A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lagos vs. Santa Cruz de Tenerife for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lagos or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

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.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Not everyone traveling to Spain is looking to collapse on a beach somewhere. If you're in search of a bustling, vibrant and colorful Spanish capital city without the crowds of Barcelona, you might want to book a few days in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Tenerife on the Canary Island chain, Santa Cruz's bright buildings, charming shops and rich, green scenery are there to greet visitors from all over the world - including you.

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


Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €126. 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lagos 61
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lagos 122
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 96
Compare Hotels in Lagos and Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Looking for a hotel in Lagos or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife


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 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lagos 31
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 64

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lagos

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lagos:

  • Car or Van Departure Transfer Meia Praia or Lagos to Faro Airport: $78
  • Faro Airport to/from Lagos/Private Transfer max 4 passengers: $118
  • Faro Airport: Private Transfer With Options To or From Lagos: $128
  • Faro Airport: Private Transfer to/from Monchique or Lagos: $103
  • Private Transfer from Faro Airport Up to 8 passengers: $132
  • Private Transfer from Lisbon Airport Up to 8 pax: $487
  • Private Transfer to Faro Airport (60 min): $107
  • Private Transfer from Budens to Faro (FAO) Airport: $130
  • Private Transfer from Gil Eannes Square to Faro (FAO) Airport: $102
  • Private Transfer from Praia da Luz to Faro (FAO) Airport: $102
  • Private Transfer from Quinta Falzina to Faro (FAO) Airport: $141
  • Private Transfer from Santa Maria (Lagos) to Faro (FAO) Airport: $102

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:

  • Mount Teide Tour with Transfer and Optional Cable Car Ticket: $43
  • Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: Transfer to Tenerife hotels: $252
  • Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Costa Adeje Hotels to Airport): $98
  • Tenerife South Airport Departure Transfer (Playa de las américas to Airport): $59
  • Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet : $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Lagos or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 40

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
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 25

Tours and Activities in Lagos

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

  • Lagos Scavenger Hunt and Sights Private Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
  • Guided Walking Tour with Brodie from Australia: $16
  • Ponta da Piedade Rock Formations Guided Boat Tour: $19
  • Tour to go inside the Ponta da Piedade Caves/Grottos and see the beaches - Lagos: $20
  • Lagos Street Art: In-App Adventure Hunt: $21
  • In-App Adventure Hunt: $21
  • Ponta da Piedade Grotto Tour: $22
  • Boat Tours: $27
  • Ponta da Piedade Grotto Tour in Lagos, Algarve: $27
  • Coast Cruise Trip to Ponta da Piedade from Lagos: $29
  • NATURA TOUR - Countryside of Lagos - ECO TUK and LOCAL guide: $29
  • TUK TUK Tour Lagos Old& New Town& Beaches- Best way to know: $31

Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tenerife: Forestal Park Tenerife Entry Ticket: $28
  • Guided Tour to Teide National Park in Tenerife: $44
  • Full Day Tour of Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal de La Laguna: $49
  • Volcano Teide National Park Shared Tour from Costa Adeje Los Cristianos Tenerife: $64
  • Full Day Guided Tour of Teide by Cabrio Bus : $75
  • Private Paragliding Flight Experience in Tenerife: $109
  • Taucho Flight Experience: $118
  • Tenerife: Introductory Dive for Cruise Ship Passengers: $128
  • Private VIP Tour Tenerife Magic Circle: $258

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lagos 6.79
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife 7.50

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 comparing the travel costs between Lagos and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we can see that Santa Cruz de Tenerife is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lagos Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lagos or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lagos. When comparing the sizes of Lagos and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 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.