Should you visit Marbella or Almeria?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Marbella or Almeria, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Marbella
Marbella is a city in southern Spain in the province of Malaga. It is part of the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is located on the Mediterranean Sea between Malaga and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is one of the most important tourist cities in the area and receives many national and international tourists year round due to its climate and tourism structures. Marbella is a bit of a glamorous city due to its beauty and resort-type environment. The old town with its narrow cobbled streets and flower-filled plazas is packed with shops and art galleries selling boutique clothes and accessories, and handmade wares. The city has significant archaeological and historical heritage and many events and performances throughout the year.
Almeria
Almeria is a city (and province) in the Andalusia region of Spain. It is located in the southeast area of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. Almeria is a charming area rich in history. Though it is not as well known as some more popular cities in the area, such as Granada, Seville, or Malaga, its popularity has increased significantly over the years with the growth of its holiday areas. Almeria has over 62 miles of untamed coastline, something that is hard to find on the Mediterranean, and has outstandingly beautiful landscapes, which stands out even in an area of natural beauty. The spectacular beaches with warm waters of the Mediterranean, abundant historic and cultural sites, and large tourist centers makes Almeria a great travel destination.
Which city is cheaper, Almeria or Marbella?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Marbella is €93, while the average daily cost in Almeria is €79. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Marbella and Almeria in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Marbella can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €49, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €98.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €70 for a double occupancy room in Almeria.
Food
While meal prices in Marbella can vary, the average travelers spends about €31 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Marbella should cost around €12 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Marbella is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Almeria food costs typically run travelers around €32 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Marbella €31
Almeria €32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marbella
For Marbella, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Cooking courses at home & online:
$75
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Tapas & Paella Cooking Course:
$80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Almeria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Almeria.
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Spanish Paella Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
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Private Authentic Spanish Cooking Class with Juan in Almeria:
$62
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Private Market Tour and Paella Cooking Lesson in Almeria with Juan:
$74
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Marbella than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €19 on transportation in Marbella on average per day.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €16 per day to get around in Almeria.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Departure Private Transfer Business Car Marbella to Malaga airport AGP:
$62
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Departure Private Transfer Luxury Van Marbella to Malaga airport AGP:
$92
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Marbella to Malaga Airport (AGP) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$61
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Marbella to Malaga Airport (AGP) - Departure Private Van Transfer:
$45
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Private Transfer Marbella, Malaga, Gibraltar or Tarifa to Seville SVQ by Minivan:
$698
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Private Transfer Marbella, Malaga, Gibraltar or Tarifa to Seville SVQ by Sedan:
$568
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Private Transfer from Elviria to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Hotel Marbella Beach Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from La Quinta Golf Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$151
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Private Transfer from Las Chapas to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Lomas De Cabopino to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Los Monteros to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$122
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Almeria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Almeria:
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Transfers desde Aeropuerto de Almería (LEI) a Vera Playa - 4 pasajeros:
$124
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Private Transfer: Almería to Almeria Airport (LEI):
$622
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Private Transfer: Almería Airport (LEI) to Almeria:
$622
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Private Transfer from Almería to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$421
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Almería Private Transfer from the city centre or Cabo de Gata to Almería Airport:
$75
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Almería Private Transfer from Almería Airport to City centre or Cabo de Gata:
$75
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Almeria Airport Transfer to Mojacar:
$159
Is it cheaper to fly into Marbella or Almeria?
Prices for flights to both Almeria and Marbella 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Marbella, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €15 per day, per person.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €13 per person, per day in Almeria. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Marbella
For Marbella, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Secrets of Marbella walking tour (Group):
$19
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Marbella small group walking Tour:
$24
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Marbella group walking tour:
$32
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Bike City Tour Marbella:
$32
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Marbella Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$41
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Paddle Boarding Tour on the beautiful Marbella Coast:
$49
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Sunset SUP Tour in Marbella:
$61
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Can-am Route Experience:
$77
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Original Marbella Tapas Adventure:
$86
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Marbella Gourmet Tapas Tour - Do Eat Better Experience:
$88
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Stand-up Paddle Sunset Tour in Marbella:
$91
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E-Mountain Bike Explorer Tour departing from Marbella:
$93
Tours and Activities in Almeria
Here are a few actual costs in Almeria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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8 Days Almería Adventure Self Drive Tour:
$1,107
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Alhambra Private Tour from with transport and skip-the-line-tickets:
$386
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Almeria Desert Tour:
$915
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Almeria like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$43
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Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour of Nerja from Almeria:
$430
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Private 8-Day Almeria Tour with Lanjaron and Baeza:
$919
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Private Tour in Granada with Alhambra Palace Entry Ticket:
$600
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Marbella spend on average €4.57 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Almeria may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €3.43 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Marbella
Also in Marbella, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
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E-Mountain Bike & Wine Tour from Marbella to Sierra Blanca:
$123
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Manilva & Gaucin Wine Tour from the Costa del Sol:
$160
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Ronda Full Day Wine Tour from Marbella:
$210
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VIP Wine Tour through the Guadalhorce Valley & Wolf Sanctuary Visit:
$360
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Ronda Private Wine Tour and Tapas from Marbella:
$406
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VIP Ronda Wine Tour and Tasting and Gourmet Lunch Experience with Winemaker:
$778
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Marbella and Almeria, we can see that Marbella is more expensive. And not only is Almeria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Almeria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Almeria 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 Marbella would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marbella than you might in Almeria.
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