A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Palma de Mallorca vs. Monaco for Nightlife, Resorts, Beaches, and Couples

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Palma de Mallorca or Monaco, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down 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 cultural, historic, and beautiful island. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, nightlife, and live music.

Monaco

Monaco is a thrilling, posh, and glitzy coastal resort area. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include shopping, nightlife, and food.

Palma de Mallorca and Monaco: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Popular beach
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
  • Impressive beauty
Cons
  • Less popular for shopping
  • Less popular with couples
  • Less walkable
Pros
  • Good scuba and snorkeling destination
  • Good for shopping
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Very walkable
  • Big city activities
  • Impressive beauty
Cons
  • Less attractive beach
  • Less family-friendly
  • Less popular with backpackers


How is Palma de Mallorca different from Monaco?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Monaco and Palma de Mallorca. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Food?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Both Palma de Mallorca and Monaco offer a number of unique restaurants to choose from.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Palma de Mallorca. Food here is centered around pork, fish, and vegetables. It is flavored with garlic and olive oil and it offers that feeling of comfort that comes with home cooking.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Monaco. The cuisine is heavily influenced by both French and Italian cuisines. You'll find many dishes that take advantage of the coastal location, with seafood being very common. The national dish is Barbagiuan, which is a deep-fried pastry that is filled with ricotta cheese, Swiss chard, and other vegetables.


Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Both Palma de Mallorca and Monaco have similar vibes after the sun sets.

Palma de Mallorca is a world class party destination. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

Monaco is a must-see party destination. It's where sophistication meets glam, with many luxury nightclubs, cocktail bars, casinos, and even opera houses that you can explore. The city attracts celebrities, wealthy business people, and jetsetters who are looking to socialize, see, and be seen.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

With a similar set of options, resorts can be found in both Palma de Mallorca and Monaco.

Palma de Mallorca is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Monaco is a world class resort vacation destination. As the playground for the rich and famous, this city has its share of luxury resorts. Famous hotels include the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, and the Fairmont Monte Carlo.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

You'll find snorkeling or scuba diving in both Palma de Mallorca and Monaco.

Palma de Mallorca has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. Head to Cala Santanyi on the south side of the island for the best snorkeling. For scuba diving, National Park of Cabrera is one of the most popular spots.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Monaco. There are both beaches that offer walk-in snorkeling spots as well as boat tours that you can book that will take you to some of the best snorkeling and dive sights around Monaco.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Palma de Mallorca is considered to be a more popular beach destination than Monaco.

The beaches in Palma de Mallorca are among the best in the world. The island is lined with sandy beaches and rocky coves, which have contributed to it becoming one of Europe's most popular beach destinations.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Monaco. Located along the French Riviera, the beaches are a mix of pebbles and sand. The only public beach is Plage du Larvotto in Monte Carlo and there are a number of activities available including jet skis and wind-surfing. This is also a very family-friendly beach that kids of all ages can enjoy.


Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Shopping?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Monaco usually beats out Palma de Mallorca for shopping.

People travel from around the world to go shopping in Monaco. A visit would not be complete without experiencing the city's shopping. There are couture, luxury brands as well as local boutiques that are frequented by the wealthy and famous. Popular shopping areas include Le Metropole Shopping Center, Fontvieille Shopping Centre, and La Condamine Market.

Palma de Mallorca offers some nice shopping areas. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Families will find a wider variety of activities in Palma de Mallorca than Monaco.

Palma de Mallorca is a very family-friendly destination. The beaches are large and sandy with beautiful blue waters. There's also many activities that both adults and kids can enjoy around the island including waterparks, aquariums, and amusement areas.

Monaco doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. The city has a few family-friendly activities like an Oceanography Museum, a Zoological Park, and a harbor where kids can explore. You can also check out the Changing of the Guards in the Old Town. The public beach in town, Plage du Larvotto, is very family-friendly as well.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Couples?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

There's generally more to do as a couple in Monaco than Palma de Mallorca.

Monaco has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Filled with luxury, a couple can enjoy perusing the yachts in the harbor, dining on fine cuisine at an award winning restaurant, or staying at one of the many fancy hotels in town. You can also explore the area by air, by taking a truly spectacular helicopter tour.

Palma de Mallorca makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With beautiful beaches and a fun Spanish flare, Mallorca makes for a memorable honeymoon.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco Better for Public Transit?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Visitors will find public transit in both Palma de Mallorca and Monaco.

Palma de Mallorca has some public transit options. There is an efficient bus system that can get you around the island, but trips are less frequent on weekends. Pick up the Intermodal Card which can get you from town to town.

You'll find some public transit in Monaco, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a bus system.


Is Palma de Mallorca or Monaco a more walkable city?

Palma de Mallorca
Monaco

Monaco is generally more walkable than Palma de Mallorca.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Monaco. It's small and compact size means that it is easy to explore the entire area on foot in a short amount of time.

Palma de Mallorca is a somewhat walkable place. It is a larger island that is not walkable, but Palma is generally a walkable area. If you stay in the central area you should be fine to explore on foot but if you want to get out into more rural areas, you'll need access to some type of transportation.

Should I spend more time in Monaco or Palma de Mallorca?

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Palma de Mallorca and Monaco. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Monaco.

The ideal length of time for a trip to Palma de Mallorca is 3-5 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Monaco is 1-3 days.


