Madeira in general isn't an expensive place to live. Housing, transport, and food are quite affordable for expats staying in Madeira longer term.
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You can easily pay €40 a head in Madeira. There are several fine dining restaurants where you can pay much more than that but you can have an evening meal in many (or perhaps even most) restaurants (with wine) typically for no more than €20 to €30 a head.
With both rent and restaurant prices being around 25% cheaper than in Lisbon, Funchal allows you to live your island dream without paying the more expensive prices of mainland Portugal.
Comparison with London: Consumer prices in Funchal are 39.49% lower than in London (without rent). Rent Prices in Funchal are 63.96% lower than in London.
Average monthly temperaturesFor the highest temperatures the best time to visit Madeira is between August and September although the sub tropical climate offers sunshine throughout the year and winter months are equally popular with visitors.
Delicious dishes in Madeira include espetada, a beef brochette; battered black scabbard fish, which is similar to sword fish; bolo do caco, bread with butter and garlic; grilled limpets; and bolo de mel, a dense sponge cake with nuts and spices.
Tipping in Portugal & MadeiraTipping is not included nor do we have a set percentage to give, but it is common to tip in Madeira. If the food is good and the service friendly, tips are highly appreciated and appropriate.
The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.
Famous for it's year-round warmth and sunshine – choosing the best time to visit Madeira all depends on the type of holiday you're looking for… Let's start at the beginning of the year – January through to March is the coolest time of the year, but it's also the quietest and the cheapest.
Madeira is a pretty small island, and so luckily you don't need very long to see all of the incredible things that this destination has to offer. If you're looking to experience the must-dos then a short four-day break would be fine. However, a week is the perfect amount of time to really make the most of the island.
In Madeira, there are fewer sandy beaches, but more beaches with pebbles or stones. To access the water, we strongly recommend water shoes. If you are interested in exploring a variety of sandy beaches, the winner is Tenerife ??.
Find the best dealsAirfare to Madeira Island (FNC) varies throughout the year based on seasonal demand. You'll see the lowest rates for roundtrips to FNC in December and in December for one-ways.
Madeira is boasting some of the most accessible biodiversity. It is known for its lush forests, gardens, and parks, which give the island a tropical feel. As a result of the mild temperatures here all year long, a range of exotic plants and herbs can be found in the gardens.
Funchal – Madeira Island's capitalA family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,943.8€ without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 542.5€ without rent. Funchal is 13.1% less expensive than Lisbon. Rent in Funchal is, on average, 32.4% lower than in Lisbon.
Madeira is a super easy island to get around – with or without a car! There are buses that can take you almost everywhere and anywhere on the island. There are also lots of awesome tours to all the Levada hikes that pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation (especially if you're staying in Funchal).