Which place is cheaper, Malaga or Playa Blanca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Playa Blanca or Malaga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Playa Blanca and Malaga can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Playa Blanca or Malaga?
Playa Blanca
Located on the southern tip of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Playa Blanca is a resort area popular with families and couples seeking a quieter vacation alternative to the lively neighbor resort of Puerto del Carmen. The resort's white sandy beaches are peaceful and sheltered from the higher winds found on other parts of the island. Timanfaya National Park is also nearby, as well as a number of other spectacular volcanic features.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Bicycle Tours in Spain, The Best Adventure Tours to Spain, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPlaya Blanca €155Malaga €140
The average daily cost (per person) in Playa Blanca is €155, while the average daily cost in Malaga is €140. 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 Playa Blanca and Malaga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPlaya Blanca €81Malaga €75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPlaya Blanca €162Malaga €150
Compare Hotels in Playa Blanca and Malaga
Looking for a hotel in Playa Blanca or Malaga? 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: Playa Blanca Hotel Prices and Malaga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Playa Blanca €49Malaga €31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Malaga Fuengirola or Marbella: $55
- Vip Private Transfer from Malaga Airport to Gibraltar Border: $164
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to Costa del Sol Hotels (Any Hotel): $42
- TRANSFER MALAGA AIRPORT from OR to ESTEPONA-PRICE ALL INCLUSIVE: $125
- Private Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport (AGP): $33
- Private Transfer from/to Seville to/from Malaga & Stop Alhambra: $230
- Private Transfer from/to Motril to/from Malaga with private driver: $159
- Private Transfer from airport to Malaga : $69
- Private Transfer from Torrequebrada to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $57
- Private Transfer from Torremuelle to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $57
- Private Transfer from Torremolinos to Malaga (AGP) airport: $39
- Private Transfer from Sitio de Calahonda to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Playa Blanca or Malaga?
Prices for flights to both Malaga and Playa Blanca 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 dayPlaya Blanca €45Malaga €35
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.
- Dinner and Show at Alegría Flamenco & Restaurant in Malaga: $65
- Malaga Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $86
- Malaga Tapas Cooking Class: $89
- Sardines On Skewers Show Cooking in Malaga beach: $147
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Playa Blanca €20Malaga €31
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
- Sealife Benalmadena Entrance Ticket: $21
- Winery and Olive Mill Guided and Tasting Tour with Tapas: $120
- 1 Hour Buggy Safari Experience in the Mountains of Mijas with Guide: $87
- 1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour: $16
- 1h buggy tour: $115
- 2 Hour Family Buggy Tour, Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $164
- 2 Hour Quad/ATV Tour Off-Road Adventure in Mijas: $142
- 2 Hours Buggy Safari Experience in the Mountains of Mijas with Guide: $125
- 2 Hours Kayak Tour in Cerro Gordo Natural Park, La Herradura: $28
- 2-Hour French Guided Walking Tour in Malaga: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPlaya Blanca €9.29Malaga €22
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
- Guided Cellar Tour and wine tasting: $35
- Frigiliana Small-Group Hike and Wine Tasting Tour from Malaga: $60
- Sun and Wine Route - Small group, wine tasting and lunch included: $76
- Malaga Food Walking Tour with Tapas & Wine Tasting: $98
- Ronda Tour & Winery Experience with Wine Tasting from Malaga: $109
- Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour: $136
When comparing the travel costs between Playa Blanca and Malaga, we can see that Playa Blanca 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. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa Blanca Expensive? and Is Malaga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Playa Blanca or Malaga?
Malaga has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Playa Blanca. When comparing the sizes of Playa Blanca and Malaga, 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 Playa Blanca or Malaga?
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 Playa Blanca or Malaga in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Playa Blanca as well as Malaga. Additionally, many travelers come to Malaga for the beaches, snorkeling, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Playa Blanca is around the same temperature as Malaga in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 23°C (73°F) in July, and Malaga fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Malaga. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa Blanca this time of the year. In the summer, Playa Blanca often gets less sunshine than Malaga. Playa Blanca gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malaga receives 348 hours of full sun.
Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in July than Malaga. Playa Blanca gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPlaya Blanca 23°C (73°F)Malaga 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Playa Blanca or Malaga in the Autumn?
Both Malaga and Playa Blanca are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Malaga in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Playa Blanca is a little warmer than Malaga. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa Blanca in October average around 22°C (72°F), and Malaga averages at about 19°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Malaga. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Malaga during autumn. Playa Blanca gets 224 hours of sunny skies, while Malaga receives 213 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Malaga. Playa Blanca gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPlaya Blanca 22°C (72°F)Malaga 19°C (67°F)
Should I visit Playa Blanca or Malaga in the Winter?
Both Malaga and Playa Blanca during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Malaga for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.
In January, Playa Blanca is generally a little warmer than Malaga. Daily temperatures in Playa Blanca average around 17°C (63°F), and Malaga fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
It's quite sunny in Playa Blanca. In the winter, Playa Blanca often gets more sunshine than Malaga. Playa Blanca gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malaga receives 171 hours of full sun.
Playa Blanca usually gets less rain in January than Malaga. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPlaya Blanca 17°C (63°F)Malaga 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Playa Blanca or Malaga in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa Blanca and Malaga. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Malaga because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
Playa Blanca is a little warmer than Malaga in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa Blanca averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Malaga fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Malaga this time of the year. In Playa Blanca, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa Blanca usually receives more sunshine than Malaga during spring. Playa Blanca gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Malaga receives 220 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Playa Blanca usually receives less rain than Malaga. Playa Blanca gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Malaga receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPlaya Blanca 19°C (66°F)Malaga 16°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Malaga and Playa Blanca
| Playa Blanca | Malaga | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 17°C (63°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Mar | 18°C (64°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 22°C (72°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 102 mm (4 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.