Should you visit Portimao or Lagos?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Lagos. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Portimao
The second biggest city in the Alrgarve region of Portugal, Portimao sits on the coast where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its fresh fish restaurants and is also a popular destination for beachgoers at the Praia da Rocha to the south of the city.
Lagos
A coastal town in the south of Portugal, Lagos is known for its old world charm, plummeting cliffs, and Atlantic beaches. Many come to enjoy a full range of activities from beach-going and watersports to exploring cobbled streets lined with options for shopping and dining. Historic churches and castles add to the charm, as well as a clifftop lighthouse showing the way to Lagos for ships at sea.
Which city is cheaper, Lagos or Portimao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €121, while the average daily cost in Lagos is €94. 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 Portimao and Lagos in more detail.
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €124 for a double occupancy room in Portimao.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about €98 for a double occupancy room in Lagos.
Food
The price of a meal in Portimao can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €36 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €14 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Lagos food costs typically run travelers around €27 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
Portimao €36
Lagos €27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
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Portimão - Food Tour:
$96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lagos
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lagos.
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Dinner + Jazz At The Metaphor in Lagos:
$80
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Classic Food Tour - Lagos:
$93
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €30 per day to get around in Portimao.
The cost of a taxi ride in Lagos is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €25 per person, per day, on local transportation in Lagos.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
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Airport Transfer:
$94
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Faro Airport Private Transfer to or from Portimão/Praia da Rocha:
$88
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Faro Private Transfer to or from Portimão:
$44
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Faro Shared Transfer to or from Portimão:
$38
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Private Transfer from Hotel da Rocha to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
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Private Transfer from Portimao to Faro (FAO) Airport:
$96
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Transfer Portimão - Alamos Golf (Portimão) Pending:
$36
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Transfer Portimão - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
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Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira):
$62
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Transfer Portimão - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$52
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$36
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Transfer Praia da Rocha - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lagos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lagos:
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Lagos Shared Departure Transfer to Faro:
$26
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Transfer Lagos - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$40
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Transfer Praia da Luz - Boavista Golf (Lagos):
$40
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Transfer Lagos - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$44
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Transfer Praia da Luz - Alto Golf Pestana (Alvor):
$44
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Faro Shared Transfer to or from Lagos:
$45
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Faro Private Transfer to or from Lagos:
$51
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Airport Transfer One Way:
$53
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Private Transfer Lagos Airport LOG to Ikeja-Ikoyi-Victoria Island - Business Car:
$58
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Private Transfer Ikeja-Ikoyi-Victoria Island to Lagos Airport LOG - Business Car:
$58
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Transfer Lagos - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$58
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Transfer Praia da Luz - Alamos Golf (Portimão):
$62
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Lagos?
Prices for flights to both Lagos and Portimao 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
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €33 per person, per day in Portimao. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Entertainment and activities in Lagos typically cost an average of €21 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
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2 Hours Portimão Walking Tour:
$20
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Benagil Caves Tours:
$25
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1 Hour - Express tour to Benagil Cave:
$28
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Tour to Benagil caves and others:
$31
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Morning Caves Expedition Tour from Portimao:
$35
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Benagil Boat Tour with Local Guide:
$35
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Benagil Caves Tour from Portimao:
$37
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Sunset Benagil Tour - relax your vacations:
$37
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Benagil Cave and Marinha Beach Boat Tour from Portimao:
$37
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2.5-Hour Cruise to Benagil Caves From Portimão:
$37
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Magical Benagil Cave Cruise:
$38
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Algarve Jeep Safari tours:
$38
Tours and Activities in Lagos
Here are a few actual costs in Lagos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Hour Lagos Historical Tour:
$14
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Brodie's Historical and Fun Lagos Walking Tour:
$19
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Grotto tour Ponta da Piedade Lagos:
$19
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Lagos Walking Tour with Local Historian:
$19
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Lagos Zoo Entrance Ticket:
$21
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Explore Ponta da Piedade on a Boat Tour:
$21
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Lagos Zoo Admission Ticket:
$22
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Tour to go inside the Ponta da Piedade Caves/Grottos and see the beaches - Lagos:
$22
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Ponta da Piedade Boat Tour with Local Guide:
$23
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Ponta da Piedade Grotto Tour in Lagos, Algarve:
$25
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Ponta da Piedade Cruise to Caves and Beaches with Local Guide:
$25
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Ponta da Piedade: 2-Hour Boat Cruise:
$29
Alcohol
The average person spends about €24 on alcoholic beverages in Portimao per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Lagos may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €5.43 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
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Portimão & Carvoeiro: Algarve Wine Tour in a VW T2 Van:
$57
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Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates:
$72
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Algarve wine tour of two wine estates and lunch at hystorical town of Silves:
$112
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Algarve Wine Tour and Mountain Discovery With Lunch at Mountain Top:
$144
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Alentejo Wine Tour from the Algarve:
$207
Sample the Local Flavors in Lagos
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lagos:
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Algarve Wine Tour in a VW T2 Van:
$57
-
Algarve: Jeep Safari with Distillery Visit & Lunch:
$65
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Small-Group Day Tour of Silves and Monchique with Wine Tasting:
$69
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Silves, Caldas and Monchique Wine Tasting: Full Day Tour:
$74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Lagos, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Lagos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lagos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lagos 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 Portimao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portimao than you might in Lagos.
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