Which place is cheaper, Funchal or Thessaloniki?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Thessaloniki or Funchal?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Funchal? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Thessaloniki or Funchal?
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece and serves as the capital city of the Central Macedonia region. It also has a rich history dating back more than 3,000 years. As a visitor, you'll find that the city has been touched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, all of which left their mark. In particular, the many Byzantine churches are quite impressive, with some of them listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Funchal
Funchal is the capital city of the autonomous region of Madeira on the island of Madeira. The city is located to the south between the cities of Santa Cruz and Camara de Lobos. It is actually named for the fennel plant which grows liberally on the island. The city was most significant as a shipping center between the 15th and 17th centuries. Today it has a population of over 100,000 people and is, arguably, one of the most picturesque cities in Portugal. It's appeal as a tourist destination has made it the leading Portuguese port for cruise line dockings.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Greece, The Best Contiki Tours to Greece, The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayThessaloniki €134Funchal €93
The average daily cost (per person) in Thessaloniki is €134, while the average daily cost in Funchal 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Thessaloniki and Funchal in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personThessaloniki €79Funchal €52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomThessaloniki €158Funchal €104
Compare Hotels in Thessaloniki and Funchal
Looking for a hotel in Thessaloniki or Funchal? 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: Thessaloniki Hotel Prices and Funchal Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Thessaloniki €13Funchal €9.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Thessaloniki
Also for Thessaloniki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Private Day Trip to Meteora with Transfer: $428
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer from Kavala to Sofia (SOF) Airport: $237
- Transfer from Thessaloniki to Ikos Oceania: $153
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG): Transfer to Thessaloniki Port: $142
- Thessaloniki Cruise Port: Transfer to Thessaloniki city: $142
- Thessaloniki Airport to Alia Palace Hotel Private Transfer: $131
- Private Transfer to Thessaloniki Airport from Thessaloniki City: $120
- Thessaloniki Airport to Afitis Boutique Hotel Private Transfer: $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Ammon Zeus Hotel : $109
- Private Transfer from Thessaloniki Airport to Sani Resort: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer and Hiking PR8 Sao Lourenço : $44
- Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $35
- Sunrise Transfer to Hike Pico Areeiro to Pico Ruivo: $71
- Private Transfer from Madeira Airport(FNC) to Madeira Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer from Funchal airport to Madeira south area: $59
- Private Transfer from Funchal Airport to Madeira Island: $123
- Private Transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport to Funchal Hotels: $69
- Private One way Transfer Madeira Airport to or from Funchal: $22
- Premium Transfer Madeira Airport - Funchal: $44
- PR18 Levada do Rei Private transfer: $71
- Minibus Transfer: Funchal - Madeira Airport: $38
- Madeira airport transfer for up to 8 people: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Thessaloniki or Funchal?
Prices for flights to both Funchal and Thessaloniki 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 dayThessaloniki €42Funchal €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Open Market Food Tour with Tasting: $48
- Walking Open Market Food Tour and Tasting: $49
- Cooking & Dining Experience with Greek Family: $63
- Guided Food Tour: $70
- Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $71
- Private Walking Tour Gastronomic Food Tour in Thessaloniki: $87
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $95
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $95
- Greek Cooking Class, Market Visit and Lunch: $95
- Traditional Greek Food Tour With A Local: $97
- Greek Ouzo and Meze Food Tour: $97
- Greek Cooking Class, Market visit and Lunch: $97
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
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Coffee€1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Funchal
For Funchal, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Walking Food Tour Around Funchal: $31
- Madeira Nights Tour - Dinner and Show: $41
- Sunset Tour to Pico do Arieiro with Dinner and Drinks included: $76
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
- Gourmet Wine & Food Tour: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Thessaloniki €26Funchal €15
Tours and Activities in Thessaloniki
For Thessaloniki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-Hour Thessaloniki Jewish Heritage Private Guided Tour: $207
- Archery Odyssey Traditional Archery Experience: $65
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $218
- Best of Private Guided Tour: $192
- Charming pearls of Thessaloniki – Romantic Tour: $153
- City Sightseeing Thessaloniki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $17
- Daily Cruise:Discover Thessaloniki in a different way: $1,069
- Daily Sailing Cruise Olympus Riviera Highlights: $122
- Day Tour at Royal Tombs of Aigai and Museum of Pella with pickup: $93
- Dion and Palaios Panteleimon Myth and History Tour: $153
- Dion-Olympus Private Tour from Thessaloniki: $96
- Discover Olympus from Paralia in Jeep Safari Shared Tour: $76
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Low Cost Wheelchair Handicap Half Day Tour, Fully Accessible Tour : $76
- “Le tour de Churchill” - From Funchal to Câmara de Lobos: $58
- Magnificent East Tour: $33
- 4 Hours Adventure Jeep Tour in Central Madeira Portugal: $47
- 4x4 Jeep Safari Porto Moniz - the "Farowest" tour - Full Day Small Groups : $71
