Budget For Madeira: Is Madeira Expensive to Visit?
Wondering how much money to budget for Madeira? I have spent over five months exploring Madeira and travelled the island extensively, from budget-friendly apartments and local cafés to upscale restaurants and boat cruises.
Madeira isn’t known for being cheap to visit. However, with the right preparation, you can visit Madeira on any budget.
In this post, I’ll talk about the typical costs for accommodation, transport, tours, food and other key activities so that you can work out a realistic budget for Madeira according to your travel style.
I’ll also share what you can expect to spend per day and per week, depending on whether you’re taking a budget, mid-range or luxury trip.
For more planning advice, don’t miss my complete Madeira travel tips hub.
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Madeira Budget at a Glance
The average cost of a trip to Madeira depends on your travel style, but most visitors spend €100–€150 per day, excluding flights.
- Backpacker: €60–90 per day
- Couple: €200–300 per day for two people
- Family of four: €250–450 per day
- Mid-range traveller: €100–150 per day
- Luxury traveller: €300+ per day
Use these links to jump to the essentials, from typical costs in Madeira to the cost of a one-week trip to Madeira.
Is Madeira Expensive to Visit?
Nowadays, it’s quite expensive to visit Madeira as a tourist. However, this is relative.
If you already live in or go on holiday in Western Europe (for example, the UK, France, Germany or the Netherlands), the cost of travelling Madeira won’t seem that much different to a holiday in London or Barcelona.
On the other hand, if you’re from somewhere like eastern Europe or Asia, you might find the prices of food and accommodation steep in comparison.
Madeira was once known for being one of the cheapest destinations to visit in Portugal. However, in the past few years, accommodation prices have really inflated.
Why? Madeira is a small island with a limited amount of space and a very high intake of tourists.
Most accommodation providers know that they can charge a premium price and always have someone willing to pay it for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.
Can I Visit Madeira on a Budget?
Despite the above, you can still visit Madeira responsibly and on a budget, if (and only if):
- You plan properly.
- You book your trip in advance (ideally 2–3+ months).
Here are some easy ways to reduce costs, from me to you. For more of where this came from, check out my guide to visiting Madeira on a budget.
- Stay longer. Most hotels in Madeira offer discounted monthly or weekly rates.
- Book somewhere with a kitchen. Self-catering will save a lot of money on food.
- Consider a hostel dormitory. There are limited hostels in Madeira, but if you book 3+ months in advance, you should be able to secure one. My guide to the best hostels in Madeira will help you choose.
- Hire a car. Tour expenses can quickly amount to more than the daily cost of car hire. Car hire starts at €35 per day, and most cars can fit up to 5 people. Most Madeira tours, on the other hand cost €30–€40 per person.
- Hire a scooter. You can also save money by hiring a scooter instead of a car. I hired a scooter to explore the nearby island of Porto Santo. For both islands, but especially Madeira, you need to be an experienced rider capable of handling motorways and steep roads.
🚗 Planning to hire a car in Madeira?
Renting a car is often the easiest way to explore Madeira, especially if you want to go hiking. I personally love exploring by car for getting off the beaten track, so I put together a complete guide to renting a car in Madeira – you can use Discover Cars and Klook to compare rental prices.
How Much Does A Trip To Madeira Cost?
A one-week trip to Madeira typically costs:
- Budget traveller: €420–630 per week
- Mid-range traveller: €700–1,050 per week
- Luxury traveller: €2,100+ per week
These estimates exclude flights and assume you’re sharing accommodation costs where applicable. Travelling during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) can significantly reduce accommodation costs.
Your Madeira budget will depend on your style of travel.
How Much To Budget for Madeira Per Day?
In general, you can expect to spend €100–150 per day.
| Travel type | EUR | GBP | USD |
| Budget backpacker | €60 –90 | £50–75 | $65–100 |
| Mid-range | €100–150 | £85–125 | $110 –165 |
| Luxury | €300+ | £260+ | $330+ |
| Self-catering apartment | €180+ | £150+ | $200+ |
Madeira Budget by Travel Style
Backpackers
If you’re staying in a hostel, using public transport and preparing some of your own meals, Madeira can cost as little as €60–90 per day.
Couples
Most couples visiting Madeira spend around €200–€300 per day between two people, including accommodation, car hire, restaurants and a couple of activities.
Families
Families should budget more for accommodation and car hire. However, many of Madeira’s best attractions, including beaches, viewpoints and hiking trails, are free to visit.
