Which place is cheaper, Positano 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 Positano?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Funchal or Positano? 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 Positano?
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.
Positano
Located on the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is a very scenic town that offers spectacular coastal views. The town sits on the edge of a hill and flows down toward the sea. Because of its dramatic beauty, Positano attracts thousands of visitors year around.
The town dates back to medieval times when it was a port for the Amalfi Republic. It thrived throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries but by the mid-nineteenth century its prosperity was falling. During those times more than half of the population left, migrating predominantly to America. During the 1950s the town gained popularity as a tourist destination, in part because of John Steinbeck's essay about the area in Harper's Bazaar (May, 1953).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Portugal, The Best G Adventures Tours to Portugal, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Italy, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Italy.
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Funchal Prices
Portugal PricesPositano Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFunchal €116Positano €261
The average daily cost (per person) in Funchal is €116, while the average daily cost in Positano is €261. 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 Positano in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFunchal €52Positano €148
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFunchal €104Positano €296
Compare Hotels in Funchal and Positano
Looking for a hotel in Funchal or Positano? 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 Positano Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Funchal €9.94Positano €7.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Funchal
Also for Funchal, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Funchal, Madeira Cruise Port to Madeira Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $188
- Funchal Airport(FNC) to Madeira Island - Arrival Private Transfer: $94
- Madeira Airport (FNC) to Madeira - Arrival Private Transfer: $94
- Private Transfer from Madeira North area resorts to Madeira Funchal airport: $90
- Madeira Airport (FNC) to Funchal Cruise Port - Round Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Private Transfer from Cristiano Ronaldo Airport to Funchal Hotels: $75
- Private Transfer from Funchal airport to Madeira south area: $73
- Madeira Airport Transfers Round Trip (FNC): $70
- Funchal Airport (FNC) to Funchal - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $64
- Minibus Transfer: Madeira Airport - Funchal: $52
- Funchal Airport Transfers: Experience Hassle-Free Travel: $45
- Madeira: PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde Hike Transfer: $42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Positano:
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Bus Ticket€1.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Positano
Also for Positano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Naples - Positano: $299
- private transfer from Sorrento to Naples: $287
- Private Transfer from Positano to Naples Airport: $286
- Private Transfer from Positano to Naples: $263
- Private Transfer by car from Amalfi to Sorrento: $251
- Private Transfer by Car from Positano to Sorrento: $250
- Private transfer from POSITANO to NAPLES with 3 hours stop in Pompeii: $239
- Transfers Positano - Naples: $227
- Positano to Pompeii Private DA Transfer: $226
- Private Transfer from Sorrento Coast to Naples : $211
- Private Transfer-Positano to Naples with 2h of Sightseeing: Vesuvius or Pompeii: $209
- Private Car Transfer from Positano to Sorrento: $203
Is it cheaper to fly into Funchal or Positano?
Prices for flights to both Positano 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 €54Positano €92
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
Typical Food Prices in Positano
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Positano:
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)€31
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Pizza in a Restaurant€9.32
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Sandwich in a Restaurant€12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Positano
For Positano, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Gastronomical Amalfi Coast Hike with Cooking Class: $61
- Cooking class with Pasta, mozzarella and Tiramisu with wine: $80
- Cooking lesson: tagliatelle, mozzarella and tiramisu: $84
- Pizza Class in Sorrento Peninsula with Breathtaking View: $88
- Amalfi Coast Cooking Class: Make Pasta, Mozzarella & Tiramisu: $90
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Sant'Agnello with Show Cooking: $102
- Sorrento: Gluten Free Cooking Class: $108
- Cooking Class in Sorrento with Breathtaking View: $120
- 3 Hours Sorrento Cooking Class in Sorrento Coast with Pickup: $155
- Mediterranean Dinner in Positano at Nonna Colomba's Cellar: $161
- Pizza e Tiramisù class with local mum in Positano: $179
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Gnocchi, Tiramisù & Drinks: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Funchal €15Positano €60
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Positano
For Positano, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Chair & Umbrella at Spiaggia Grande€17
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Day Trip of Capri & Amalfi€80
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Sunset Cruise€24
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Full Day Wine Tour€97
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Cooking Class€65
Tours and Activities in Positano
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Positano.