  • How many days in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco? Ideal Length of Stay
    Palma de Mallorca 3-5 
    Monaco 1-3

One day in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Palma de Mallorca. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

When visiting Monaco, people usually allow for lots of time. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

Palma de Mallorca is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

When visiting Monaco, people usually allow for lots of time. Your budget might influence how long you stay. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Five days in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Palma de Mallorca. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the glitzy big city of Monaco. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.


A week in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the cultural destination of Palma de Mallorca. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Monaco is a popular choice for travelers. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This coastal resort area offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Which city is cheaper, Monaco 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 €139, while the average daily cost in Monaco is €189. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Palma de Mallorca and Monaco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Palma de Mallorca 69
    Monaco 119
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Palma de Mallorca 138
    Monaco 238
Compare Hotels in Palma de Mallorca and Monaco

Looking for a hotel in Palma de Mallorca or Monaco? 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 Palma de Mallorca


Hotels in Monaco


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: Palma de Mallorca Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Palma de Mallorca 25
    Monaco 17
Typical Local Transportation prices in Palma de Mallorca

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    6.80
  • 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:

  • Arrival Private Transfer Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma by Business Car: $73
  • Arrival Private Transfer Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma by Business Van: $110
  • Arrival Private Transfer Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma by Luxury Car: $101
  • Arrival Private Transfers : Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Business Car: $84
  • Arrival Private Transfers : Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Luxury Car: $160
  • Arrival Private Transfers : Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Luxury Van: $141
  • Arrival Transfer from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Private Car: $69
  • Arrival Transfer from Palma de Mallorca Airport PMI to Palma in Private Van: $73
  • Majorca Airport (PMI) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Cala Ratjada): $161
  • Majorca Airport (PMI) Arrival Transfer (Airport to Pollensa Hotel or Address): $132
  • Mallorca Airport Transfers to Formentor: $149
  • Mallorca Airport Transfers to or from Ca'n Picafort: $116

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Monaco

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Monaco:

  • Private transfer: Monaco Airport (MCM) to Monaco: $622
  • Private Departure Transfer from Monaco Hotels to Nice Airport: $65
  • Nice Airport Transfers : Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van: $124
  • Nice Airport Transfers : Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Car: $157
  • Nice Airport Transfers : Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Business Car: $108
  • Monaco Transfer: Monaco Cruise Port to Nice Airport: $80
  • Monaco Private Transfer from Monaco-Ville to Nice Airport: $174
  • Departure Private Transfers from Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE in Luxury Van: $118
  • Departure Private Transfers from Monaco City to Nice Airport NCE: $98
  • Between Monaco and Nice: Single Helicopter Transfer: $199

Is it cheaper to fly into Palma de Mallorca or Monaco?

Prices for flights to both Monaco 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Palma de Mallorca 45
    Monaco 53
Typical Food prices in Palma de Mallorca

For Palma de Mallorca, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Soda
    2.50

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:

  • Palma: Walking Food Tour: $97
  • Show Cooking Paella: $124

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Palma de Mallorca 34
    Monaco 23

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:

  • Alcudia Open Bus City Tour in Mallorca: $21
  • Palma de Mallorca Sightseeing Day Tour: $24
  • El Arenal, Mallorca: Bay of Palma Boat Tour: $27
  • Full-Day Tour with Departure Options: $29
  • Mallorca: Bike Tour Off-the-Beaten-Track: $43
  • Palma de Mallorca Segway Ninebot Tour: $56
  • Express Tour to Drach Caves and Portocristo: $60
  • Palma: 2-Hour Segway Tour: $63
  • From 5-Hour Catamaran Cruise: $64
  • Segway Old Town Tour in Alcudia: $77
  • Segway Lake Tour in Alcudia: $77
  • Mallorca Coasteering Adventure: $79

Typical Entertainment prices in Monaco

Here are a few typical costs in Monaco for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Grand Prix for Two
    101

Tours and Activities in Monaco

Here are a few actual costs in Monaco for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3 hours Deluxe Sightdriving tour: $926
  • 30 Minute Ferrari California T Sports Car Experience from Monaco: $290
  • Beautiful Nice only for you sightseeing from Monaco: $648
  • Cannes, Antibes and Nice Private Tour from Monaco: $750
  • Cities of artists in Provence sightseeing tour from Monaco: $778
  • Double Supercar Driving Experience from Monaco: $1,004
  • French Riviera Private Half-Day Tour: $363
  • French Riviera Sunset Boat Cruise: $859
  • French Riviera Tour: $1,021
  • French Riviera: 2-Hour Private Boat Cruise: $837
  • From Cannes: Monaco Small Group Night Tour: $96
  • From Nice: 1-Day Tour Côte d'Azur Extraordinary Houses: $735

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Palma de Mallorca 29
    Monaco 26
Typical Alcohol prices in Palma de Mallorca

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:


  • Coffee
    3.10

Sample the Local Flavors in Palma de Mallorca

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Palma de Mallorca:

  • Wine Tasting Tour: $111

Sample the Local Flavors in Monaco

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

  • Authentic Wine Tasting Experience: $48
  • Monaco Shore Excursion: Private Tour of Nice and Eze with Wine Tasting: $657
  • Private St-Jeannet, St-Paul-de-Vence, and Wine Tour from Monaco: $843


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Palma de Mallorca and Monaco, we can see that Monaco is more expensive. And not only is Palma de Mallorca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Palma de Mallorca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palma de Mallorca 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 Monaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Monaco than you might in Palma de Mallorca.

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Palma de Mallorca vs. Monaco Travel Comparison

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