autumn. Gran Canaria gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Alicante receives 225 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Gran Canaria usually receives less rain than Alicante. Gran Canaria gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Alicante receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Both Alicante and Gran Canaria during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Alicante for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
In the winter, Gran Canaria is much warmer than Alicante. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gran Canaria in January average around 18°C (64°F), and Alicante averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In the winter, Gran Canaria often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Alicante. Gran Canaria gets 187 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Alicante receives 178 hours of full sun.
Gran Canaria usually gets more rain in January than Alicante. Gran Canaria gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Alicante receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gran Canaria and Alicante. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Alicante because of the beaches.
In April, Gran Canaria is generally a little warmer than Alicante. Daily temperatures in Gran Canaria average around 19°C (66°F), and Alicante fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Alicante this time of the year. In Gran Canaria, it's very sunny this time of the year. Gran Canaria usually receives less sunshine than Alicante during spring. Gran Canaria gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Alicante receives 243 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Gran Canaria usually receives less rain than Alicante. Gran Canaria gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Alicante receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Gran Canaria | Alicante | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 18°C (64°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
Feb | 18°C (64°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
May | 20°C (68°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
Dec | 19°C (66°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |