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

Should you visit Luxor or Madrid?

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

Should I visit Luxor 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: Luxor or Madrid?

Luxor

Egypt is surely on the top of every history lover's bucket list. Nowhere is the history more engrossing than in Luxor. From amazing monuments dating back to ancient Thebes to rows of temples up the Nile, this remarkable city is full the stories of past greatness.

The East Bank – or the central part of Luxor Township – is the hotbed for tourism. This is where most of the hotels and resorts are, while the West Bank is home to the ancient ruins and archaeological wonders you'll want to explore.

Before traveling to Egypt, be sure to check on the current affairs and political climate. It could have a major effect on the amount of tourists visiting, and, if conditions are too dangerous, you may want to reschedule. Also note, ladies, to avoid any issues, dress modestly. This is a very conservative region of the world. The less skin showing, the better.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Egypt, The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Luxor?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Luxor is $17, 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 Luxor and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Luxor $7.62
    Madrid $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Luxor $15
    Madrid $166
Compare Hotels in Luxor and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Luxor 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 Luxor


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: Luxor Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Luxor $3.91
    Madrid $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luxor

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Luxor:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luxor

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Luxor:

  • 3-Night Nile Cruise to Aswan with Transfers and Meals: $429
  • One Way Transfer From Luxor to Alexandria In A Private Vehicle: $295
  • Private transfer from Luxor to Aswan by Car: $280
  • Luxor to Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $277
  • Comfortable Private Transfer from Luxor to El Cairo: $273
  • Private Transfer from Luxor to Aswan: $270
  • Enjoy 2 days Luxor,Aswan,Abu Simbel includes daily lunch&transfers: $254
  • Private Transfer from Luxor to Hurghada : $230
  • Private Pickup Transfers from Luxor to Cairo by Bus : $220
  • Private Transfer from luxor to Aswan with 2 stops in Komombo & Edfu Temples : $220
  • Private Transfer Luxor City To El Gouna: $196
  • Private transfer - from Luxor to Hurghada and visit Dendara en route: $192

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:

  • Private One-Way Transfer to OR from Madrid Airport with private pick up: $77
  • Arrival Private Transfer Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid City by Van: $71
  • Arrival Private Transfer by Business Car from MAD Airport to Madrid: $53
  • Arrival Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid in Private Car: $80
  • Arrival Transfer: Madrid Airport MAD to Madrid in Business Car: $80
  • Departure Private Transfer Madrid to MAD Airport in a Minibus: $137
  • Departure Transfer from Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Private Car: $80
  • Departure Transfer from Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Private Van: $87
  • Departure Transfer: Madrid to Madrid Airport MAD in Luxury Van: $87
  • From Madrid Airport: 1-Way Private Hotel Transfer: $80
  • From Hot Air Balloon over Segovia with Transfer: $262
  • Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Luxor or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Luxor 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
    Luxor $5.83
    Madrid $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luxor

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

  • Dinner on the River Nile with Belly Dancing: $35
  • Eat Like a Local:Traditional Egyptian Food / Dinner at Local Family Home - Luxor: $36
  • Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $38
  • Dinner Cruise on the Nile River: $43
  • Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner Luxor: $45
  • Luxor Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner : $50
  • Private Half Day Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner From Luxor: $52
  • Karnak Sound And Light Show With Dinner, Felucca  : $64
  • Luxor & Mummification Museums & City Tour by H. Carriage & Dinner: $70
  • Enjoy Half Day Sunset Felucca Ride and Banana Island with Lunch or Dinner: $90
  • Full day trip west Bank, Dandara and dinner on a boat.: $128

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.
    Luxor $6.74
    Madrid $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in Luxor

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


  • Boat Ride (for 2)
    $0.57
  • Temple Karnak for Two
    $2.74
  • Camel Ride for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Luxor

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

  • 7 Hours Private Tour in Luxor with Lunch : $35
  • City Tour, Hot Air Balloon, Kings Valley, Felucca in Luxor: $110
  • Daily Tour at The East & West Bank of the Nile: $108
  • Day Private Tour to Karnak and Luxor Temples: $90
  • Day Tour to East and West Banks From Luxor: $24
  • Day Tour to Hathor Temple at Dendera from Luxor by car: $72
  • Day Tour to Madinet Habu Temple & the Workers Tombs: $54
  • Day tour to Aswan from Luxo visit Edfu,Kom Ombo,Phila Temples & Aswan dam.: $276
  • Dendera Temple Half Day Tour from Luxor: $29
  • Dendera and Abydos Temples Day Tour from Luxor with Lunch: $75
  • Dendera and Abydos Templs Full Day Tour: $170
  • East Bank Tour in Luxor: $87

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Madrid Essential: Free Walking City Tour: $1.07
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Madrid Mountains Free Walking Tour: $3.27
  • History & Culture Guided Walking Tour: $4.28
  • Escape Game and Tour: $4.28
  • 2 Hour Madrid Walking Tour : $4.36
  • Wonders of Madrid Walking Tour : $4.36
  • Wonders of Madrid Walking Tour: $5.35
  • Marvels of Madrid Walking Tour: $5.35
  • Madrid Old Town & Hidden Gems Walking Tour: $5.35
  • Ticket Entrance to the Madrid Nougat Museum: $5.35
  • Wonders of Madrid City Walking Tour: $5.35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Luxor $2.26
    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 Luxor and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Luxor much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luxor 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 Luxor would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luxor 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 Luxor.

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


Which is Bigger, Luxor or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Luxor. When comparing the sizes of Luxor 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.