- Guided Tour Pompeii And Vesuvius from Positano Skip the Line: $299
- private and Guided Tour to Pompeii from Positano: $268
- Amalfi Coast Small Group Cruise with stop at the Emerald Grotto : $125
- Amalfi Coast: Pompei & Vesuvius small group with Skip the line tickets: $161
- Amalfi Coast: Private half-day walking tour with Lunch & Wine: $202
- Blue Grotto Visit and Capri Semi-Private Boat Tour: $173
- Boat tour from Positano to Capri: $227
- Capri & Blue Grotto Small Group Full-Day Boat Tour from Positano: $179
- Capri Boat Tour and Blue Grotto Visit: $178
- Capri Boat tour from Positano with Light Lunch, Drinks & Swim: $184
- Capri Half-Day Sightseeing Cruise From Sorrento, with Pickup: $197
- Capri Small Group Tour From Positano 7h, snacks & wine included: $179
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFunchal €16Positano €15
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Positano
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Positano:
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Bottle of Limoncello€16
Sample the Local Flavors in Positano
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Positano:
- Organic Wine Tasting, Mozzarella, Gnocchi & Tiramisu Workshop: $78
- Amalfi Coast: Make Handmade Pasta, Tiramisu and Wine Tasting: $81
- 5 Wine Tastings with Typical Products in Sorrento Coast: $84
- Pompeii Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting from Positano: $271
- Pompeii Excavations Tour-Wine Tasting with Lunch from Positano: $274
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Funchal and Positano, we can see that Positano 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 Positano would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Positano 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 Positano Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Funchal or Positano?
Funchal has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Positano. When comparing the sizes of Funchal and Positano, 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 Funchal or Positano?
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 Funchal or Positano in the Summer?
Both Positano and Funchal are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Positano because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Funchal is around the same temperature as Positano. Typically, the summer temperatures in Funchal in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Positano averages at about 23°C (74°F).
It's quite sunny in Positano. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Funchal. Funchal usually receives less sunshine than Positano during summer. Funchal gets 227 hours of sunny skies, while Positano receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Funchal usually receives less rain than Positano. Funchal gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Positano receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyFunchal 22°C (72°F)Positano 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Positano in the Autumn?
Both Positano and Funchal during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Positano this time of year.
In October, Funchal is generally a little warmer than Positano. Daily temperatures in Funchal average around 21°C (70°F), and Positano fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In the autumn, Funchal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Positano. Funchal gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Positano receives 189 hours of full sun.
Positano gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Funchal. Funchal usually gets less rain in October than Positano. Funchal gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Positano receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberFunchal 21°C (70°F)Positano 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Positano in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Funchal and Positano. Also, many travelers come to Positano for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Funchal is much warmer than Positano in the winter. The daily temperature in Funchal averages around 16°C (61°F) in January, and Positano fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).
Funchal usually receives more sunshine than Positano during winter. Funchal gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Positano receives 115 hours of full sun in the winter.
Positano receives a lot of rain in the winter. Funchal gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Funchal usually receives around the same amount of rain as Positano. Funchal gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Positano receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryFunchal 16°C (61°F)Positano 8°C (47°F)
Should I visit Funchal or Positano in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Funchal as well as Positano. Also, many visitors come to Positano in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Funchal is a little warmer than Positano. Typically, the spring temperatures in Funchal in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Positano averages at about 13°C (55°F).
In the spring, Funchal often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Positano. Funchal gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Positano receives 189 hours of full sun.
Funchal usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Positano. Funchal gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Positano receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilFunchal 17°C (63°F)Positano 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Positano and Funchal
| Funchal | Positano | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (61°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 19°C (66°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Oct | 21°C (70°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.