Should you visit Portimao or Montpellier?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Portimao and Montpellier. 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.
Montpellier
Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and also has been the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. Graceful and easy-going, Montpellier is a stylish metropolis with elegant buildings, grand hotels, private mansions, stately boulevards and shady backstreets, and gorgeous white-sand beaches on its doorstep. Unlike many southern towns, Montpellier has no Roman heritage. Instead it was founded in the 10th century by the counts of Toulouse and later became a prosperous trading port as well as a scholarly center - Europe's first medical school was established here in the 12th century. The population swelled in the 1960s when many French settlers left independent Algeria and relocated here, and it's now France's fastest-growing city and one of its most multicultural areas. Students make up over a third of the population, giving it a spirited vibe.
Which city is cheaper, Montpellier 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 Montpellier is €84. 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 Montpellier 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 €90 for a double occupancy room in Montpellier.
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.
In Montpellier travelers spend around €25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Portimao €36
Montpellier €25
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 Montpellier
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montpellier.
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Montpellier countryside dinner with local food & wine:
$81
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Vintage private wine and food tour from Montpellier:
$180
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.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €21 per day to get around in Montpellier.
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 Montpellier
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montpellier:
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Departure Transfer Montpellier to Montpellier Airport MPL by Private Vehicle:
$26
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Private Transfer: Montpellier Airport (MPL) to Montpellier:
$62
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Private Transfer: Montpellier to Montpellier Airport (MPL):
$62
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Montpellier Private Transfer from Montpellier city centre to Montpellier Airport:
$84
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Transfer Montpelier Airport to Nimes City or Nimes Airport:
$224
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Transfer Montpelier Airport to Avignon:
$411
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Montpellier?
Prices for flights to both Montpellier 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.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €9.71 per person, per day in Montpellier. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
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 Montpellier
Here are a few actual costs in Montpellier for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Private Montpellier Ghost Tour: Haunted City Center Exploration Game:
$4.96
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Noilly Prat Vermouth Cellar Tour and Tastings in Marseillan:
$22
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Montpellier Self-Guided Walking Tour with Qula City Trails:
$36
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Montpellier 1-Hour Old City Segway Tour:
$38
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Vermouth and Gastronomy Tasting Tour in Marseillan:
$39
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From Half-day Pic Saint Loup Wine Experience:
$48
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Montpelier Discovery : Big Historic Tour - 1h30:
$50
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Segway Tour of the Old and New Montpellier:
$62
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the winetour from montpellier to pic saint loup:
$68
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Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Wine and Olive Tour from Montpellier:
$73
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Taste of Montpellier Food and Sighseeing Tour:
$81
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Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Wine and Oyster Tour from Montpellier:
$86
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 Montpellier may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €12 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 Montpellier
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Montpellier:
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Hike to the top of "Pic Saint Loup" and a wine tasting:
$68
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Small-Group Half-Day Languedoc Pic Saint-Loup Wine Tour from Montpellier:
$81
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Small-Group Half-Day Châteaux of Montpellier Wine Tour:
$81
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Private tour: Exclusive Wine Tour in Languedoc from Montpellier:
$336
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Montpellier, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Montpellier much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Montpellier would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montpellier 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 Montpellier.
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