A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lagos vs. Puerto del Carmen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lagos or Puerto del Carmen?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lagos and Puerto del Carmen. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lagos or Puerto del Carmen?

Lagos

A coastal town in the south of Portugal, Lagos is known for its old world charm, plummeting cliffs, and Atlantic beaches. Many come to enjoy a full range of activities from beach-going and watersports to exploring cobbled streets lined with options for shopping and dining. Historic churches and castles add to the charm, as well as a clifftop lighthouse showing the way to Lagos for ships at sea.

Puerto del Carmen

Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, The Best 3-Day Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or Lagos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lagos is €118, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €173. 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 Lagos and Puerto del Carmen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lagos 61
    Puerto del Carmen 98
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lagos 122
    Puerto del Carmen 196
Compare Hotels in Lagos and Puerto del Carmen

Looking for a hotel in Lagos or Puerto del Carmen? 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.

Hotels in Lagos


Hotels in Puerto del Carmen


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: Lagos Hotel Prices and Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lagos 31
    Puerto del Carmen 39

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lagos

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lagos:

  • Transfer Praia da Luz - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $70
  • Transfer Praia da Luz - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $58
  • Transfer Burgau - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $55
  • Private Transfer: Seville to Lisbon: $615
  • Private Transfer: Seville to Lagos: $374
  • Private Transfer: Seville to Algarve (Faro district): $374
  • Private Transfer: Lagos to Seville: $374
  • Private Transfer: Lagos to Lisbon: $428
  • Private Transfer: Faro/Lagos to Porto: $802
  • Private Transfer: Faro/FAO to Seville: $353
  • Private Transfer: Faro to Lisbon: $428
  • Private Transfer: Albufeira to Seville: $321

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto del Carmen

Also for Puerto del Carmen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lanzarote : Parasailing activity with hotel transfer: $102

Is it cheaper to fly into Lagos or Puerto del Carmen?

Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen and Lagos 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lagos 34
    Puerto del Carmen 51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lagos

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lagos.

  • Classic Food Tour - Lagos: $97
  • Full-Day West Coast Adventure with Hiking, Sunset, Dinner & Wine : $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lagos 26
    Puerto del Carmen 17

Tours and Activities in Lagos

Here are a few actual costs in Lagos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-hour Kayak Tour of Ponta da Piedade Caves and Beaches: $44
  • 4x4 Off-road Algarve Natural Park West Coast Tour : $58
  • Adventure to the Benagil Caves on a Family Friendly Catamaran - Start at Lagos: $39
  • Algarve Private Tour: Sagres and Benagil from Lisbon: $834
  • Algarve: Aljezur, Arrifana, and Costa Vicentina Private Tour: $144
  • Algarve: Family photoshoot experience: $214
  • Algarve: Lagos Sightseeing guided Tour with e-bikes: $63
  • Algarve: Lagos sightseeing guided tour with E-bikes: $71
  • Amado Beach Walking Tour: $55
  • Benagil Caves- Speed Boat Tour: $44
  • Boat Cruise to Algar de Benagil from Lagos: $39
  • Captivating Corners of Lagos – Walking Tour: $395

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lagos 6.79
    Puerto del Carmen 60

Sample the Local Flavors in Lagos

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lagos:

  • Lagos Wine Tasting and Tapas: $44
  • Small-Group Day Tour of Silves and Monchique with Wine Tasting: $86


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lagos and Puerto del Carmen, we can see that Puerto del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Lagos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lagos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lagos 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 Puerto del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto del Carmen than you might in Lagos.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lagos Expensive? and Is Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lagos or Puerto del Carmen?

Puerto del Carmen has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Lagos. When comparing the sizes of Lagos and Puerto del Carmen, 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.