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

Should you visit Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu or Madrid?

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Kathmandu?

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

  • Kathmandu Prices
    Nepal Prices
    Madrid Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Kathmandu $54
    Madrid $187

The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $54, while the average daily cost in Madrid is $187. 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 Kathmandu and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $35
    Madrid $90
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $70
    Madrid $180
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu


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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.04
    Madrid $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Lukla Flight Ticket with Sharing Transfer Service: $270
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
  • Private Transfer by Car from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $210
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Kathmandu to Chitwan Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Mount Everest Flight with Guaranteed Window Seat & Transfers: $190
  • Mount Everest Scenic Flight by Buddha Air with Free Transfers: $180
  • Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $158
  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Kathmandu VIP Airport Arrival Meet & Greet with Private Transfer: $150

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:

  • Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $29
  • Private transfer departure from City Centre to Madrid Airport: $29
  • Madrid Barajas Airport Private Transfer To Madrid City: $35
  • Seamless Madrid Airport Transfer One Way or Round Trip Options: $42
  • Madrid Airport (MAD) to Madrid - Arrival Private Transfer: $43
  • Private Transfer From Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $48
  • Private Transfers Madrid Airport to Central Madrid: $51
  • Private Transfer from Novelda to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $63
  • Private Transfer from San Vicente del Raspeig to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $63
  • Private Transfer Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $66
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer Madrid To Madrid Airport: $67
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Madrid APT-HTL (MAD): $68

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Kathmandu 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
    Kathmandu $13
    Madrid $68
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.17
  • Dinner for Two
    $2.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

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

  • Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour: $10
  • Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
  • Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
  • Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
  • Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
  • Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
  • Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
  • Patan Food Tour Walking and Food Testing: $35
  • Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
  • Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36

Typical Food Prices in Madrid

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


  • Coffee
    $2.32
  • Ice Cream
    $3.47
  • Kebabs (for 2)
    $18
  • Croissant
    $1.74
  • 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: $60
  • Madrid Food Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local: $64
  • Zarzuela Opera and Dinner at La Castafiore Restaurant in Madrid: $66
  • Small-Group Food Tour with Local Tapas & Spanish Wine: $70
  • Madrid Old Town Tour & Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $70
  • Murder Mystery Dinner Experience: $76
  • Madrid Food Tour: Best Tapas, Churros & Market Sights by FLT: $89
  • Madrid Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Food Tour: $94
  • The Best Flamenco in Madrid Show with Dinner and Drink: $98
  • Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Food Tour – Small Group Local Bars: $101
  • Madrid Food Tour in a Neighborhood Market with Churros: $106
  • Tapas & Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with a Professional Chef: $106

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.98
    Madrid $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.30
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.26
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.30

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
  • 1 Day Kathmandu 7 UNESCO Heritage Tour: $70
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
  • 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
  • 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
  • 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
  • 2 Day Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
  • 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
  • 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
  • 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
  • 2 Night 3 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $235

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Madrid Monumental Tour: $3.56
  • Walking Tour of Madrid Modern: $3.56
  • Madrid Historical Walking Tour: $3.56
  • Secret Capital Theatre tour of Madrid: $3.57
  • Madrid City Highlights Walking Tour: $4.77
  • Where Cervantes Feuded: A Self-Guided Madrid Tour: $5.00
  • Madrid Historical Self-Guided Walking City Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.36
  • Madrid Old Town Self Guided Tour with Mobile App: $5.99
  • Madrid Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
  • Multicultural A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.33
  • Let's Tapear! The Madrid Tapas Route Walking Audio Tour: $7.35
  • Retiro Park Madrid Walking Tour with Audioguide (no ticket): $7.73

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $4.97
    Madrid $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:

  • Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75

Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid

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


  • Beer
    $5.79
  • Drinks and Tapas (for 2)
    $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:

  • Top Pub Crawl Madrid & Party: $12
  • Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
  • Pub Crawl Madrid Adventure bars with Open bar and VIP Club Entry: $17
  • Madrid Pub Crawl: Club Entry, Bars & Shots: $20
  • Pub Crawl Madrid-The Original since 2005-Shots-Fun-Clubs-Dance: $30
  • Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
  • Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $55
  • Madrid Tapas and Wine Tour with a Local Guide: $74
  • Hypno Tasting Wine Tasting under Hypnosis in Madrid: $77
  • New Year Eve Madrid Pub Crawl: $82
  • Spanish Wine Tasting : $90
  • Toledo Full Day with Winery Visit, Tapas and Wine Tasting: $94


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

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


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Madrid?

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