The Most Expensive Destination In The Mediterranean Has Just Been Revealed

A new study has revealed the most expensive holiday destination on the Mediterranean – and it might just surprise you.

The Spanish holiday island of Ibiza is the most expensive destination in the Mediterranean, a new study has revealed. The Holiday Costs Barometer 2017, carried out by the UK’s Post Office, compared different European beach resorts on a range of different costs, analysing the price of everything from a bottle of beer to a three-course dinner for two. The results showed that Ibiza is more expensive than even well-established high-end resorts on the French Riviera and Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Typical holiday buys

The report compared the price of a basket of ‘typical holiday purchases’: a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, insect repellant, a bottle of beer, a can of cola, a bottle of water, a UK newspaper, a three-course dinner for two and a two-course lunch for two.

The report showed that Ibiza is considerably more expensive that nearby resorts such as its Balearic Island neighbour, Mallorca, where the average price of the holiday essentials came to just £88.98 (€101).

Cheapest resorts

On the other end of the scale, Spain’s cheapest resorts are found on the Costa del Sol, according to the report. The stretch of Spain’s southern coast that is home to the city of Málaga and resorts like Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Marbella was the most reasonable place in Spain when it came to holiday essentials – just £60.65 (€69).

And if you’re looking for the ultimate cheap break, the Mediterranean’s cheapest resorts are found in Bulgaria – holiday essentials in Sunny Beach cost just £37.33 (€42.47), including £0.70 (€0.80) for a bottle of beer and £5.58 (€6.35) for lunch for two people.

The Algarve in Portugal is the cheapest holiday destination in Western Europe

The cheapest resorts in western Europe are found in Portugal’s Algarve, with holiday essentials cost £58.38 (€66.42). When broken down, that meant that lunch for two on the Algarve was just £13.10 (€14.90) compared to £29.70 (€33.79) in Ibiza.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.