Which place is cheaper, Madeira Islands or Funchal?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Funchal or Madeira Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Madeira Islands? 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 Madeira Islands?
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.
Madeira Islands
Madeira, Portugal is an archipelago consisting of four islands, each covered with lush vegetation and mountainous landscapes. Madeira is famous for its fresh fish and namesake Madeira wine, which can be found throughout the main island. This area is the perfect blend of relaxing beaches and thrill-inducing activities such as paragliding and mountain biking. Portuguese is the main language here, although English is spoken widely by those in the tourism industry.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lisbon, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Lisbon.
-
Funchal Prices
Portugal PricesMadeira Islands Prices
Portugal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €116Madeira Islands €49,816
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €116, while the average daily cost in Madeira Islands is €49,816. 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 Madeira Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Madeira Islands €23,804
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Madeira Islands €
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2805
46
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Madeira Islands
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Madeira Islands? 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 Madeira Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Madeira Islands €4,784
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Madeira Islands?
Prices for flights to both Madeira Islands 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
-
Food Meals for one dayFunchal €54Madeira Islands €16,907
Typical Food Prices in Funchal
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Funchal:
-
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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Madeira Islands €13,949
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Madeira Islands €3,505
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Madeira Islands, we can see that Madeira Islands 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 Madeira Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Madeira Islands 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 Madeira Islands Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Funchal or Madeira Islands?
Madeira Islands has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Funchal. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Madeira Islands, 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.