Just got back from Málaga and wanted to share my actual travel expenses while everything is still fresh in my mind. Many friends have been asking how much money they should budget for a week in Málaga, so I’ve compiled all my expenses from this trip, hoping it can serve as a reference for your planning.
Accommodation Costs
I stayed in Málaga for 7 days and 6 nights during my Málaga trip, choosing an apartment-style hotel near the city center. The location was about a 15-minute walk from the old town, with supermarkets and metro stations nearby, making daily life very convenient. The nightly rate was 65 euros, totaling 390 euros for 6 nights. Hostels would be much cheaper, with single beds costing around 20-30 euros per night. However, I value privacy and sleep quality, so for my winter visit to Málaga I opted for a private apartment.
Dining Expenses Breakdown
Food costs in Málaga are quite flexible. I usually made breakfast at the apartment, buying bread, ham, and milk from the supermarket, spending about 25 euros for the week. Lunch and dinner were mostly eaten out, with each meal budgeted between 12-20 euros. I tried several tapas bars where ordering 3-4 tapas with a beer cost around 15 euros per person and was very satisfying. Total dining expenses for the week came to approximately 200 euros.
| Expense Item | Cost Per Time | Frequency | Subtotal |
|---|
| Breakfast Groceries | 3-4 euros | 7 days | 25 euros |
| Lunch | 12-15 euros | 7 times | 91 euros |
| Dinner | 15-20 euros | 6 times | 102 euros |
Transportation and Attractions
From the airport to the city center, I chose the airport bus, which costs 3 euros one way, so 6 euros round trip. I initially considered taking a taxi, but the bus was so convenient I went with that option. For city transportation, I mainly walked, occasionally taking the bus. I bought a 10-trip bus card for 8.3 euros, which was sufficient. I visited the Alcazaba fortress and the Picasso Museum, with tickets costing 3.5 euros and 9 euros respectively. I also took a sightseeing bus tour along the waterfront, which cost 20 euros.
Other Miscellaneous Expenses
Besides the major expenses mentioned above, there were various smaller costs: postcards and souvenirs cost about 30 euros, coffee and ice cream at the beach came to 25 euros, and sunscreen and daily necessities cost 15 euros. These added up to roughly 70 euros.
My 7-day, 6-night trip to Málaga cost approximately 700 euros in total. If you’re on a tighter budget for your Málaga travel, staying in hostels, buying groceries to cook your own meals, and skipping paid attractions could bring costs down to under 500 euros. Conversely, if you want better accommodation and finer dining, your budget might exceed 1000 euros. You can adjust according to your own situation. Hope this breakdown helps those planning a trip to Málaga!
