Which place is cheaper, Puerto del Carmen or Malaga?
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 Malaga or Puerto del Carmen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Malaga and Puerto del Carmen. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Malaga or Puerto del Carmen?
Malaga
Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors as well.
Puerto del Carmen
Located on the south-eastern coast of the Canary Island of Lanzarote, Puerto del Carmen is a popular resort area best known for its high concentration of bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs. By day, visitors frequent the beaches for swimming, sunbathing, windsurfing, and other watersports - and by night, they flock to enjoy the live music and drinks of the area's thriving nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Barcelona.
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Malaga Prices
Spain PricesPuerto del Carmen Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMalaga €165Puerto del Carmen €210
The average daily cost (per person) in Malaga is €165, while the average daily cost in Puerto del Carmen is €210. 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 Malaga and Puerto del Carmen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMalaga €75Puerto del Carmen €98
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMalaga €150Puerto del Carmen €196
Compare Hotels in Malaga and Puerto del Carmen
Looking for a hotel in Malaga or Puerto del Carmen? 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: Malaga Hotel Prices and Puerto del Carmen Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Malaga €31Puerto del Carmen €39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
- transfer from malaga Airport to Estepona: $188
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Nerja: $144
- Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Malaga Fuengirola or Marbella: $60
- Vip Private Transfer from Malaga Airport to Gibraltar Border: $179
- Transfer from Malaga airport to malaga city,marbella,banus,etc: $42
- Transfer from Malaga City Center to Malaga Airport (AGP): $34
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to Tarifa: $314
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to NERJA: $188
- Transfer from Malaga Airport to Granada: $311
- Private transfer from Málaga Hotels to Granada: $191
- Private Vip Transfer from Malaga Airport to Sevilla: $239
- Private Transfer from/to Motril to/from Malaga with private driver: $174
Is it cheaper to fly into Malaga or Puerto del Carmen?
Prices for flights to both Puerto del Carmen and Malaga 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 dayMalaga €60Puerto del Carmen €89
Typical Food Prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€30
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Dinner for 2€44
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Breakfast for 2€8.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
- Authentic Flamenco Dinner Show at Restaurant VinoMio: $8.81
- Hard Rock Cafe Entrance with Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Málaga: Morning Guided Food Tour: $68
- Malaga Atarazanas Market Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $71
- Dinner and Show at Alegría Flamenco & Restaurant in Malaga: $72
- Paella Cooking Class with English Guide in Malaga: $73
- The Málaga Morning Food Tour By Food Lover Tour: $77
- Málaga: Spanish Cooking Workshop with Paella and Sangria: $78
- Malaga Food Tour with Tapas & Drinks with a Local: $84
- Pedregalejo Food Tour: Explore Malaga's most iconic quarter: $87
- Horse and Flamenco Show in Malaga with Dinner: $87
- Malaga Market Food Tour: Tapas, Drinks, and Local Flavors: $87
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Malaga €31Puerto del Carmen €17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Malaga
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
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Entrance to Castillos€7.10
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Concert€31
Tours and Activities in Malaga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
- Guided tour of Tangier from the Costa del Sol: $185
- Malaga Coffee and City Tour with Real Spanish Tapas: $90
- 1 Hour Guided Adventure at Quads ATV in Mijas Malaga: $102
- 1 Hour Private Flamenco Class Experience in Malaga: $45
- 1.5-Hour Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle Walking Tour: $32
- 2 Hours Buggy Safari Experience in the Mountains of Mijas with Guide: $161
- 2 Hours Sunset Buggy Tour in Sierra de Mijas : $262
- 2 hours guided Quad tour in Mijas, Malaga. : $144
- 2-Hour French Guided Walking Tour in Malaga: $22
- 2-Hour Ronda Walking Tour: $96
- 2h E-bike tours+1day extra in Malaga: $41
- 3 Hours Guided Buggy Safari Adventure in the Mountains of Mijas: $203
Tours and Activities in Puerto del Carmen
For Puerto del Carmen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Las Palmas: Freedive & Deep Snorkel Experience For Beginners: $141
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMalaga €22Puerto del Carmen €60
Sample the Local Flavors in Malaga
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Málaga: Pub Crawl Málaga Madness: $14
- Malaga Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Clubs Entry: $19
- Andalusian Wine Tasting Tapas and DE wine tastings: $47
- RONDA WINE EXPERIENCE Wine Tastings DE Olive Oil and Tapas: $59
- C/Echegaray 5 Málaga center: Malagueño Massage: Massage + Wine Tasting: $65
- Artisan Spanish Wine Tasting of 6 Wines: $66
- Ronda Wine Tasting with Tapas in a Scenic Vineyard: $66
- Frigiliana Small-Group Hike and Wine Tasting Tour from Malaga: $66
- Winederlust Wine Tasting: $72
- Málaga: Traditional Andalusian Tapas and Wine Tour: $77
- White Village, Vineyard, and Wine Tasting Wine Tour: $106
- Málaga Small‑Group Wine Tour – Álora Castle Views & 4 Tastings: $108
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malaga and Puerto del Carmen, we can see that Puerto del Carmen is more expensive. And not only is Malaga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Malaga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Malaga 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 Puerto del Carmen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto del Carmen than you might in Malaga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Malaga Expensive? and Is Puerto del Carmen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Malaga or Puerto del Carmen?
Malaga has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Puerto del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Malaga and Puerto del Carmen, 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.