A Travel Price Comparison for Spain Malaga vs. Los Cristianos for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Malaga or Los Cristianos?

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 Malaga and Los Cristianos. 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: Malaga or Los Cristianos?

Malaga

Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors as well.

Los Cristianos

Picture your ultimate beach vacation. It probably consists of sand, sun and the most pristine resorts to pamper and spoil you. You've just dreamed up a place that actually exists - Los Cristianos. Located in the south of the Canary Island of Tenerife, Los Cristianos is one of the most popular tourist centers in this area, and for good reason. This area knows how to treat vacationers. The sea is a way of life in this area of the world, and that's apparent everywhere you look. Harbor tours, fishing trips and dolphin watching excursions are being advertised everywhere you look - all ready to give you the Los Cristianos experience.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona.


Which place is cheaper, Los Cristianos or Malaga?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Malaga Prices
    Spain Prices
    Los Cristianos Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Malaga 165
    Los Cristianos 152

The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €165, while the average daily cost in Los Cristianos is €152. 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 Malaga and Los Cristianos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malaga 75
    Los Cristianos 57
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malaga 150
    Los Cristianos 114
Compare Hotels in Malaga and Los Cristianos

Looking for a hotel in Malaga or Los Cristianos? 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 Malaga


Hotels in Los Cristianos


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: Malaga Hotel Prices and Los Cristianos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malaga 31
    Los Cristianos 49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:

  • transfer from malaga Airport to Estepona: $188
  • Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Malaga Fuengirola or Marbella: $60
  • Vip Private Transfer from Malaga Airport to Gibraltar Border: $180
  • Transfer from Malaga City Center to Malaga Airport (AGP): $34
  • Transfer from Malaga Airport to Tarifa: $314
  • Transfer from Malaga Airport to NERJA: $188
  • Transfer from Malaga Airport to Granada: $311
  • Private transfer from Málaga Hotels to Granada: $192
  • Private Transfer from Torrequebrada to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $200
  • Private Transfer from Torremuelle to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $236
  • Private Transfer from Rincón de la Victoria to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $169
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Banús to Malaga (AGP) airport: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Malaga or Los Cristianos?

Prices for flights to both Los Cristianos 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Malaga 60
    Los Cristianos 65
Typical Food Prices in Malaga

Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:


  • Dinner for 2
    30
  • Dinner for 2
    44
  • Breakfast for 2
    8.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.

  • Authentic Flamenco Dinner Show at Restaurant VinoMio: $8.81
  • Hard Rock Cafe Entrance with Lunch or Dinner: $38
  • Málaga: Morning Guided Food Tour: $68
  • Malaga Atarazanas Market Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $71
  • Dinner and Show at Alegría Flamenco & Restaurant in Malaga: $72
  • Paella Cooking Class with English Guide in Malaga: $73
  • The Málaga Morning Food Tour By Food Lover Tour: $77
  • Málaga: Spanish Cooking Workshop with Paella and Sangria: $78
  • Malaga Food Tour with Tapas & Drinks with a Local: $84
  • Pedregalejo Food Tour: Explore Malaga's most iconic quarter: $87
  • Authentic Paella Cooking Class with Sangría: $88
  • Málaga: Tapas, Wine & Rooftops Small Group Food Tour: $94

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Malaga 31
    Los Cristianos 23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Malaga

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:


  • Entrance to Castillos
    7.10
  • Concert
    31

Tours and Activities in Malaga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:

  • Malaga Coffee and City Tour with Real Spanish Tapas: $90
  • 1 Hour Private Flamenco Class Experience in Malaga: $45
  • 1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour: $32
  • 2 Hours Sunset Buggy Tour in Sierra de Mijas : $262
  • 2 hours guided Quad tour in Mijas, Malaga. : $144
  • 2-Hour French Guided Walking Tour in Malaga: $22
  • 2-Hour Ronda Walking Tour: $96
  • 2h E-bike tours+1day extra in Malaga: $41
  • 3-hour Buggy Tour in Almuñecar with Picnic: $228
  • 90-min Buggy Tour in Almuñecar with Picnic : $156
  • Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Private Tour. Skip The Line: $294
  • Alcazaba to Picasso: Málaga’s Best in a Self-Guided Tour: $1.17

Tours and Activities in Los Cristianos

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

  • Camel Experience: $4.70
  • Paddle Surf & Snorkeling Experience in Playa de las Américas: $35
  • Unforgettable snorkeling tours with turtles: $59
  • Tenerife: Electric Paddle Board Adventure Awaits: $65
  • VESPA TOUR TENERIFE+BOAT TOUR CLIFFS OF THE GIANTS+BATH +LUNCH: $170

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malaga 22
    Los Cristianos 7.14

Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga

Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Málaga: Pub Crawl Málaga Madness: $14
  • Malaga Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Clubs Entry: $19
  • Andalusian Wine Tasting Tapas and DE wine tastings: $47
  • RONDA WINE EXPERIENCE Wine Tastings DE Olive Oil and Tapas: $59
  • C/Echegaray 5 Málaga center: Malagueño Massage: Massage + Wine Tasting: $65
  • Artisan Spanish Wine Tasting of 6 Wines: $66
  • Ronda Wine Tasting with Tapas in a Scenic Vineyard: $66
  • Málaga: Traditional Andalusian Tapas and Wine Tour: $77
  • White Village, Vineyard, and Wine Tasting Wine Tour: $106
  • Málaga Small‑Group Wine Tour – Álora Castle Views & 4 Tastings: $108
  • Flamenco, Tapas, and Wine Tour: $110
  • OLIVE OIL & WINE TOUR Organic fields - 5 Wines + 3Olive Oils: $112


When comparing the travel costs between Malaga and Los Cristianos, we can see that Malaga 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 Malaga Expensive? and Is Los Cristianos Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Malaga or Los Cristianos?

Malaga has a larger population, and is about 23920 times larger than the population of Los Cristianos. When comparing the sizes of Malaga and Los Cristianos, 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.