Should you visit Lisbon or Costa Vicentina?
Should I visit Lisbon or Costa Vicentina? 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.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
Costa Vicentina
Costa Vicentina is the beautiful coastal area in southwest Portugal which runs through both the Algarve and Alentejo Regions along the southern coast. This is actually part of the longest stretch of protected coastline in Portugal, making it one of the best places to experience the unadulterated beauty and nature of the country. Costa Vicentina offers miles of some of the best Portugal beaches, fantastic hiking trails, and lovely old villages to explore. The area sees far more Portuguese tourists than international ones, so expect Portuguese to be the only language spoken by many people, especially in the smaller villages.
Which city is cheaper, Costa Vicentina or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €103, while the average daily cost in Costa Vicentina is €100. 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 Lisbon and Costa Vicentina in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €92 in Lisbon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €106 for a double occupancy room in Costa Vicentina.
Food
In Lisbon travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
On average, meal and food prices in Costa Vicentina cost around €27 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around €11.
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Food
Meals for one day
Lisbon €33
Costa Vicentina €27
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
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History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
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Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
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Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
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Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
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Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
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3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
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The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
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Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
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2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
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Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
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Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
Local Transportation
Lisbon's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €19 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
The average price of local transportation around Costa Vicentina is €32 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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Private Transfer in Van to Caldas da Rainha or Óbidos or Fátima:
$165
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Airport Private Transfer in Van to Cascais or Sintra or Estoril:
$68
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Airport Private Transfer to Caldas da Rainha or Óbidos or Fátima:
$99
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Airport Private Transfer to Cascais or Sintra or Estoril:
$27
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Airport Private Transfer to Costa da Caparica or Almada:
$19
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Airport Private Transfer to Ericeira or Torres Vedras:
$46
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Airport Transfer:
$44
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Airport Transfer Lisbon:
$54
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Algarve Private Direct Transfer from Lisbon:
$760
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Arrival Private Transfer Business Car Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City:
$38
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Arrival Private Transfer Luxury Van Lisbon airport LIS to Lisbon City:
$49
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Arrival Transfer at Family & Friends:
$19
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Costa Vicentina?
Prices for flights to both Costa Vicentina and Lisbon 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
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Costa Vicentina's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around €13 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 Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Lisbon Downtown Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City:
$1.24
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Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.03
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Lisbon Historical Walking Tour:
$3.11
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Rua Augusta Arch Admission Ticket:
$3.41
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Contemporary Park of Nations Walking Audio Tour by VoiceMap:
$5.48
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The Soul of Alfama Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap Lisbon:
$5.99
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Museu Coleção Berardo Admission Ticket:
$6.22
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Street Art Virtual Tour in Lisbon:
$6.22
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Skip the Line: Pilar 7 Bridge Experience Admission Ticket:
$6.22
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Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$7.96
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Lisboa Story Centre Admission Ticket:
$8.09
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Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Lisbon spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Costa Vicentina may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €6.97 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
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Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
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Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
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Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
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Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
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3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
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Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
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From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
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Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
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From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
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Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
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Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
When comparing the travel costs between Lisbon and Costa Vicentina, we can see that Lisbon 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.
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