Is Malaga Expensive? A Local’s Guide to Prices in Malaga
Is Malaga expensive? It’s a common question among travellers.
Luckily, Malaga isn’t an expensive destination, and you can make the most of the city while being on a budget.
However, I can tell you that Malaga has become more expensive over the years, and any other locals and frequent travellers to Malaga, like me, can confirm that.
Despite the increase in prices, not only in Malaga but anywhere in Europe, you’ll still find the city cheaper than other larger Spanish destinations like Madrid and Barcelona.
If you want an idea of how much your trip to Malaga can be, I’ll share the cost of accommodation, transport, food and drink and attractions with you as well as other tips to make the most of your money and, hopefully, save some pennies.
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The average cost of travelling to Malaga
This is a summary of the approximate prices in Malaga:
- Accommodation: 80 euros per night on average
- Transport: between 1.20 and 3 euros
- Food: 12 euros per person
- Alcoholic drinks: 2.50 for a beer, 8 euros for a cocktail
- Attractions: between 2.50 and 10 euros
- Tours: 15 to 20 euros
- Entertainment: between 15 and 30 euros
You can spend an average of 140 euros (approx. 119 GBP and 151 USD) per day in Malaga, including accommodation, food and transport. However, depending on your chosen stay and food preferences, the cost can be slightly lower or higher.
Accommodation
You can spend as much or as little as you want. It all depends on the type of traveller you are, and luckily, Malaga has many accommodation options – from luxury hotels with rooftop pools to hostels and apartments by the beach.
For example, let’s say you want a three-star hotel; you can pay 80 euros per night on average. That’s exactly the price for a room in Soho Boutique Malaga, a lovely hotel in a great location.
However, if you’re looking for something more affordable, you can find rooms from 40 euros. The Urban Jungle Hostel and Coeo Pod Hostel are good hostel options in the city centre.
If you want a nice 4-star hotel in the city centre, you can expect to pay about 100 to 150 euros per night. Room Mate Valeria is one of my favourites. It’s next to Calle Larios, it has comfortable and beautifully decorated rooms, and its rooftop bar serves the best cocktails!
For those looking for top-notch hotels in Malaga, Gran Hotel Miramar GL and Only YOU Hotel are your best choices. A room at Gran Hotel Miramar is about €240 per night.
Overall, the more flexible with dates and location, the more chances to get a better deal. Staying in the heart of Malaga won’t cost you the same as staying outside the city centre.
Another good way to save money is to stay in an apartment. Having access to a kitchen will allow you to cook. Food prices in Malaga are quite reasonable; even my friends who have visited Malaga say that. However, you can buy food from the local supermarket or food market at make one or two meals in your accommodation.
It’s important to remember that hotel prices skyrocket in the peak season (June to September), key dates like Christmas, New Year’s and Easter, and important local events like Feria de Málaga (Malaga Fair).
Transport
Malaga is a walkable city. If you plan to stay in the centre, you won’t need to use public transport. You’re a stone’s throw from all the main attractions.
Malaga city centre is also next to La Malagueta Beach, so you don’t need to go far to spend the day on the beach.
However, this is a very crowded beach in the summer, and that’s why I opt for other beaches.
La Misericordia Beach is my go-to beach. I’ve been going there since I was a kid. And if you want to visit this beach, or maybe the one in Pedregalejo, you’ll need to take the bus.
Taking the bus is extremely cheap. Most tickets are under 2 euros one way.
Another good means of transportation is the underground. It hasn’t been very long since they opened the underground station near Calle Larios.
The underground takes you to the university area (Teatinos) and other neighbourhoods across the city.
If you’re wondering how well-connected Malaga is with other towns. The answer is good.
For some of the towns on Malaga’s west side, you can take the Cercanías Renfe train. It goes from Malaga Maria Zambrano station to Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola.
You’ll need to take a bus from Malaga bus station to other towns.
Can you get around Malaga without a car? Yes, there’s no need to rent a car in Malaga, especially if you don’t plan to explore beyond the city.
But I advise renting a car to visit the whitewashed towns near Malaga or other cities like Granada.
Sure, you can take public transport to some places, but the buses usually take much longer than driving. A rental car also gives you more freedom to uncover hidden gems and travel at your own pace.
Renting a car in Malaga costs approximately 30 euros per day. This doesn’t include petrol or insurance. The cheapest petrol in Malaga is €1.759 per litre.
If you’re unsure where to get your rental car, I recommend Discover Cars. It’s very easy to use as you only need to enter the pick-up location and the pick-up and drop-off dates. Plus, they work with trusted suppliers like Hertz, Enterprise and Europcar.
The sooner you book it, the better, as you’ll have a wider range of cars to choose from.
🗺️ P.S. Did you know I can help you plan your trip to Malaga? Check out my custom travel planning page here for more information!
Food and drinks
Eating out in Malaga can be cheap, especially if you aren’t super picky with restaurants.
Traditional restaurants and bars, which might not look as modern as others, usually offer good quality food for less. You can enjoy delicious traditional tapas like ensaladilla rusa and montaditos (small sandwiches with meat) for a bargain.
La Pechá is one of my favourite places to enjoy tapas in my city. This small tavern is super cosy and serves the best Russian Salad!
How much can you spend in these restaurants? Approximately 12 euros per person.
Also, you might want to check out their “menú del día”. A set menu that often includes a starter, main course and dessert. They usually offer two or three options for each dish, so it isn’t that restricted.
