Which place is cheaper, Los Cristianos or Portimao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Portimao or Los Cristianos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Portimao and Los Cristianos. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Portimao or Los Cristianos?
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.
Los Cristianos
Picture your ultimate beach vacation. It probably consists of sand, sun and the most pristine resorts to pamper and spoil you. You've just dreamed up a place that actually exists - Los Cristianos. Located in the south of the Canary Island of Tenerife, Los Cristianos is one of the most popular tourist centers in this area, and for good reason. This area knows how to treat vacationers. The sea is a way of life in this area of the world, and that's apparent everywhere you look. Harbor tours, fishing trips and dolphin watching excursions are being advertised everywhere you look - all ready to give you the Los Cristianos experience.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPortimao €152Los Cristianos €125
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €152, while the average daily cost in Los Cristianos is €125. 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 Portimao and Los Cristianos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPortimao €78Los Cristianos €57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPortimao €156Los Cristianos €114
Compare Hotels in Portimao and Los Cristianos
Looking for a hotel in Portimao or Los Cristianos? 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: Portimao Hotel Prices and Los Cristianos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Portimao €37Los Cristianos €49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
- Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $59
- Transfer Lagoa - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $60
- Transfer Lagoa - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $41
- Transfer Lagoa - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $34
- Transfer From Portimão Algarve To Lisboa: $244
- Transfer Ferragudo - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $49
- Transfer Ferragudo - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $41
- Transfer Ferragudo - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $34
- Transfer Carvoeiro - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $47
- Transfer Armação de Pêra - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $34
- Transfer Alvor - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $49
- Transfer Alvor - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Los Cristianos?
Prices for flights to both Los Cristianos 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPortimao €45Los Cristianos €38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
- Algarve wine tour and mountain top trip with lunch or dinner at sunset time: $147
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Portimao €41Los Cristianos €23
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
- Kayak Tours to Benagil & Marine caves - From Benagil Beach: $38
- Portimão to Benagil: Adrenaline Wave - 90Mins Cave Tour: $25
- 1 Hour and 30 Minutes Benagil Caves Kayak Tour: $36
- 2 Hours Cruise Portimão to Benagil Cave & Marinha Beach: $27
- Afternoon Sailing and Caves Tour from Portimao: $39
- Albufeira - Salgados Reserve Segway Tour: $65
- Algarve - Exclusive horseriding in Portimao (no experience required): $55
- Algarve Coast Guided Boat Tour: $38
- Algarve Jeep Safari tours: $49
- Alone in Benagil, perfect pictures Kayak tour with @StarToursAlgarve: $60
- Benagil & Marinha Boat Tour: $38
- Benagil Cave Guided Kayaking Tour Caves & Secret Spots : $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPortimao €30Los Cristianos €7.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
- Algarve Wine Tasting & Music Experience: $60
- Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates: $74
- Algarve wine tour of 2 wine estates and lunch at the countryside: $154
- Alentejo Wine Tour from the Algarve: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Los Cristianos, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Los Cristianos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Los Cristianos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Los Cristianos 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 Los Cristianos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Portimao Expensive? and Is Los Cristianos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Portimao or Los Cristianos?
Portimao has a larger population, and is about 1670 times larger than the population of Los Cristianos. When comparing the sizes of Portimao and Los Cristianos, 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.
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.