Which city is cheaper, Barcelona or Malaga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Malaga and Barcelona. 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.
Malaga is a friendly, welcoming, and historic port city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, live music, and food.
Barcelona is a laid-back, historic, and cultural city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.
Both Malaga and Barcelona offer a number of unique restaurants to choose from.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Malaga. Head to any of the local food markets and seafood shops to try local cuisine. Also make sure you try tapas and a filling Andalusian breakfast.
Many restaurants in Barcelona have been singled out for their culinary prowess. With easy access to fresh produce, there are many food markets around town. You'll also find great fresh local dishes at the many restaurants. Make sure you try the paella, croquettes, and Jamon Iberico.
Both Malaga and Barcelona are comparable when it comes to partying.
Malaga is a world class party destination. The city has some of the most active nightlife in Europe. There are plenty of opportunities to party in Malaga and you'll find the most vibrant nightlife in the Centro Historico.
Barcelona is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The city offers an amazing nightlife at a much more affordable price than many places in Europe. There are beach parties, boat parties, and bars that stay packed late into the night. The city also hosts many street fiestas and music festivals.
Both Malaga and Barcelona offer a variety of live music venues.
The music scene in Malaga is very popular with diverse venues. The city has venues that offer pop, rock, blues, soulful, and more. Some of the most popular include ZZ club, Clarence Jazz Club, and Velvet Club.
Barcelona is a world class music destination. Popular music venues include Tablao de Carmen, Razzmatazz, and Jamboree.
Barcelona provides a better beach experience than Malaga.
Barcelona offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city features long sandy beaches where you can soak up the Mediterranean sun right in the heart of town. Popular beaches include Bogatell Beach, Barceloneta Beach, and Nova Icària.
Malaga is a good spot to see the beach. There are some nice beaches around Malaga, but for the best options you'll have to travel further outside of the city.
Visitors enjoy the old town areas in both Malaga and Barcelona.
There are many historical things to see in the old town of Malaga. The city's old town is compact and small, making it a fun place to walk. There are historic buildings, museums, churches, and squares, as well as many restaurants and shops.
The old town of Barcelona is one of the most recognized in the world. Dating back 2,000 years the Gothic Quarter remains a hub of life and activity. It's fun to explore the wandering streets or people watch in one of the plazas. There are also many fascinating boutique shops and restaurants.
Barcelona is generally considered to be a more popular shopping destination.
The abundance of shops in Barcelona make it a world-class shopping destination. Head to Portal De L’Angel, Rambla de Catalunya, or Passeig De Gracia for some of the city's best shopping districts.
Malaga is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of shopping areas in the city with both local boutiques and name brands.
Both Malaga and Barcelona are family-friendly destinations.
Malaga is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has castles that you can explore as well as a waterpark.
Barcelona is a very family-friendly place to visit. Check out the Magic Fountains Show near Plaça d’Espanya, wander through the aquarium, or sample some chocolate at the Chocolate Museum. There are also many great parks and playgrounds around town.
Both Malaga and Barcelona are popular destinations for backpackers.
With so many budget-friendly offerings, Malaga is extremely popular for backpackers. From an endless supply of hostels to plenty of opportunities to meet other backpackers, this is a very backpacker friendly area.
Barcelona is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. There are many hostels around town, each with its own personality. Many of the hostels also organize activities or dinners for guests so it's easy to meet other travelers.
Malaga and Barcelona are both good destinations for students and younger travelers.
Many students visit Malaga. The city has many opportunities to learn Spanish. It's also an affordable city with a young population and a lively atmosphere that appeals to international students.
Barcelona is a very popular port city for students. This is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find international students from around the world. It's a beautiful city with plenty to see and do.
While Malaga and Barcelona both provide public transit, overall the system in Barcelona is considered to be better.
Barcelona has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There's a metro, bus, and tram system that navigates the city.
Malaga has a few public transit options. There is an efficient bus system as well as a light metro system.
Malaga and Barcelona both are comparable when exploring on foot.
Malaga is a very walkable port city. It has a very compact and walkable historic center with most of the tourist attractions easily accessible on foot.
Barcelona is very walkable. The city is more spread out than some other major European cities, but there are many plazas and outdoor areas that are fun to explore on foot. The city has designed "superilles," which are areas where car traffic has been directed around pedestrian-friendly plazas so visitors can explore, relax, or play.
Both Malaga and Barcelona have a number of activities to choose from. You can spend a similar amount of time exploring either.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Malaga is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Barcelona is 3-7 days.
You'll find nightlife and live music around the port city of Malaga. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Barcelona is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
You'll find live music and food around the welcoming destination of Malaga. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from.
Barcelona is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the beautiful port city of Malaga. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this port city makes for a great vacation. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this port city has to offer.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Barcelona. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Malaga is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Malaga, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
Barcelona is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €106, while the average daily cost in Barcelona is €123. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Malaga and Barcelona in more detail.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Barcelona:
Prices for flights to both Barcelona and Malaga 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Barcelona are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Barcelona.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Barcelona are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Barcelona are as follows:
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Barcelona:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malaga and Barcelona, we can see that Barcelona is more expensive. And not only is Malaga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Malaga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Malaga 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 Barcelona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Barcelona than you might in Malaga.
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