The starter usually is a soup or salad, and the main course is a meat or fish dish, but some restaurants offer a vegetarian option.
El Pimpi is the most famous restaurant in Malaga, and their fried fish and marinated clams are to die for. However, prices are a bit more elevated.
If you want to try local fish dishes like espetos (sardine skewers) or boquerones fritos (fried anchovies), I love going to the Pedregalejo neighbourhood with my family as it’s one of the best places in Malaga to enjoy fish.
On a tight budget? Los 100 Montaditos might be the best option for you. You can enjoy mini sandwiches of different flavours for 1 euro. I’ve been with friends a few times, and it’s okay, but don’t expect anything amazing.
If money isn’t an issue, Malaga has some incredibly cool and unique restaurants that combine local produce with modern cooking techniques and presentation.
Regarding drinks, the average price for a beer is 2.50 euros, and a cocktail is 10 euros on a rooftop terrace.
Attractions and tours
Visiting attractions in Malaga is pretty affordable, and you might want to know first that you can visit many of Malaga’s main historical buildings and museums for free on Sundays.
Free attractions in Malaga on a Sunday afternoon:
- Alcazaba de Málaga (from 2 pm)
- Castillo de Gibralfaro (from 2 pm)
- Carmen Thyssen Malaga (from 4 pm)
- Picasso Museum Malaga (two hours before closing)
- Centre Pompidou Malaga (from 4 pm)
- La Concepcion Botanical Garden (varies depending on the season, from 2 p.m. between October and March and from 4:30 p.m. between April and September)
However, if you can’t visit these places on Sundays, you still won’t spend a fortune on attractions. Entry fees for most attractions are below 10 euros.
Visiting the Alcazaba Fortress Palace and Gibralfaro Castle combined ticket only costs €5,50, and it’s even cheaper for children, students and retirees (€2,50). For me, the Alcazaba is one of the best places to visit in my hometown; I just love the architecture and views!
Another price example is Malaga Cathedral. The general entry fee is €8.00 and €12.00 if you wish to visit its lovely rooftop.
If you like taking tours, you can either opt for a free tour, like this one, or a paid one. The price of paid tours really depends on the company. You can find affordable tours for less than 20 euros.
But the prices are higher if these tours take place in a town near Malaga and include transportation too. For example, this day trip to Nerja and Frigiliana from Malaga is 49 euros per person.
Another popular day trip is Caminito del Rey. The average price for a guided Caminito del Rey tour is €50,15.
Entertainment
With the beautiful beaches, lovely parks and free attractions on Sundays, the truth is that you don’t need much else.
However, if you’d like to attend a flamenco show, concert or theatre, you also have plenty of options.
If you want to tick off watching a flamenco show from your Spain bucket list, you can book this flamenco live performance for €25 per person.
The prices for theatre performances can be anything between 20 and 50 euros.
Last but not least, if you want to go to the cinema, you’ll often pay 8,60 euros but note that Mondays are cheaper.
Tips for travelling to Malaga on a budget
Okay, so now that you know what the prices are like in Malaga, let’s move into how to save money.
These are my top tips for saving money on your trip to Malaga:
- Visit Malaga off-season to find better flight and accommodation deals.
- Walk everywhere. There’s no need to use public transport in the city centre.
- Go to historical buildings, museums and art galleries on Sunday afternoon to enter for free.
- Avoid eating at the port, as restaurants and bars have higher prices than other areas. Eat tapas at Atarazanas Market or look for a bar that offers a “menu del día”.
- Stay a little further than Larios Street to save money on accommodation.
- If you want to hire a car, book it in advance for better prices and a wider range of cars.
Frequently asked questions about the prices in Malaga
Is Malaga cheap for a holiday?
Yes. Malaga is cheaper than other Spanish destinations, such as Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.
Is Malaga expensive to live in?
Housing prices have risen in Malaga, but still, it isn’t as expensive as in the UK, the US and Germany.
Is Malaga expensive to eat out?
No, especially if you don’t eat out near the port or main attractions.
Conclusion on “Is Malaga expensive?”
Overall, Malaga isn’t an expensive city, but there are a few things that will help you save money on your trip, such as travelling off-season, visiting free attractions and eating in less touristy bars and restaurants.
Do you have any questions about travelling to Malaga? Drop them in the comments; I’ll be happy to help you.
Enjoy your holiday in Malaga!
Cristina xx
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Things to do before visiting Malaga, Spain
- Book cheap flights to Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport with Skyscanner.
- Check out tours and activities in Malaga with Get Your Guide.
- Book a free walking tour in Malaga with GuruWalk.
- Travelling around Costa del Sol? Check and compare car rentals with Discover Cars.
- Buy travel insurance for your trip. This is a must for any trip!
Does Malaga have an International Airport
Hi Suzanne! Yes, Malaga has its own airport, Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP). There are plenty of flights to and from European destinations, but you can also find other international destinations like Morocco.
Please can you tell me how far away the airport is from the centre? How much will a taxi be or is there a bus we can catch? Thank you so much xx
Hi Deb, It’s approximately 20 minutes from the airport. I would recommend taking the Cercanias train opposite arrivals 🙂 It’s cheap and fast. Alternatively, you can also catch the Linea Express bus. Taxis are expensive compared to these options. Taking a taxi is about 20-25 euros.