Albufeira vs São Brás de Alportel: which Algarve town suits you?
Albufeira has warmer winters, more pharmacies on foot and more doctors on foot; São Brás de Alportel has fewer very hot days, lower rents and cheaper homes to buy.
Albufeira
15,851 peopleChoose Albufeira if you want
- Winter-sun seekers: 16°C January highs and no frost days
- Beach lovers: A beach 0.1 km from the centre
- Warmer winters (16°C January highs, against 14°C)
- More pharmacies within a 15-minute walk (6, against 2)
São Brás de Alportel
11,153 peopleChoose São Brás de Alportel if you want
- Car-light living: 15 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk and public transport close by
- Fewer very hot days (11 a year above 35°C, against 17)
- Lower rents in the municipality (€6.03/m² a month, against €10.31/m²)
- Cheaper homes to buy in the municipality (€2,452/m², against €3,490/m²)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Albufeira | São Brás de Alportel |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 16°C | 14°C |
| January low | 8°C | 7°C |
| July high | 32°C | 31°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 17 | 11 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 39 | 40 |
| Frost days a year | 0 | 0 |
| Days with rain a year | 66 | 65 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 37 min | 9 h 36 min |
| Sea in August | 20°C | – |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Albufeira | São Brás de Alportel |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 19 | 15 |
| Pharmacies | 6 | 2 |
| Doctors and clinics | 7 | 4 |
| Cafés | 28 | 10 |
| Restaurants | 154 | 25 |
Getting around
| Measure | Albufeira | São Brás de Alportel |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | 4.8 km | 12 km |
| Nearest bus station | 1.3 km | 0.3 km |
| Nearest hospital | 2.2 km | 12 km |
| Nearest beach | 0.1 km | 15 km |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 26 km | 17 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Albufeira | São Brás de Alportel |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €10.31/m² | €6.03/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €3,490/m² | €2,452/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +67% | +84% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 66.3 | 37.1 |
People
| Measure | Albufeira | São Brás de Alportel |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,851 | 11,153 |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.5% |
| Under 15 | 12.4% | 16.0% |
| Born in another country | 29.9% | 16.5% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Albufeira | São Brás de Alportel |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 1 | 1 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albufeira | 16° | 17° | 19° | 21° | 24° | 28° | 32° | 32° | 28° | 24° | 19° | 16° |
| São Brás de Alportel | 14° | 16° | 18° | 20° | 23° | 28° | 31° | 31° | 27° | 23° | 18° | 15° |
Albufeira is warmer by 1°C or more in 7 months; in the other months the highs are within 1°C. Albufeira in November · São Brás de Alportel in November
Albufeira or São Brás de Alportel: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Albufeira or São Brás de Alportel?
Albufeira, with an average January high of 15.5°C against 14.4°C.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Albufeira: 19 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre, against 15 in São Brás de Alportel.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport (FAO): 26 km from Albufeira and 17 km from São Brás de Alportel, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Albufeira vs São Brás de Alportel: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/albufeira-vs-sao-bras-de-alportel/