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

Should you visit Dahab 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 Dahab 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: Dahab or Madrid?

Dahab

Dahab is a small town on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is located about 85 kilometers north of Sharm el-Sheikh and sits on the Gulf of Aqaba. It's a popular destination with divers and backpackers alike, and offers some of the best snorkeling and diving that you'll find in the Red Sea. It's a great alternative to the resort driven Sharm el-Sheikh, and is popular with independent travelers who are looking for affordable accommodation. There are some upmarket options however, predominantly in the Laguna area, but budget facilities are not hard to find.

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 Dahab?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Dahab is $13, while the average daily cost in Madrid is $146. 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 Dahab and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dahab $6.09
    Madrid $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dahab $12
    Madrid $166
Compare Hotels in Dahab and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Dahab 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 Dahab


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: Dahab Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dahab $1.92
    Madrid $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dahab

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

  • Private Pickup Transfers From Dahab To Cairo: $260
  • Private Transfer From Dahab To Taba border group from 1 to 12: $220
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Dahab to Taba: $120
  • Private Transfer from Dahab to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) Airport: $109
  • Private Sharm El Sheikh Airport (SSH) Transfer: $71
  • Private Transfer from Hotel in Dahab To Sharm el Sheikh Airport: $55
  • Sharm el-Sheikh: 1-Way or Round-Trip Transfer to Dahab: $38
  • Dahab Private Transfer To/From Sharm el sheikh ( One Way Transfer ): $30

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:

  • Vehicle transfer with driver included in Madrid: $142
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Madrid HTL-APT (MAD): $61
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Madrid APT-HTL (MAD): $61
  • Transfer to Madrid, travel calmly and comfortably: $144
  • Transfer to Barajas Airport from Madrid: $76
  • Transfer in private vehicle from Madrid City - Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD): $61
  • Transfer in private minivan from Madrid City - Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD): $75
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) - Madrid City: $61
  • Transfer from Barajas Airport to Madrid: $95
  • Segovia: Full-Day Tour with Transfer to and from Madrid: $449
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Minivan Madrid Airport (MAD) - Madrid City: $149
  • Round Trip Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid by Sedan: $77

Is it cheaper to fly into Dahab or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Dahab 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
    Dahab $4.82
    Madrid $36
Typical Food Prices in Dahab

For Dahab, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Seafood Dinner (for 2)
    $2.00
  • Juice
    $0.11
  • Breakfast for Two
    $0.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dahab

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

  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $30
  • Bedouin Dinner in the Mountains In Dahab: $36
  • Dahab Desert Safari and Bedouin Dinner: $40
  • Stargazer + Camel riding + Bedouin dinner from Dahab : $90

Typical Food Prices in Madrid

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


  • Coffee
    $2.14
  • Ice Cream
    $3.21
  • Kebabs (for 2)
    $17
  • Croissant
    $1.61
  • 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: $27
  • Drunken Tapas Food Tour with Dinner in Madrid: $33
  • Tapas Dinner Party Food Tour with Guide: $33
  • Tapas Crawl Food Tour with 6 Tapas and 4 Drinks: $35
  • Madrid Tipsy Tapas Guided Food Tour with Dinner: $42
  • Madrid Tipsy Tapas Tour with Dinner and Drinks: $43
  • Madrid Tapas Dinner Party with Guide: $43
  • Paella and Sangria Workshop with Dinner and Drinks: $47
  • Skip the Line: Flamenco Show with Dinner and Workshop in Madrid Ticket: $49
  • San Miguel Market and Street Food Tour: $52
  • Traditional Paella & Sangría Workshop & Spanish Dinner in Madrid: $53
  • The Authentic Morning Madrid's Food Tour: $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dahab $4.60
    Madrid $36

Tours and Activities in Dahab

For Dahab, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2- Day Tour Exploring the Hidden Gems of Serabit el Khadim: $200
  • 4x4 Jeep Adventure from Dahab: $39
  • Adventure Quad Biking Tour in Dahab: $50
  • Adventure Safari By Horse In Dahab At Laguna Beach: $65
  • Blue Hole Snorkeling Tour with lunch from Dahab: $28
  • Camel Ride + Blue Hole Snorkeling + Quad Bike Tour With Lunch From Dahab: $45
  • Dahab Windsurfing Adventure in Red Sea Waves: $30
  • Royal Seascope Submarine Guided Boat Tour : $38
  • Royal seascope Semi-Submarine Cruise: $33
  • luxury Snorkeling cruise with buffet lunch: $41
  • From Three Pools Guided Snorkeling Tour with Lunch: $28
  • Full Day Climbing and Hiking Tour in Canyon with Pickup: $40

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Private Combo Tour Prado Museum and Reina Sofia: $222
  • Toledo with Cathedral from Madrid Full Day Tour: $134
  • Ávila & Segovia Day Tour from Madrid: $97
  • "Prado Museum" Tour A Treasure of World Art: $65
  • 1 Hour Private Tuk tuk Tour in Madrid: $98
  • 1 hour tour in Madrid in Tuk Tuk through the best of the city: $136
  • 1-Hour Madrid Segway Tour: $32
  • 1-Hour Private Flamenco Class in Madrid Experience: $45
  • 2 Hour Madrid Walking Tour : $4.36
  • 2 Hours Private Tuk tuk Tour in Madrid: $164
  • 2.5-Hour Evening Tapas Tour through Madrid: $37
  • 3 Hours Private Madrid City Tour Guide: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dahab $2.63
    Madrid $21

Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid

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


  • Beer
    $5.36
  • 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: $9.62
  • Madrid Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entrance: $11
  • Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
  • Pub crawl & Party Tour Madrid: $14
  • Pub Crawl Madrid Running since 2005 Bar Exploration: $16
  • Guided Pub Crawl Madrid Experience and Club Entry: $16
  • Pub Crawl Madrid-The Original since 2005-Shots-Fun-Clubs-Dance: $16
  • Pub Crawl Madrid: $19
  • 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: $38
  • Wine Tasting Experience: $49


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

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


Which is Bigger, Dahab or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 390 times larger than the population of Dahab. When comparing the sizes of Dahab 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.