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

Should you visit Cairo or Madrid?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Madrid can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Cairo or Madrid?

Cairo

Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Cairo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $18, while the average daily cost in Madrid is $148. 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 Cairo and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cairo $9.54
    Madrid $84
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cairo $19
    Madrid $168
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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 Cairo


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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cairo $3.04
    Madrid $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo

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


  • Metro Ride
    $0.09
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:

  • From Private Day Trip to Luxor w/ Transfer & Flights: $589
  • 3-Days Private Guided Tour Package Covering all Cairo,Lunch and Airport Transfer: $300
  • 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
  • Private Transfer from Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh : $290
  • Cairo - Sharm El Sheikh: One-Way or Return Private Transfer: $290
  • 2 Days and 2 Evenings Private Tour in Cairo include airport transfer and M&A: $280
  • 2 Days Private Guided Tours of Cairo and Giza with Free Cairo Airport Transfers: $280
  • From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $275
  • 2-Day Camping Tour in The Bahariya Oasis with Private Transfer: $274
  • Private Transfer from El Cairo (CAI) Airport to Hurghada: $267
  • Private 4 days Sightseeing Cairo and Giza Tour airport transfers: $250
  • Camping in the White & Black Deserts (Bahariya Oasis) & Cairo Private transfer : $250

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid

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

  • Madrid Airport MAD Round-Trip Transfer in Private Van: $165
  • Private One-Way Transfer to OR from Madrid Airport with private pick up: $78
  • Arrival Private Transfer Madrid Airport MAD to Avila City by Business Car: $231
  • Arrival Private Transfer Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid City by Van: $73
  • Arrival Private Transfer by Business Car from MAD Airport to Madrid: $53
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Toledo or Avila by Van: $181
  • Arrival Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid in Private Van: $84
  • Departure Private Transfer: Madrid City to Madrid Airport MAD by Business Car: $51
  • Departure Transfer: Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Luxury Van: $84
  • From Madrid Airport: 1-Way Private Hotel Transfer: $81
  • From Hot Air Balloon over Segovia with Transfer: $266
  • Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $27

Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Cairo 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
    Cairo $4.84
    Madrid $37
Typical Food Prices in Cairo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:


  • Juice
    $0.04

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo

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

  • Unusual Cairo Food Tour : $12
  • Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $13
  • Nile Sunset, Dinner Cruise, Show and Private Transfer: $16
  • Dinner Cruise on the Nile with Private Transfer from Cairo: $16
  • Cairo Dinner Cruise On The Nile River With Private Transfer: $16
  • Super Safari ATV , Drive Buggy Car, Camel Ride, Dinner, Show-Hurghada: $19
  • Giza pyramids ,Sphinx ,Valley temple and Nile Dinner cruise tours: $20
  • Dinner Cruise Cairo With Belly Dancer Show in The Nile River: $20
  • Private Tour Giza pyramids, Camel Ride, Lunch, Nile Dinner Cruise & Shopping: $20
  • local oriental food tour from Cairo or Giza hotels: $22
  • Private tour Giza pyramids and Nile dinner cruise from Giza and Cairo hotels: $23
  • Quad Bike ATV Camel Ride Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $23

Typical Food Prices in Madrid

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


  • Coffee
    $2.18
  • Ice Cream
    $3.27
  • Kebabs (for 2)
    $17
  • Croissant
    $1.63
  • Lunch at Airport (for 2)
    $17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Madrid

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

  • Tipsy Tapas Food Tour with Drinks and Food: $28
  • Drunken Tapas Food Tour with Dinner in Madrid: $33
  • Tapas Dinner Party Food Tour with Guide: $34
  • Tapas Crawl Food Tour with 6 Tapas and 4 Drinks: $36
  • Paella and Sangria Workshop with Dinner and Drinks: $37
  • San Miguel Market and Street Food Tour: $42
  • Madrid Tipsy Tapas Guided Food Tour with Dinner: $42
  • Madrid Tapas Dinner Party with Guide: $43
  • Skip the Line: Flamenco Show with Dinner and Workshop in Madrid Ticket: $50
  • The Authentic Morning Madrid's Food Tour: $60
  • Opera and Zarzuela Show and Dinner: $62
  • Madrid San Miguel Market and City Center Street Food Tour: $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cairo $5.86
    Madrid $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo

Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entry to Camel Market for Two
    $0.86
  • Egyptian Museum Entry for Two
    $6.62

Tours and Activities in Cairo

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

  • 2 Days 1 Nights Tour package to Saint-Catherine from Cairo : $300
  • 2 Days White Desert and Bahariya Oasis Tour: $231
  • 2 Days in Cairo & Giza Private Tour : $80
  • 2-Day Cairo Giza Highlights Guided Tour including Camel Ride All inclusive : $40
  • 2-Day Private Tour of Cairo with Accommodation and Entrance Fees: $165
  • 2-Day Tour Ancient Egypt and Old Cairo Highlights Tour: $290
  • 2-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza: $145
  • 2-Days Tours at Cairo & Giza : $143
  • 3-Day Cairo Top Attractions Exploration Tour: $180
  • 3-Days Tour at Cairo (Customized Package): $229
  • 3-Days Tour in Siwa Oasis from Cairo : $217
  • 4-Day Tours at Cairo & Giza & Alexandria: $209

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Madrid Essential: Free Walking City Tour: $1.09
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.26
  • Escape Game and Tour: $4.34
  • Ticket Entrada al Museo del Turrón de Madrid: $5.43
  • Mapfre Foundation Entry Ticket: $5.43
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Madrid: $5.51
  • Manzanares River’s Story: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Madrid: $5.99
  • Manzanares River’s Story Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.50
  • Multicultural A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Madrid’s Tapas Spots: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • A local's A self-guided audio tour: $6.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cairo $1.20
    Madrid $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:

  • Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $57

Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid

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


  • Beer
    $5.44
  • Drinks and Tapas (for 2)
    $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:

  • Pub Crawl with Tapas and VIP Club Entry: $9.77
  • Madrid Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entrance: $11
  • Pub crawl & Party Tour Madrid: $14
  • Guided Pub Crawl Madrid Experience and Club Entry: $16
  • Pub Crawl Madrid Running since 2005 Bar Exploration: $16
  • Madrid's Live Music Bar Crawl: $21
  • Wine Tasting near Plaza Mayor: $22
  • Wine Tasting Experience with 4 Spanish Wines: $26
  • Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $39
  • Wine Tasting Experience: $50
  • Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $51
  • Toledo Day Trip with Winery Visit and Wine Tasting: $56


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.

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


Which is Bigger, Cairo or Madrid?

Cairo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Madrid. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.