Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Marbella?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Palma de Mallorca or Marbella, 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.
Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca is a resort city and capital of the Spanish island, Mallorca, in the western Mediterranean. It is home to landmarks like Gothic cathedrals and medieval fortresses, but is also host to sandy beaches where the city meets the sea in a backdrop of surrounding mountains. Amidst the city itself you will find it easy to get lost in the charm of cobbled lanes, busy markets, boutiques, and historic courtyards.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Marbella or Palma de Mallorca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Palma de Mallorca is €111, while the average daily cost in Marbella is €93. 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 Palma de Mallorca and Marbella in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Palma de Mallorca can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €56, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €112.
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.
Food
Palma de Mallorca food costs typically run travelers around €36 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.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Palma de Mallorca €36
Marbella €31
Typical Food prices in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Show Cooking Paella:
$124
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
Local Transportation
To get around in Palma de Mallorca, the average visitor spends €20 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Palma de Mallorca
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
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Taxi Ride
€6.80
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Bus Ride
€1.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palma de Mallorca
Also for Palma de Mallorca, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Palma Airport (Majorca) to Magaluf (Any Hotel):
$83
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Private Transfers from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Luxury Van:
$141
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Private Transfers from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Business Car:
$90
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Private Transfer: Palma to Palma de Mallorca International Airport (PMI):
$48
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Private Transfer: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) to Palma:
$48
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Private Transfer From Mallorca airport to Alcúdia:
$133
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Private Departure Transfer from Palma de Mallorca to Palma de Mallorca Terminal:
$50
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Private Departure Transfer from Palma de Mallorca City Center to Port d'Alcudia:
$133
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Private Airport Transfer: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) to Palma de Mallorca:
$24
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Palma de Mallorca Half Day Sightseeing Tour with Transfers:
$26
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Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI Round-Trip Transfer in Private Van:
$147
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Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI Round-Trip Transfer in Private Car:
$144
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marbella
Also for Marbella, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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TRANSFER MALAGA AIRPORT from/to PUERTO BANUS-PRICE ALL INCUSIVE:
$106
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TRANSFER MALAGA AIRPORT from/to MARBELLA-PRICE ALL INCLUSIVE:
$106
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Private Transfer from Nueva Andalucía to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$144
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Private Transfer from Marbesa to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Marbella to Malaga (AGP) airport:
$151
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Private Transfer from Los Monteros to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$122
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Private Transfer from Lomas De Cabopino to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Las Chapas 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 Hotel Marbella Beach Resort to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer from Elviria to Malaga (AGP) Airport:
$111
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Private Transfer Marbella, Malaga, Gibraltar or Tarifa to Seville SVQ by Sedan:
$568
Is it cheaper to fly into Palma de Mallorca or Marbella?
Prices for flights to both Marbella and Palma de Mallorca 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
In Palma de Mallorca, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
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.
Tours and Activities in Palma de Mallorca
For Palma de Mallorca, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Alcudia Open Bus City Tour in Mallorca:
$21
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Bellver Castle Private Tour and Surrounding Highlights:
$158
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Classic Mallorca, Self drive tour:
$932
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Classic Tour of Mallorca on Convertible Car:
$118
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Discover the major cultural attractions of Palma De Mallorca on a Private Tour:
$574
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Express Tour to Drach Caves and Portocristo:
$60
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Helicopter & Wellness Experience:
$618
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Mallorca Coasteering Adventure:
$79
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Mental Voice Training and Caving Tour in Mallorca:
$422
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Palma de Mallorca Segway Ninebot Tour:
$56
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Palma de Mallorca Shore Excursion: Private Tour of Valldemossa, Soller and Serra de Tramuntana:
$345
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Palma de Mallorca Sightseeing Day Tour:
$24
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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Alhambra Private Tour from with Transport and skip-the-line tickets:
$386
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Bike City Tour Marbella:
$32
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Can-am Route Experience:
$77
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Casares private half-day Tour from Marbella or Malaga:
$299
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E-Mountain Bike Explorer Tour departing from Marbella:
$93
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From Blue to Blue - Hiking tour in the Rif Mountains of Morocco:
$1,151
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Granada and Alhambra from Marbella and Costa del Sol: Vip Private Tour:
$862
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Half-day White Villages E-Mountain Bike Tour:
$148
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Marbella Gourmet Tapas Tour - Do Eat Better Experience:
$88
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Marbella Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
$41
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Marbella Sailing Experience:
$124
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Marbella group walking tour:
$32
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Palma de Mallorca spend on average €24 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Marbella spend on average €4.57 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Palma de Mallorca
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Palma de Mallorca
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Palma de Mallorca:
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 Palma de Mallorca and Marbella, we can see that Palma de Mallorca is more expensive. And not only is Marbella much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Marbella would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Marbella 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 Palma de Mallorca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palma de Mallorca than you might in Marbella.
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