Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Malaga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Malaga or Vancouver?
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 Vancouver. 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Spain, The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMalaga €140Vancouver €132
The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €140, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is €132. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMalaga €75Vancouver €81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMalaga €150Vancouver €162
Compare Hotels in Malaga and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Malaga or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Malaga €31Vancouver €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (Agp) to Granada City: $289
- Private Transfer from Albuñol to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $270
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Albuñol: $270
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Ferreirola: $268
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Almerimar: $261
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Los Barrios: $242
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to La Mamola: $242
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Algeciras: $233
- Private Transfer from/to Seville to/from Malaga & Stop Alhambra: $230
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Gaucín: $223
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Algodonales: $223
- Private Transfer from Malaga Airport (AGP) to Frontera La Línea - Gibraltar: $223
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
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SkyTrain from Airport€5.94
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Taxi from Airport to Downtown€20
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15 min Taxi Ride€8.15
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SkyTrain DayPass€6.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer to Vancouver Airport (YVR): $32
- Vancouver Airport-Cypress/Grouse Mountain Private Transfer: $38
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to White Rock - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Canada Place Port to Vancouver Airport(YVR) - Departure Transfer : $55
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Canada Place Port - Arrival Transfer: $55
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Canada Place Cruise Terminal to any Hotel: $74
- Vancouver Airport (YVR) to Whistler - Arrival Private Transfer: $76
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Malaga or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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 €35Vancouver €29
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.
- Horse and Flamenco Show in Malaga with Dinner: $76
- Malaga Tapas Cooking Class: $89
- Andalucia by Sunset - half day tour including dinner and Ronda pickup: $93
- Sardines On Skewers Show Cooking in Malaga beach: $147
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
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All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch€8.23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Malaga €31Vancouver €34
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:
- Half-Day Luxury Motor Yacht Cruise in Granada: $153
- Private Tour of Ronda and Setenil de Las Bodegas: $240
- Ronda group walking Tour: $27
- Sealife Benalmadena Entrance Ticket: $21
- Winery and Olive Mill Guided and Tasting Tour with Tapas: $120
- 1 Hour Malaga Panoramic Segway Tour : $38
- 1 Hour Quad/ATV Tour Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $98
- 1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour: $16
- 2 Hour Buggy Tour Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $142
- 2 Hour Family Buggy Tour, Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $164
- 2 Hours Buggy Safari Experience in the Mountains of Mijas with Guide: $126
- 2-Hour French Guided Walking Tour in Malaga: $20
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Vancouver self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.75
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tour of Gastown: $4.82
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
- Fort Langley: a Film & Television Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.19
- Discover Stanley Park with a Smartphone Audio Tour: $5.19
- Cycling the Seawall: A Self-Guided Audio Tour Along the Stanley Park Seawall: $5.46
- Historic Walking Tours of Vancouver with Then & Now Images!: $6.68
- Walking Tour Along Stanley Park's Seawall: $6.68
- Vancouver Downtown: Espionage Adventure Outdoor Escape Game: $6.99
- Self-Guided Smartphone Tour of Stanley Park: $7.31
- Self-Guided Smartphone Walking Tours of Stanley Park: $7.42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMalaga €22Vancouver €15
Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Malaga Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Clubs Entry: $17
- Sun and Wine Route - Small group, wine tasting and lunch included: $76
- Malaga City Wine Tour: $94
- Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour: Best of Málaga in one Evening: $104
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When comparing the travel costs between Malaga and Vancouver, 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. Even though Malaga is in Europe and Vancouver is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Malaga Expensive? and Is Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Malaga or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Malaga. When comparing the sizes of Malaga and Vancouver, 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.
When is the best time to visit Malaga or Vancouver?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Malaga or Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Malaga as well as Vancouver. The summer months attract visitors to Malaga because of the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Malaga is generally a little warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Malaga average around 25°C (77°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malaga this time of the year. In the summer, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Malaga gets 348 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun.
Malaga usually gets less rain in July than Vancouver. Malaga gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMalaga 25°C (77°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Malaga or Vancouver in the Autumn?
Both Vancouver and Malaga are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Malaga this time of year.
Malaga is much warmer than Vancouver in the autumn. The daily temperature in Malaga averages around 19°C (67°F) in October, and Vancouver fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Malaga. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during autumn. Malaga gets 213 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. In October, Malaga usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Malaga gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMalaga 19°C (67°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Malaga or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Malaga during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Malaga for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Malaga is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the winter temperatures in Malaga in January average around 12°C (54°F), and Vancouver averages at about 4°C (40°F).
In the winter, Malaga often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Malaga gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun.
Vancouver gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Malaga usually gets less rain in January than Vancouver. Malaga gets 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMalaga 12°C (54°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Malaga or Vancouver in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Malaga and Vancouver. Many visitors come to Malaga in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Malaga is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Malaga average around 16°C (60°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In Malaga, it's very sunny this time of the year. Malaga usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during spring. Malaga gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Vancouver receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Malaga usually receives less rain than Vancouver. Malaga gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMalaga 16°C (60°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Malaga
| Malaga | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 12°C (54°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 15°C (60°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 13°C (55°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
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.