Should you visit Ios or Malaga?
Should I visit Ios or Malaga? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Ios
Ios is an island in the south of Greece, located in the Cyclades group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a peaceful beach getaway by day, and a lively party scene by night. While its main town is the hub for nightlife, it is also a charming place during the day, typical of a traditional Greek village with shops and cafes against a backdrop of whitewashed buildings and turquoise waters.
Malaga
Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors as well.
Which city is cheaper, Malaga or Ios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ios is €73, while the average daily cost in Malaga is €106. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Ios and Malaga in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €31. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Ios the cost is €62 on average.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €108 for a double occupancy room in Malaga.
Food
While meal prices in Ios can vary, the average travelers spends about €26 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Ios should cost around €10 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Ios is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Malaga food costs typically run travelers around €27 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ios €26
Malaga €27
Typical Food prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
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Sardines Espetos Cooking Workshop:
$73
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Typical Andalusian Dinner with Wine Pairing in Málaga:
$79
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Malaga Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience:
$86
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Sardines On Skewers Cooking Class in Malaga:
$111
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Malaga Sunset Cruise and Restaurant Dinner:
$112
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Málaga Swim Cruise with Tapas Dinner and Flamenco Show:
$128
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Malaga Catamaran Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Port Restaurant Dinner:
$146
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Malaga Market Visit and Cooking Class in Malaga Countryside House:
$149
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Ios is €13 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Malaga is €25 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
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Private Airport Transfer: from Malaga to Malaga Airport (AGP):
$17
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Transfer from Malaga Airport to Costa del Sol Hotels (Any Hotel):
$17
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Transfer from your Hotel to Malaga Airport (Departure Transfer):
$17
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Private Arrival Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Malaga City Center:
$20
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Private Departure Transfer from Malaga City Center to Malaga Airport (AGP):
$20
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Malaga Airport (AGP) to Malaga - Arrival Private Van Transfer:
$20
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Malaga to Malaga Airport (AGP) - Departure Private Van Transfer:
$20
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Private Airport Transfer: Malaga Airport (AGP) to Malaga:
$21
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Malaga Airport (Costa del Sol) Private Departure Transfer:
$24
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Malaga Airport (Costa del Sol) Private Arrival Transfer:
$24
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Departure Private Transfer Business Car Malaga City to Malaga airport AGP:
$26
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Arrival Private Transfer Business Car Malaga airport AGP to Malaga:
$26
Is it cheaper to fly into Ios or Malaga?
Prices for flights to both Malaga and Ios 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.
Entertainment
Ios's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €21 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Malaga's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €25 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Ios
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ios are as follows:
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Ios Speed Boat Adventure:
$54
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From Ios to Sikinos Island & Winery Tour:
$96
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Half Day Sunset Sailboat tour (afternoon):
$210
Typical Entertainment prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
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Entrance to Castillos
€7.10
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Concert
€31
Tours and Activities in Malaga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
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Alcazaba de Málaga and Teatro Romano Walking Tour in Spanish:
$4.98
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Skip the Line: Picasso's Birthplace Museum Entrance Ticket:
$4.98
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Temporary Exhibition Museo Picasso Málaga Tickets:
$6.66
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Walking Tour of Malaga's Historic Center:
$7.46
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Skip the Line: Centre Pompidou in Malaga Ticket:
$11
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Skip the Line: Museo Picasso Malaga Entrance Ticket:
$11
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Museo Carmen Thyssen de Malaga Entrance Ticket:
$12
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Skip the Line: Malaga Automobile and Fashion Museum Entrance Ticket:
$14
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1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour:
$16
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Malaga Segway Castle Tour:
$22
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Fast and Curious segway tour (30min):
$26
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Malaga Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Malaga Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour:
$27
Alcohol
The average person spends about €26 on alcoholic beverages in Ios per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about €18 on alcoholic beverages in Malaga per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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Malaga Nightlife - Pub Crawl Tour with Skip-the-line Club Access:
$26
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Frigiliana Small-Group Hike and Wine Tasting Tour from Malaga:
$49
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Muscatel Winery Tour and Wine Tastings from Malaga:
$75
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Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour:
$81
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Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour: BEST OF Málaga in one evening!:
$108
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Private Ronda Wine Tour with Tapas Including a Visit to Ronda:
$404
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Ronda Private Full Day Wine Tour with Tapas:
$406
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Malaga Shore Excursion: Panoramic Buggy Tour with Wine Tasting in a Historical Cellar:
$481
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ios and Malaga, we can see that Malaga is more expensive. And not only is Ios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ios 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 Malaga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malaga than you might in Ios.
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