Should you visit Paphos or Marbella?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos 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.
Paphos
Located on the southwestern tip of Cyprus, Paphos has many different archaeological sights and it is renowned as the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The town is situated between the coast and the Troodos Mountains and it has grown in recent years as a tourist destination. As such, the local government has made efforts to improve the quality of the tourism infrastructure including investing in hotels, restaurants and transportation. There is also a commercial center to the city as well as a newly built "promenade" that travels from the marina along a long coastal path. This route offers excellent views, especially during the morning or evening hours when the sun is low.
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 Paphos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Paphos is €77, 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 Paphos and Marbella in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Paphos is about €74 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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
The price of a meal in Paphos can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €30 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €12 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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
Paphos €30
Marbella €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paphos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paphos.
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Traditional Cuisine & Cultural Flavours - City Walking Food Tour Paphos 2.5hrs:
$59
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Sea Star Evening Dinner and Fireworks Cruise from Paphos:
$73
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
The cost of a taxi ride in Paphos is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €9.29 per person, per day, on local transportation in Paphos.
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.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paphos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paphos:
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Transfer Paphos Airport PFO to Limassol:
$75
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Shared transfer from Paphos Town to Paphos Airport PFO:
$12
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Shared transfer from Coral Bay to Paphos Airport PFO:
$14
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Shared shuttle transfer from Paphos Airport to Hotels:
$13
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Shared shuttle transfer from Hotels to Paphos Airport:
$13
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Shared airport transfer Paphos Airport - Paphos Town:
$11
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Shared Transfer from Paphos Airport to Coral Bay:
$14
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Shared Departure Transfer: Paphos or Limassol Hotels to Paphos Airport:
$16
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Shared Arrival Transfer: Paphos Airport to Paphos or Limassol Hotels:
$16
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Private Transfer from Paphos to Larnaca Airport LCA in 4 seater Taxi:
$151
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Private Transfer from Paphos Airport to Larnaca in Minivan(Taxi):
$218
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Private Departure Transfer: Cyprus Hotels to Paphos Airport:
$26
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Marbella?
Prices for flights to both Marbella and Paphos 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
Entertainment and activities in Paphos typically cost an average of €9.56 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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 Paphos
Here are a few actual costs in Paphos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Hour Tour to Local Radio in Paphos with Live Radio Show:
$50
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Akamas 4x4 Adventure:
$197
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All in Paphos big photo tour!:
$398
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Authentic Cyprus Historic Day Tour from Paphos:
$32
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Blue Lagoon Day Cruise from Paphos:
$83
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Cruise and 4X4 Safari Tour at Akamas Peninsula from Paphos:
$106
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Fireworks Night Cruise from Paphos:
$81
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Full-day Famagusta, Varosha, and Salamis Tour from Paphos:
$47
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Grand Tour Jeep Safari - Kykkos Monastery (From Paphos):
$93
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Guided tour “Love stories of Paphos”:
$496
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Half Day BBQ Lunch Cruise from Paphos:
$58
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Halloumi Heaven ( Cheese-Making Workshop & Tour):
$112
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
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Paphos may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €7.98 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Marbella spend on average €4.57 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Paphos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paphos:
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WINE TOUR from Paphos:
$372
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 Paphos and Marbella, we can see that Marbella is more expensive. And not only is Paphos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Paphos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paphos 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 Paphos.
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