🚌 Don’t want to drive in Madeira?
Good news: you can still explore without hiring a car. I’ve spent months travelling Madeira using buses and hiking transfers. Read my complete guide to visiting Madeira without a car, including where to stay and a full itinerary.
What Are The Typical Costs in Madeira?
To budget effectively for your Madeira trip, you also need to know the typical costs for accommodation, food, transport and other factors.
Then, you can work out an even more accurate average daily cost based on your needs.
For example, if you need coffee 3x per day, you’re going to spend more than a non-coffee drinker.
Accommodation (per night):
Central locations like the centre of Funchal are typically more expensive.
You can save money by staying somewhere more remote on the north, west or east coast. However, you usually need a vehicle to get around the island because public transport is limited.
| Accommodation type | EUR | GBP |
| Hostel dormitory | €42–60 | £36–£52 |
| Mid-range hotel | €70–150 | £60–£125 |
| Luxury hotel | €250–300 | £210–25 |
| Holiday rental | €150–350 | £125–300 |
| Co-living space | €50–120 | £40–100 |
🏨 Looking for the best area to stay in Madeira?
Where you stay has a big impact on your Madeira budget. Funchal offers the widest range of accommodation, while areas like Machico and Ponta do Sol can offer better value. Read my guide to where to stay in Madeira to find the best base for your travel style and budget.
Coffee:
Coffee is more expensive in tourist areas and ‘upscale’ coffee shops.
At a local coffee shop, you shouldn’t pay more than €0.80 for a bica (espresso) or €2.50 for a milk coffee. But at some of the best cafés in Madeira, you’ll often pay double that.
| Coffee type | EUR | GBP |
| Bica (espresso) | €0.70–1 | £0.60–0.85 |
| Chinesa (small milk coffee) | €1.50–3 | £1.30–2.50 |
| Galão (similar to a latte) | €1.50–3 | £1.30–2.50 |
| Specialty coffee | €2–4 | £1.70–3.40 |
Food:
| Food type | EUR | GBP |
| Sandwich | €4.50–6 | £3.80–5.10 |
| Pastel de nata (Portuguese pastry) | €1.20–1.50 | £1–1.20 |
| Main course | €10–20 | £8.50–17 |
| Dessert | €2–6 | £1.70–5 |
Groceries (per week):
One week of groceries (for one person) typically costs me €60–100 (£50–85).
For a small family, you’re looking at paying at least triple that price.
| How many people? | EUR | GBP |
| 1 | €60 – €100 | £50 – £85 |
| 2 | €120 – €180 | £100 – £153 |
| 3+ | €150 – €220 | £125 – £190 |
Transport (per day)
Public transport connections are limited outside of Funchal and other major towns/cities on the south coast of Madeira.
It’s the cheapest way to travel, but the routes are limited; many hikes (including the PR1) are only accessible by car, transfer or tour.
You may want to consider hiring a car, at least for one or two days.
| Transport type | EUR | GBP |
| Car hire | €35+ | £30+ |
| Scooter hire | €15 – €30 | £13 – £26 |
| Return bus tickets | €2+ | £1.70+ |
Tours and Activities (per person):
Most tours cost €30+ per person. However, entry to the island’s beaches is free.
| Popular Activities and Tours | EUR | GBP |
| Whale-watching tour | €35 | £30 |
| PR1 hike transfer | €33 | £28 |
| West Madeira tour | €30 | £25 |
| São Lourenco hike transfer | €30 | £25 |
| Cable car to Monte | €20 (round-trip) | £17 (round-trip) |
| Porto Moniz natural pools | €3 (adults) | £2.50 (adults) |
Budgeting for Madeira: Is Madeira Cash-Only?
On your Madeira trip, it’s best to travel with a combination of cash and card.
Some restaurants in Madeira, particularly the small or remote ones, accept cash only. In Funchal, most venues accept cards.
I usually carry a small amount of cash with me (€50 or so) just in case I need it.
FAQs
Madeira is not considered more expensive than the UK. Grocery costs are generally lower if you shop for local products. Rent prices are typically equal, comparable to London and other big cities.
A three-course meal in Madeira typically costs €20–40, depending on the restaurant.
While buying a sandwich should only cost around €5, a main course in Madeira will set you back by around €10–20.
Most travellers should budget between €100 and €150 per day for accommodation, food, transport and activities. However, it’s possible to visit Madeira on a budget of €60–90 per day if you stay in hostels, use public transport and self-cater some meals.
