Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Coimbra or Madrid?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra or Madrid? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Coimbra or Madrid?
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Portugal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.
-
Coimbra Prices
Portugal PricesMadrid Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCoimbra €138Madrid €162
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €138, while the average daily cost in Madrid is €162. 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 Coimbra and Madrid in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Madrid €78
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Madrid €156
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Madrid
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra 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.
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: Coimbra Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Madrid €18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Coimbra to Aveiro Costa Nova: $292
- Private transfer from/to Fatima - Porto, Coimbra or Aveiro: $268
- Private transfer from/to Fátima - Porto, Braga or Guimarães: $209
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $157
- Fatima Private Transfers to Multiple Destinations: $157
- Transfer Fátima To Lisboa: $140
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride€26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid
Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vehicle transfer with driver included in Madrid: $152
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Madrid HTL-APT (MAD): $68
- Transfer: Barajas Airport (MAD) to Madrid City Center: $31
- Transfer from the Airport to Madrid: $140
- Transfer from Barajas Airport to Madrid: $117
- Shuttle Transfer Arrivals: Madrid Airport to City Center: $210
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Madrid Airport (MAD): $79
- Round Trip Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid by Sedan: $98
- Private transfer from Madrid airport to Madrid city center.: $92
- Private transfer from Atocha Station to Madrid city center: $26
- Private transfer departure from City Centre to Madrid Airport: $29
- Private tour of Prado & Reina Sofía, tickets and transfer included: $286
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Madrid?
Prices for flights to both Madrid and Coimbra 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 dayCoimbra €83Madrid €59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Erotic Cabaret Show and Dinner: $64
- Bairrada Food Tour: $115
Typical Food Prices in Madrid
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:
-
Coffee€2.00
-
Ice Cream€3.00
-
Kebabs (for 2)€16
-
Croissant€1.50
-
Lunch at Airport (for 2)€16
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.Coimbra €18Madrid €33
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Academic Traditions Tour in Coimbra: $70
- An adventure through the Forest and Palace of Bussaco - Coim: $99
- An adventure through the Forest and Palace of Bussaco - Coimbra: $87
- Bairrada Experience Full day with a local Sommelier: $210
- Best of Coimbra Private Walking Tour with University Late Visit: $82
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $29
- Buggy Tour in Serra da Lousã 2Hours: $146
- Buracas do Casmilo Private Hiking Tour from Coimbra: $105
- Coimbra - Condeixa: 120-minute Off-road Buggy Adventure: $303
- Coimbra - Condeixa: 240-minute Off-Road Buggy Adventure: $512
- Coimbra - Condeixa: 60-minute Off-road Buggy Adventure: $175
- Coimbra : Guide to tour, with local guide/certificate, and an entry: $50
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
- 2 Hour Madrid City Expert Tour: $197
- 2 Hour Private Panoramic Tuk Tuk Tour: $198
- 2-Hour Patisserie Experience for Dessert Lovers: $117
- 3 Hour Private Bike Tour in Madrid with a Guide: $175
- 3-hour experience on the Redován K2 Family Via Ferrata: $49
- 30 Minutes of Jet Ski Adventure on the Coast of Alicante: $106
- 3h Prado Museum Private Tour Skip the Line & Hotel Pick-up: $208
- A Self-Guided Tour of El Retiro Park’s Rise, Ruin and Redemption: $5.00
- A local's A self-guided audio tour: $9.99
- Alcalá de Henares Private Tour from Madrid: $249
- Alcala de Henares and Cervantes Guided Tour from Madrid: $55
- An Architectural insight of Madrid on a Private Tour with a local: $158
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Madrid €19
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Guided Wine Tasting with Regional Bites: $31
- Coimbra Food and Wine Tasting Private Guided Walk: $41
Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:
-
Beer€5.00
-
Drinks and Tapas (for 2)€13
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 Coimbra and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Coimbra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Coimbra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Coimbra 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 Coimbra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Coimbra Expensive? and Is Madrid Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Madrid?
Madrid has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Coimbra. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.