Excluding flights, budget roughly €75 per person per day travelling cheaply (guesthouse or shared apartment, buses, supermarket breakfasts, one restaurant meal), €110–€140 a day mid-range (3–4★ hotel or apartment, small rental car, two meals out), and €200+ a day for a sea-view hotel, automatic car and daily restaurant dinners. Madeira is noticeably cheaper than the Canaries, the Algarve or Mallorca for food and drink, a full lunch with wine is under €15 in a typical tasca (a small, simple local restaurant) and €12–€18 elsewhere, a beer €1.50–€2.50, an espresso €0.80, but car hire in July–September and New Year is the one line item that spikes.
- Budget
- €70–€85 per person per day
- Mid-range
- €110–€140 per person per day
- Comfortable
- €200+ per person per day
- 7 days for two (excluding flights)
- ≈ €1,430–€2,040
- Set lunch (prato do dia)
- €8–€14 with a drink
- Funchal bus fare
- €2.05 on board, €1.45 with a Giro card
- Car hire
- €25–€45/day off-season, €55–€110 July–September
- Levada ticket
- €4.50 per trail (€10.50 for PR1)
Checked · Source: prices collected on the island and official published fares
Daily budget by travel style
Budget, €70–€85 per person / day
Guesthouse or shared apartment (€40–€55/night for two), SIGA buses with a Giro card, supermarket breakfast and lunch, one €12–€15 restaurant meal, free levadas and viewpoints.
Mid-range, €110–€140 per person / day
3–4★ hotel or a good apartment (€80–€120/night for two), a small rental car shared between two, coffee and pastry out, lunch and dinner in restaurants, one paid attraction most days.
Comfortable, €200+ per person / day
Sea-view 4–5★ hotel (€180–€350/night), automatic rental or private drivers, tasting menus, boat trips and guided hikes, spa time.
What things actually cost in Madeira
| Small rental car, off-season | €25–€45/day (local agencies: Rodavante, Guerin, Madecar) |
| Small rental car, Jul–Sep & New Year | €55–€110/day. Book 2–3 months ahead. |
| Fuel (95 unleaded) | ~€1.75/L. A week driving the whole island: €40–€55. |
| Funchal city bus (SIGA) | €2.05 cash on board, €1.45 with a Giro card (€0.50 card issue fee) |
| Aerobus, airport to Funchal | €6.70 on board (€5.55 pre-purchased), every 30–60 min, 08:30–22:00 |
| Taxi, airport to Funchal | €25–€35 fixed tariff; Bolt €18–€28 |
| Coffee (espresso / bica) | €0.75–€1.00 standing at the counter |
| Beer (imperial / Coral) | €1.50–€2.50 |
| Poncha | €3–€5 |
| Prato do dia (set lunch, main + drink) | €8–€14 away from the seafront |
| Dinner for two with wine, mid-range | €45–€65 |
| Tasting menu (Estrelícia Guide level) | €65–€120 per person |
| Funchal–Monte cable car | €16 one-way, €22 return (2026 official) |
| Monte toboggan (2 people) | €30 per sledge for the short run |
| Levada ticket (classified PR trails) | €4.50 per person per trail, €10.50 for the full PR1, booked at simplifica.madeira.gov.pt |
| Whale & dolphin trip | €35–€50 per adult, 2.5–3 h |
| Porto Santo ferry return | €60–€75 per adult in season |
| Guided 4x4 or hiking day tour | €45–€75 per person |
| Supermarket weekly shop for two | €60–€90 (Pingo Doce, Continente cheaper than Sé area minimarkets) |
Prices are typical 2026 local rates collected on the island and cross-checked against operator sites. Levada tickets and bus fares are official published fares; restaurant and hotel figures are ranges, not quotes.
A worked 7-day budget for two people
| Flights (UK/Ireland return, shoulder season) | €120–€250 pp |
| Accommodation, 7 nights mid-range for two | €560–€840 |
| Rental car, 7 days + fuel + insurance top-up | €300–€420 |
| Food and drink for two | €420–€560 |
| Attractions, levada tickets, one boat trip | €150–€220 |
| Total for two (excluding flights) | ≈ €1,430–€2,040, about €102–€146 per person per day |
Six ways to cut the cost
- Skip the car for a Funchal-only trip. A Giro card plus buses to Monte, Câmara de Lobos and Caniço costs about €15 for the week versus €250+ for a rental.
- Eat the prato do dia. Set lunch inland or one street back from the marina is €8–€14 for a full plate; the same dish on the seafront is €18–€22.
- Unclassified levadas are still the island's best free day out, only IFCN-classified PR trails carry the €4.50 booking fee (€10.50 for the full PR1).
- Travel November–March. Accommodation and car hire drop 30–50% and hiking conditions are usually better than midsummer haze.
- Take the bus to Monte (line 021, €2.00) and pay for the cable car only one way, downhill, for the view.
- Fill up outside Funchal, station prices are the same island-wide, but the airport-area stations are the ones open latest for a pre-return top-up.
FAQ: Madeira costs
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