Which place is cheaper, La Spezia or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Funchal or La Spezia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or La Spezia? 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: Funchal or La Spezia?
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.
La Spezia
Located on the coast beside the Ligurian Sea, La Spezia is known for its military and commercial harbors hosting the arsenal of the Italian Navy. It is also well connected by rail and by boat to Cinque Terre National Park - a unique collection of five medieval villages along the coastline - as well as other coastal towns of the region. Other attractions include a number of museums as well as an annual boat race called Palio de Golfo.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.
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Funchal Prices
Portugal PricesLa Spezia Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €116La Spezia €235
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €116, while the average daily cost in La Spezia is €235. 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 Funchal and La Spezia in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52La Spezia €109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104La Spezia €218
Compare Hotels in Funchal and La Spezia
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or La Spezia? 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: Funchal Hotel Prices and La Spezia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94La Spezia €41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Pico do Arieiro Self-Guided Hike (Morning slot): $36
- Transfer to Caldeirão Verde Levada Self-Guided Hike Queimadas: $39
- Transfer Sunrise Self-Guided Hike Pico do Arieiro : $39
- Transfer Rabacal 25 Fontes & Risco Levada Self-Guided: $40
- Transfer Privado e Confiável: Aeroporto → Funchal (ou vice-versa): $21
- Self Guided Transfer to Ponta de São Lourenço Natural Reserve: $36
- Private Transfer from Madeira North area resorts to Madeira Funchal airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Funchal airport to Madeira south area: $73
- Private Transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport to Funchal Hotels: $75
- Private Transfer Madeira Airport: $30
- Minibus Transfer: Madeira Airport - Funchal: $52
- Madeira: PR8 -Ponta de São Lourenço Natural Reserve Transfer: $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Spezia
Also for La Spezia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre and Return to the Ship: $299
- Arrival Private Transfer La Spezia to Genoa by Business or Luxury Vehicle: $278
- Private Transfer La Spezia to Pisa by Business or Luxury Vehicle: $222
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Cruise Port to Pisa Airport (PSA): $210
- La Spezia Cruise Port to Pisa Intl Airport (PSA) - Departure Private Transfer: $210
- Private Transfer from La Spezia to Cinque Terre by car or van: $155
- La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134
- Guided Tour of Florence & Pisa with Bus Transfer: $87
- La Spezia Cruise Port to La Spezia hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $67
- Private Transfer from La Spezia hotels to La Spezia Port: $67
- La Spezia to La Spezia Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $67
- Private Transfer from La Spezia Port to La Spezia Hotels: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or La Spezia?
Prices for flights to both La Spezia and Funchal 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 dayFunchal €54La Spezia €96
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: $33
- Madeiran Traditional Dinner: $95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Spezia
For La Spezia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste Cinque Terre on a Full Meal Food Tour: $99
- Small-Group Street Food Tour: $104
- Sunset Cruise with Aperitif and Dinner: $105
- Taste Cinque Terre on a Food Tour by Do Eat Better: $106
- Tour of Apericena at Sunset and Dinner on Boat: $108
- La Spezia. Sunset Aperitif and Dinner on the Boat: $115
- Cesarine: Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in La Spezia: $118
- La Spezia Cinque Terre Food Tour: $136
- Private Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $169
- Sunset dinner boat tour in the Gulf of Poets: $169
- Cesarine: Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in La Spezia: $173
- Cooking Class and Home Restaurant Experience: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15La Spezia €39
Tours and Activities in Funchal
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Funchal.
- Low Cost Wheelchair Santana Half Day Tour : $179
- Wheelchair Full Day Tour Porto Moniz E Sao Vicente : $208
- Wheelchair Porto Moniz Handicap Tour: $179
- 25 Fountains Levada: Hiking Tour in Madeira Rabaçal Valley (PR6): $55
- 4x4 Full-Day Tour to Explore Portugal's Scents and Flavors: $69
- 4x4 Jeep Safari Porto Moniz - the "Farowest" tour - Full Day Small Groups : $77
- 8-Hour Luxury Cruise from Funchal to Ponta de São Lourenço: $2,173
- Achada do Teixeira to Pico Ruivo in Madeira (PR1.2) - Hiking Tour: $55
- Adventure Trikes Private Tour in Madeira : $173
- Agriculture Green Tour : $102
- Amazing East Tour : $36
- Amazing Sunset (Private tour): $262
Tours and Activities in La Spezia
For La Spezia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Cinque Terre Private Wine And Views Tour: $298
- Giraffe Boat Tour Unique Experience Beyond 5 Terre: $178
- La Spezia Walking Tour: History, Panoramic Views, & Museum: $49
- Pisa Tour by bus: $60
- 3 Hour One-Way Boat Tour from La Spezia to Monterosso: $114
- 3 Hours Sunset Boat Tour to Golfo dei Poeti Shared: $143
- 4-Hour E-Bike Guided Tour of the Tellaro and Montemarcello Villages: $119
- 5 LANDS LUXURY BOAT TOUR: $1,388
- Best Florence and Pisa Excursion from La Spezia Cruise Port: $87
- Best Florence and Pisa Tour for Cruise Visitors from La Spezia: $102
- Best One Day Florence and Pisa Tour from your Cruise Ship: $96
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $107
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16La Spezia €35
Sample the Local Flavors in Funchal
Also in Funchal, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Portuguese Wine Tasting with Sommelier: $40
- Half day jeep Wine tour and tasting, & sea cliff adventure: $62
- Bestselling Wine Tour, Tasting Experience & Skywalk 4x4 Adventure: $63
- Half-Day Wine Tour- Shared: $89
- Shore Excursion: Private Madeira Tour & Wine Tasting: $93
- Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour: $107
- Tuk Tuk Wine Tour - Madeira Island: $112
- Weekends Madeira Wine Tasting São Vicente: $119
- Visiting local Vineyard With Wine Tasting & Lunch included: $208
Sample the Local Flavors in La Spezia
Also in La Spezia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- From Hiking in the Cinque Terre with wine tasting and light lunch: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and La Spezia, we can see that La Spezia 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 La Spezia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Spezia 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 Funchal Expensive? and Is La Spezia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or La Spezia?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of La Spezia. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and La Spezia, 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.