Which place is cheaper, Porto or Madeira Islands?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Madeira Islands or Porto?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Madeira Islands and Porto can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Madeira Islands or Porto?
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.
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMadeira Islands €95Porto €126
The average daily cost (per person) in Madeira Islands is €95, while the average daily cost in Porto 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 Madeira Islands and Porto in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMadeira Islands €52Porto €65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMadeira Islands €104Porto €130
Compare Hotels in Madeira Islands and Porto
Looking for a hotel in Madeira Islands or Porto? 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.
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: Madeira Islands Hotel Prices and Porto Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Madeira Islands €9.87Porto €21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto
Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transport/Private Transfer from Porto Airport to Régua and Samodaes: $272
- Transfer to Porto from or to the Douro Valley: $182
- Transfer from Porto to Coimbra visiting Aveiro, half day: $152
- Transfer from Porto Airport to / from Gerês: $127
- Transfer Train/Bus station Campanhã to Porto City: $23
- Transfer Premium Privado: Aeroporto do Porto - Porto e Gaia: $32
- Transfer Porto Airport to Douro Valley ( Régua / Samodaes ): $185
- Transfer Porto: $32
- Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $27
- Transfer From Porto To Lisbon: $282
- Transfer Airport (OPO) - Porto Centro: $33
- Tesla S Luxury Executive Porto Airport Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Madeira Islands or Porto?
Prices for flights to both Porto and Madeira Islands 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
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Food Meals for one dayMadeira Islands €33Porto €36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto
For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Downtown Porto: $37
- Tastiest Calories Food Tour: $48
- Bolhão Market and Codfish Tasting Guided Food Tour: $52
- Bolhão Market & Codfish Tasting Food Tour: $53
- Porto Food Tour: Full Meal & Drinks: $56
- Porto Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $57
- 3-Hour Food Tour: $68
- Half-Day Food Tour: $68
- Semi - Private Oporto Food Tour: $74
- Portuguese Craft Beer and Food Tour: $74
- Secret Food Tour: $77
- Semi Private Oporto Fado Show with Dinner: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Madeira Islands €15Porto €25
Tours and Activities in Porto
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.
- 1.5-Hour Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour Historic Porto: $26
- 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto Douro to Left bank: $63
- 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto to Monastery and Cellars: $157
- 2 Hour Private Tuktuk Tour in Porto to Monastery and Cellars: $80
- 2-Hours of Porto Sunset Segway Tour - Guided Experience: $59
- 3 Hour Porto Essential Private Tour: $49
- 3 Hour Tuk tuk Tour in Porto: $98
- 3 Hours of Private Porto Classic Tuk Tour: $261
- 3-Hour Electric Porto Bike Tour: $49
- 3-Hour Port and Douro Wines Tasting Tour With 10 Tastings: $49
- 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $48
- 3-Hour Private Bike Tour Porto: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMadeira Islands €16Porto €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Porto
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:
- Museu do Vitral Entry Ticket and Wine Tasting: $8.52
- Guided City Pub Crawl with Club Entry: $13
- Magic Train Tour and Port Wine Tastings: $15
- Rooftop Fado concert, Port wine tasting, Portuguese tart: $16
- Pub Crawl with 5 Drinks: $19
- Mysterious Pub Crawl Interactive City Discovery Game: $19
- Pub Crawl with Shots and Drinking Games: $21
- Poças: Guided Tour & Port Wine Tasting with Pastel de Nata: $21
- Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 2 DOC Douro & 1 Port Wines: $22
- 4-hour Guided Porto Pub Crawl including drinks: $22
- Private visit with wine tasting in Alijó Douro: $22
- Portuguese Wine Tasting w Local Cheese & Cold Cuts pairing: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Madeira Islands and Porto, we can see that Porto 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 Porto would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Porto 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 Madeira Islands Expensive? and Is Porto Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Madeira Islands or Porto?
Porto has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Madeira Islands. When comparing the sizes of Madeira Islands and Porto, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.