- Accessible Half Day Tour Cabo Girão: $120
- Adventure Trikes Private Tour in Madeira : $158
- Amazing East Tour : $31
- Amazing West - Jeep Safari Tour - Full Day: $60
- Arieiro Peak, Santo da Serra and Cristo Rei 4x4 Experience: $49
- Around The Island - Two Days Tour From 9am To 5pm (Each Day): $65
- Around the island - Two days tour: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayThessaloniki €15Funchal €16
Sample the Local Flavors in Thessaloniki
Also in Thessaloniki, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Friday Night Bar Crawl in Thessaloniki: $25
- From Pella-Edessa wine tasting: $64
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $81
- Thessaloniki Small-Group Wine Tasting Tour with Appetizers: $83
- Winery Visit with Wine Tasting Experience: $91
- Wine Tasting Experience from Thessaloniki: $93
- Thessaloniki to Naoussa, Wine Tasting Tour – Private Day Trip: $207
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Skywalk and 4x4 Adventure with Amazing Views and Wine Tasting: $49
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $53
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $53
- Wine tasting and Jeep Adventure in Madeira's Majestic Countryside: $56
- Pub Crawl: $59
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $86
- Amazing Skywalk, Wine Tasting & 4x4 Adventure + Dolphin Watching: $97
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $98
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $102
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $109
- Wine Tour by Overland Madeira: $150
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $158
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Thessaloniki and Funchal, we can see that Thessaloniki is more expensive. And not only is Funchal much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Funchal would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Funchal 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 Thessaloniki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Thessaloniki than you might in Funchal.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Thessaloniki Expensive? and Is Funchal Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Thessaloniki or Funchal?
Thessaloniki has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Thessaloniki and Funchal, 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 Thessaloniki or Funchal?
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Funchal in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Thessaloniki and Funchal. The summer months attract visitors to Thessaloniki because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Thessaloniki is a little warmer than Funchal in the summer. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 25°C (77°F) in July, and Funchal fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Funchal this time of the year. In Thessaloniki, it's very sunny this time of the year. Thessaloniki usually receives more sunshine than Funchal during summer. Thessaloniki gets 327 hours of sunny skies, while Funchal receives 227 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Thessaloniki usually receives more rain than Funchal. Thessaloniki gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyThessaloniki 25°C (77°F)Funchal 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Funchal in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Thessaloniki as well as Funchal. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Thessaloniki this time of year.
In the autumn, Thessaloniki is cooler than Funchal. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Thessaloniki in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Funchal averages at about 21°C (70°F).
In the autumn, Thessaloniki often gets less sunshine than Funchal. Thessaloniki gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Funchal receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Funchal. Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in October than Funchal. Thessaloniki gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberThessaloniki 16°C (61°F)Funchal 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Funchal in the Winter?
Both Funchal and Thessaloniki are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Thessaloniki for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Thessaloniki is generally much colder than Funchal. Daily temperatures in Thessaloniki average around 5°C (41°F), and Funchal fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
Thessaloniki usually receives less sunshine than Funchal during winter. Thessaloniki gets 101 hours of sunny skies, while Funchal receives 141 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. In January, Thessaloniki usually receives less rain than Funchal. Thessaloniki gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryThessaloniki 5°C (41°F)Funchal 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Thessaloniki or Funchal in the Spring?
Both Funchal and Thessaloniki during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Thessaloniki in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Thessaloniki is cooler than Funchal in the spring. The daily temperature in Thessaloniki averages around 13°C (56°F) in April, and Funchal fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In the spring, Thessaloniki often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Funchal. Thessaloniki gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Funchal receives 182 hours of full sun.
Thessaloniki usually gets less rain in April than Funchal. Thessaloniki gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Funchal receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilThessaloniki 13°C (56°F)Funchal 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Funchal and Thessaloniki
| Thessaloniki | Funchal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Feb | 7°C (44°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (56°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 18°C (65°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Sep | 21°C (70°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (44°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 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.