Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Gothenburg or Madrid?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg or Madrid?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
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 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.
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Gothenburg Prices
Sweden PricesMadrid Prices
Spain Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $143Madrid $184
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $143, while the average daily cost in Madrid is $184. 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 Gothenburg and Madrid in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $46Madrid $88
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $92Madrid $176
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Madrid
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $21Madrid $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $212
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $168
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $130
- Airport Transfer: Gothenburg to Airport GOT by Business Car: $123
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $110
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Arrival Private Transfer: $106
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $79
- Gothenburg Airport: Transfer to City center of Gothenburg: $76
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $16
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$30
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: $153
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Madrid APT-HTL (MAD): $68
- Shuttle Transfer Arrivals: Madrid Airport to City Center: $212
- Seamless Madrid Airport Transfer One Way or Round Trip Options: $41
- Private transfer from Madrid airport to Madrid city center.: $93
- Private transfer from Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $92
- Private transfer departure from City Centre to Madrid Airport: $29
- Private tour of Prado & Reina Sofía, tickets and transfer included: $288
- Private Transfers Madrid Airport to Central Madrid: $50
- Private Transfer: Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Luxury Van: $89
- Private Transfer: Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Luxury Car: $120
- Private Transfer: Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid by Business Car: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Madrid?
Prices for flights to both Madrid and Gothenburg 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
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Food Meals for one dayGothenburg $75Madrid $67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taysta's Food Tour i Göteborg: $42
Typical Food Prices in Madrid
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:
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Coffee$2.28
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Ice Cream$3.42
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Kebabs (for 2)$18
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Croissant$1.71
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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:
- Zarzuela Opera and Dinner at La Castafiore Restaurant in Madrid: $65
- Small-Group Food Tour with Local Tapas & Spanish Wine: $69
- Small-Group Food Tour with Tapas, Wine & Vermouth: $74
- Spanish Tapas Experience and Sangría Showcooking in Madrid: $76
- 10 Tapas Cooking Class Experience in Madrid with Sangria: $87
- Guided Food Tour of Tapas, Ham, Olive Oil & Vermouth: $89
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Food Tour – Small Group Local Bars: $91
- Madrid Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Food Tour: $93
- Madrid Spanish Omelet Cooking Class and Bottomless Wine brunch: $94
- The Best Flamenco in Madrid Show with Dinner and Drink: $97
- Madrid Food Tour in a Neighborhood Market with Churros: $105
- Tapas & Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with a Professional Chef: $105
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $18Madrid $38
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $37
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Tour by Bus and Boat: $53
- Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $46
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
- Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $64
- City Kayak Tour: $60
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $38
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $76
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $70
- Gothenburg - Private guided tour: $581
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $37
- Gothenburg : Must-See Attractions Walking Tour: $122
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
- Ávila & Segovia Day Trip From Madrid with Monument Tickets: $116
- 2 Hour Madrid City Expert Tour: $199
- 2 Hour Private Panoramic Tuk Tuk Tour: $200
- 2-Hour Patisserie Experience for Dessert Lovers: $118
- 3 Hour Private Bike Tour in Madrid with a Guide: $176
- 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: $209
- A Self-Guided Tour of El Retiro Park’s Rise, Ruin and Redemption: $5.00
- A local's A self-guided audio tour: $12
- Alcalá de Henares Private Tour from Madrid: $252
- Alcala de Henares and Cervantes Guided Tour from Madrid: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $23Madrid $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:
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Beer$5.70
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Drinks and Tapas (for 2)$15
Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:
- Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
- Madrid Pub Crawl: VIP Entry & Shots, Games (Kapital, Fitz, Shoko): $14
- 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
- Madrid Tapas and Wine Tour with a Local Guide: $73
- Rooftop Bar Crawl Madrid Experience: $76
- New Year Eve Madrid Pub Crawl: $81
- Spanish Wine Tasting : $90
- Spanish Wine Tasting and Tapas Tour: $100
- Wine Tasting and Flamenco Master Class in Madrid: $101
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tour with Rooftop Views and Local Guide: $115
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Madrid Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Madrid?
Madrid has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Gothenburg. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg 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.