Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Malaga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Malaga or Madeira Islands?
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 Madeira Islands. 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 Madeira Islands?
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.
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 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Portugal, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal.
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Malaga Prices
Spain PricesMadeira Islands Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMalaga €165Madeira Islands €117
The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €165, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €117. 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 Madeira Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMalaga €75Madeira Islands €52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMalaga €150Madeira Islands €104
Compare Hotels in Malaga and Madeira Islands
Looking for a hotel in Malaga 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.
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 Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Malaga €31Madeira Islands €9.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
- transfer from malaga Airport to Estepona: $186
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Nerja: $142
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Malaga Fuengirola or Marbella: $59
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Algeciras or Tarifa: $201
- Vip One Way Transfer from Malaga Airport to Malaga City: $39
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to Tarifa: $311
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to NERJA: $186
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to Granada: $309
- Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Malaga City Center: $33
- TRANSFER MALAGA AIRPORT from OR to ESTEPONA-PRICE ALL INCLUSIVE: $148
- Private Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Sevilla: $237
- Private Transfer from Rincón de la Victoria to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $167
Is it cheaper to fly into Malaga or Madeira Islands?
Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands 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
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Food Meals for one dayMalaga €60Madeira Islands €55
Typical Food Prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€30
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Dinner for 2€44
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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: $17
- Hard Rock Cafe Entrance with Lunch or Dinner: $37
- Málaga: Morning Guided Food Tour: $75
- Malaga -Italian cooking class : La domenica italiana: $76
- Japanese cooking class Sushi: $76
- Authentic Paella Cooking Class with Sangría: $77
- Málaga: Spanish Cooking Workshop with Paella and Sangria: $77
- Malaga Tapas Cooking Class: $83
- Food Tour with Local Guide, Tapas, and Drinks: $83
- Pedregalejo Food Tour: Explore Malaga's most iconic quarter: $86
- Horse and Flamenco Show in Malaga with Dinner: $89
- Málaga: Tapas, Wine & Rooftops Small Group Food Tour: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Malaga €31Madeira Islands €15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
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Entrance to Castillos€7.10
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Concert€31
Tours and Activities in Malaga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Buggy Safari Experience in the Mountains of Mijas with Guide: $178
- 2 hours guided Quad tour in Mijas, Malaga.: $154
- 2-Hour Ronda Walking Tour: $95
- 3 Hour BMW GS Motorbike Tour: $148
- 3 Hours Guided Buggy Safari Adventure in the Mountains of Mijas: $225
- 3 Hours Mountain Bike Cycling Guided Tour in Costa del Sol: $118
- 3-hour Buggy Tour in Almuñecar with Picnic: $236
- 3-hour guided quad/ATV adventure in Mijas, Málaga: $213
- 90-min Buggy Tour in Almuñecar with Picnic: $165
- Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Private Tour. Skip The Line: $291
- Alcazaba de Málaga: Ticket and Self-Guided Tour created by an Official Guide: $5.82
- Alcazaba to Picasso: Málaga’s Best in a Self-Guided Tour: $3.54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMalaga €22Madeira Islands €16
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
- Bodegas Quitapenas: Guided Visit + Wine Tasting: $22
- Conrad Guided Cellar Tour and wine tasting in Ronda: $41
- Malaga Food & Wine Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local: $65
- C/Echegaray 5 Málaga center: Malagueño Massage: Massage + Wine Tasting: $68
- Winederlust Wine Tasting: $71
- Málaga: Traditional Andalusian Tapas and Wine Tour: $72
- Sun and Wine Route - Small group, wine tasting and tapas included: $92
- Flamenco, Tapas, and Wine Tour: $104
- White Village, Vineyard, and Wine Tasting Wine Tour: $105
- OLIVE OIL & WINE TOUR Organic fields - 5 Wines + 3Olive Oils: $111
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malaga and Madeira Islands, we can see that Malaga 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 Malaga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malaga 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 Malaga Expensive? and Is Madeira Islands Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Malaga or Madeira Islands?
Malaga has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Madeira Islands. When comparing the sizes of Malaga 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.
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.