A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aqaba vs. Madrid for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aqaba or Madrid?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Madrid, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Aqaba or Madrid?

Aqaba

Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.

Madrid

Madrid, the capital of Spain, overs visitors countless opportunities to experience Spain's culture, art, cuisine, and nightlife. It is the largest city in Spain, and as such has much to explore. The city is situated on the Iberian Peninsula on the Spanish central Castillian plateau. If you're flying into Spain, you'll likely fly into the Madrid airport as it's one of the largest airports in Europe. Madrid is well connected to the rest of Spain with planes, trains and buses, making it a popular place to visit for many travelers doing a European tour.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Aqaba?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Madrid is $185. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aqaba and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aqaba $59
    Madrid $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aqaba $118
    Madrid $178
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Madrid? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Aqaba


Hotels in Madrid


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aqaba $24
    Madrid $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:

  • Amman/Death Sea: 1-Way Transfer to/from Wadi Rum in Private: $266
  • Private Transfers To Petra: $200
  • Petra by Night Tour with Private Transfer: $198
  • Private Transfer: Aqaba Airport to Sheikh Hussein Border or vice versa: $193
  • Private Transfer to Petra with Wi-Fi and Water: $191
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Allenby King Hussein Bridge: $173
  • Private Car Transfer with Wadi Rum Jeep Safari: $169
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Dead Sea Hotels: $160
  • Transfers , Meet & Assistance at Wadi Araba Crossing Border: $153
  • Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Wadi rum: $140
  • Private Transfer from Wadi Rum to Amman Airport: $133
  • Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Amman Hotels: $133

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid

Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Adolfo Suárez Madrid- Barajas Airport private transfer, Pick up.: $96
  • Arrival Private Transfer Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid City by Van: $89
  • Arrival Private Transfer by Business Car from MAD Airport to Madrid: $66
  • Arrival Transfer from Bologna Airport BLQ to Bologna City by Van: $100
  • Arrival Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid in Private Car: $86
  • Arrival Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid in Private Van: $93
  • Arrival Transfer from Madrid MAD Airport to Madrid by Luxury Car: $102
  • Arrival Transfer: Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid by Luxury Van: $97
  • Departure Private Transfer Madrid to MAD Airport in a Minibus: $173
  • Departure Private Transfer from Madrid to MAD Airport by Van: $86
  • Departure Transfer: Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Luxury Van: $93
  • Madrid Airport (MAD) to Madrid - Arrival Private Transfer: $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Aqaba change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Aqaba $73
    Madrid $67

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.

  • Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
  • Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
  • Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $82
  • Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $100
  • Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $109
  • From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
  • Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
  • Half Day Sunset Tour + Dinner & overnight stay in luxury tents: $286
  • Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425

Typical Food Prices in Madrid

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:


  • Coffee
    $2.29
  • Ice Cream
    $3.43
  • Kebabs (for 2)
    $18
  • Croissant
    $1.71
  • Lunch at Airport (for 2)
    $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Madrid

For Madrid, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Corral de la Moreria Madrid Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $58
  • Madrid Food Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local: $63
  • Madrid Paella and Churros Cooking Class Ham and Wines Tasting: $69
  • Spanish Tapas Experience and Sangría Showcooking in Madrid: $76
  • Madrid : Paella and Churros cooking class, ham and wines tasting: $76
  • Chocolate & Churros Cooking Class in Madrid: $76
  • Small-Group Food Tour with Local Tapas & Spanish Wine: $76
  • 10 Tapas Cooking Class Experience in Madrid with Sangria: $86
  • Madrid Food Tour: Best Tapas, Churros & Market Sights by FLT: $87
  • Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Food Tour – Small Group Local Bars: $90
  • Madrid Spanish Omelet Cooking Class and Bottomless Wine brunch: $93
  • Spanish Cooking Class Paella Tapas and Sangria in Madrid: $99

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aqaba $54
    Madrid $38

Tours and Activities in Aqaba

Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • "Jordan: 3-Day Tour of Ancient Sites, Nature,&Local Culture": $317
  • 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $61
  • 04 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $73
  • 05 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $68
  • 06 Hours Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum: $84
  • 1 Day & 1 Night | Stay & Jeep + Camel Tour in Wadi Rum | Magic Bedouin Star: $99
  • 1 Day Camel tour with lunch: $75
  • 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $190
  • 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
  • 2 To 5 Hours Glass Bottom Boat Private Tour At Read Sea: $90
  • 2-Hour Desert Guided Activities Tour in Wadi Rum: $50
  • 3 Hours Private Stargazing Experience in Wadi Rum: $49

Tours and Activities in Madrid

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.

  • Self Guided Walking City Tour in Madrid: $1.14
  • Madrid Old Town Self Guided Tour with Mobile App: $3.29
  • Madrid Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.49
  • Tuk Tuk Tour of the Best of Madrid (booking only): $3.49
  • Madrid Historical Walking Tour: $3.49
  • Walking Tour of Madrid Modern: $3.49
  • Self-Guided Tours In Madrid With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.49
  • Madrid - Medieval to Modern Walking Tour (English): $3.50
  • A Self-Guided Tour of El Retiro Park’s Rise, Ruin and Redemption: $5.00
  • Madrid Historical Self-Guided Walking City Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.83
  • Madrid Self-Guided Walking City Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.83
  • Manzanares River’s Story: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Madrid: $5.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aqaba $9.07
    Madrid $22

Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:


  • Beer
    $5.72
  • Drinks and Tapas (for 2)
    $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:

  • Madrid Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entrance: $12
  • Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
  • Madrid Pub Crawl: VIP Entry & Shots, Games (Kapital, Fitz, Shoko): $14
  • Madrid Pub Crawl: Club Entry, Bars & Shots: $20
  • Pub Crawl Madrid-The Original since 2005-Shots-Fun-Clubs-Dance: $29
  • Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
  • Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $54
  • New Year Eve Madrid Pub Crawl: $80
  • Spanish Wine Tasting : $90
  • Authentic Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour with Local Guide by FLT: $92
  • Old Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Tour - Real Small Groups 8 Max: $98
  • Wine Tasting and Flamenco Master Class in Madrid: $100


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Aqaba much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Madrid is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Aqaba would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aqaba and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Madrid would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Madrid than you might in Aqaba.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Madrid Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Madrid, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.