A Travel Price Comparison for Portugal Lisbon vs. Madeira Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

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

Should I visit Lisbon or Madeira Islands? 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.

Where Should I go: Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

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.

Madeira Islands

Madeira, Portugal is an archipelago consisting of four islands, each covered with lush vegetation and mountainous landscapes. Madeira is famous for its fresh fish and namesake Madeira wine, which can be found throughout the main island. This area is the perfect blend of relaxing beaches and thrill-inducing activities such as paragliding and mountain biking. Portuguese is the main language here, although English is spoken widely by those in the tourism industry.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Lisbon?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €131, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €95. 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 Lisbon and Madeira Islands in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lisbon 58
    Madeira Islands 52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lisbon 116
    Madeira Islands 104
Compare Hotels in Lisbon and Madeira Islands

Looking for a hotel in Lisbon or Madeira Islands? 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 Lisbon


Hotels in Madeira Islands


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: Lisbon Hotel Prices and Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Madeira Islands 9.87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • mapeTOUR Transfers to and from Lisbon Airport: $83
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Lisbon HTL-APT (LIS): $36
  • Transfers from/to Lisbon Airport to: Fátima Nazaré Alcobaça Óbidos Tomar Leiria: $220
  • Transfers from Lisbon airport and to Lisbon Airport: $121
  • Transfers (Lisbon - Algarve) / (Algarve - Lisbon): $248
  • Transfers: $133
  • Transfer: Airport to where you want: $39
  • Transfer from Lisbon to PortoPorto to Lisbon: $188
  • Transfer from Lisbon to Porto / Porto to Lisbon: $199
  • Transfer from Lisbon to Oporto: $276
  • Transfer from Lisbon to Comporta / Troia: $138
  • Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Cascais: $83

Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lisbon 42
    Madeira Islands 33
Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    2.50

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Wine Tasting Apéritif - 1 Hour Guided Wine Tasting Before Dinner: $21
  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Tapas Food Tour: $38
  • Fado Tour with Live Show and Portuguese Dinner: $47
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $54
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $54
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $54
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $54
  • Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $55
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $64
  • Tipsy Food Crawl Walking Tour with Dinner: $71
  • Lisbon Tipsy Food Tour with Drinks and Food inlcuded: $71

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lisbon 24
    Madeira Islands 15

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Hour Night Sailing Tour in Lisbon with a Drink: $50
  • Lisbon Essential Walking Tour: History, Stories and Lifestyle: $28
  • Lisbon by Heart Private Walking Tour: $66
  • PORTUGUESE WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCES: the flavours of Portugal : $110
  • Private Tour Sintra, cabo da Roca & Cascais: $286
  • Private day tour Serra da Estrela cheese factory bread museum: $170
  • Saint George Castle Guided Tour from Lisbon: $34
  • Sintra or Cascais Half-day Private Tour - The real portuguese essence!: $121
  • Street Art Walking Tour in Lisbon - Parque das Nações: $17
  • Évora Tour: $166
  • Évora Tour - Évora Town and Surroundings Private Tour: $246
  • Évora Tour - The heart of Alentejo region: $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lisbon 18
    Madeira Islands 16

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon - 1 Hour of Unlimited Beer and Sangria and more!: $19
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $22
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
  • Private Bar Crawl in Lisbon: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Let's Go Out - Different bar crawl : $30
  • Halloween Haunts: Lisbon Pub Crawl Experience: $31
  • Wine Tasting at Quinta das Murgas: $39
  • Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $42
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lisbon Expensive? and Is Madeira Islands Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Lisbon or Madeira Islands?

Lisbon has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Madeira Islands. When comparing the sizes of Lisbon and Madeira Islands, 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.