Which place is cheaper, Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Portimao?
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 Portimao or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
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 Portimao and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 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: Portimao or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Portimao
The second biggest city in the Alrgarve region of Portugal, Portimao sits on the coast where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its fresh fish restaurants and is also a popular destination for beachgoers at the Praia da Rocha to the south of the city.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Not everyone traveling to Spain is looking to collapse on a beach somewhere. If you're in search of a bustling, vibrant and colorful Spanish capital city without the crowds of Barcelona, you might want to book a few days in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Located on the eastern tip of the island of Tenerife on the Canary Island chain, Santa Cruz's bright buildings, charming shops and rich, green scenery are there to greet visitors from all over the world - including you.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Madrid, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona.
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Portimao Prices
Portugal PricesSanta Cruz de Tenerife Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPortimao €185Santa Cruz de Tenerife €155
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €185, while the average daily cost in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is €155. 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 Portimao and Santa Cruz de Tenerife in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPortimao €78Santa Cruz de Tenerife €48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPortimao €156Santa Cruz de Tenerife €96
Compare Hotels in Portimao and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Looking for a hotel in Portimao or Santa Cruz de Tenerife? 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: Portimao Hotel Prices and Santa Cruz de Tenerife Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Portimao €37Santa Cruz de Tenerife €64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
- 7 Seven Hanging Valleys Hiking Tour with 4K Photos & Transfer: $42
- Carvoeiro Private Transfer to Faro Airport: $89
- Private Transfer from Algoz to Faro (FAO) Airport: $134
- Private Transfer from Aljezur to Faro (FAO) Airport: $276
- Private Transfer from Alvor to Faro (FAO) Airport: $137
- Private Transfer from Alvor to Faro Airport (1-4 pax): $143
- Private Transfer from Armaçao de Pera to Faro (FAO) Airport: $124
- Private Transfer from Carvoeiro to Faro (FAO) Airport: $110
- Private Transfer from Estombar to Faro (FAO) Airport: $159
- Private Transfer from Ferragudo to Faro (FAO) Airport: $124
- Private Transfer from Guia to Faro (FAO) Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from Hotel Carvoeiro to Faro (FAO) Airport: $110
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santa Cruz de Tenerife:
- Mount Teide Tour with Transfer and Optional Cable Car Ticket: $59
- Whale and Dolphin Watching Catamaran with Transfer and Buffet : $71
- Santa Cruz Tenerife Cruise Port: Transfer to Tenerife hotels: $413
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Prices for flights to both Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Portimao 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 dayPortimao €78Santa Cruz de Tenerife €68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
- Authentic Market & Food Tour in Portimão, Algarve: $90
- Algarve Food Tour in Portimão: $119
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Portimao €41Santa Cruz de Tenerife €25
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
- Inflatable Waterpark Entry Ticket at Armação de Pêra: $12
- SUP - Stand Up Paddle Algarve Adventure: $18
- Benagil Cave Boat Tour - Catamarans or Rib - 2 H From Portimão: $21
- Kayak Tour around Benagil to see Sunset or Sunrise: $22
- Self Guided Adventure in Alvor: $23
- Self Guided Puzzle Adventure in Portimao: $23
- Sunrise Benagil Full Caves Tour: $24
- Portimão to Benagil: Adrenaline Wave 90 Minutes Cave Tour: $24
- Benagil Cave Sunset Cruise: $24
- Portimão: Benagil Caves Speedboat Tour: $24
- Express Tour - Benagil Cave: $24
- Benagil Boat Tour with Local Guide : $25
Tours and Activities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Here are a few actual costs in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Tenerife: Santa Cruz Guided Bike Tour 1.5 hour: $18
- Tenerife: Guided Historical Bike Tour with E-Bike Option: $29
- Tapas Bike Tour: $35
- From Costa Adeje or Santa Cruz: Contrasts of Tenerife Tour: $65
- Private Tour Tenerife: Anaga, Taganana, Benijo & La laguna: $88
- Tenerife Buggy Tour The Golden Mile: $116
- Tenerife: Island Tour with Teide Volcano and Lunch: $119
- Private Paragliding Flight Experience in Tenerife: $120
- Taucho Flight Experience: $129
- Tenerife: Introductory Dive for Cruise Ship Passengers: $140
- Private VIP Tour Tenerife Magic Circle: $277
- Tenerife: Anaga and La Laguna VIP Tour: $323
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPortimao €30Santa Cruz de Tenerife €7.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
- Lagos, Portimão & Carvoeiro: Wine Tasting, Tapas & Music Tour: $66
- Vilamoura, Albufeira & Porches: Wine Tasting, Tapas & Music Tour: $66
- Jeep Safari with Winery Visit and Wine Tasting: $80
- Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates: $84
- Sunset with Wine Tasting: $96
- Algarve wine tour and lunch in Silves or time to visit the city: $123
- Algarve wine tour and farmer's lunch at wine estate: $199
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz de Tenerife much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz de Tenerife would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 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 Portimao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portimao than you might in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Portimao Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Portimao or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Portimao. When comparing the sizes of Portimao and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 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.