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

Should you visit Madrid or Guatemala City?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Madrid and Guatemala City 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: Madrid or Guatemala City?

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.

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City or Madrid?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Madrid is €136, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is €41. 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 Madrid and Guatemala City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Madrid 77
    Guatemala City 22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Madrid 154
    Guatemala City 44
Compare Hotels in Madrid and Guatemala City

Looking for a hotel in Madrid or Guatemala City? 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 Madrid


Hotels in Guatemala City


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: Madrid Hotel Prices and Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Madrid 19
    Guatemala City 5.76
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:

  • Madrid Barajas Airport: Transfer to/from Atocha Bus Station: $7.52
  • Madrid Barajas International Airport - Private Arrival Transfer: $22
  • Private transfer from Atocha Station to Madrid city center: $22
  • Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $26
  • Private One-way Airport Transfer Madrid To Madrid Airport: $28
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Barajas Airport: $40
  • Private Transfer: Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport (MAD) to Madrid: $42
  • Madrid Airport Private Departure Transfer: $43
  • Private Transfer From Madrid Barajas Airport to Madrid: $44
  • Madrid Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $45
  • Private Transfer from Airport to the City of Madrid Round Trip: $48
  • Madrid City Center: Private Transfer to Madrid Airport: $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • From Panajachel: Transfer to Guatemala City: $240
  • Transfer: From Guatemala City to El Paredon Beach: $240
  • Guatemala Airport to San Felipe de Lara RoundTrip PrivateTransfer: $154
  • Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $150
  • Guatemala City Airport(GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Round-Trip Transfer: $131
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120
  • Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
  • Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $77
  • Transfer from Guatemala City hotel to INTL Airport La Aurora: $75
  • Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua: $74
  • One way private transfer to Antigua: $74
  • Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Madrid or Guatemala City?

Prices for flights to both Guatemala City and Madrid 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
    Madrid 34
    Guatemala City 14
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:

  • Paella and Sangria Workshop with Dinner and Drinks: $43
  • Tapas Crawl Food Tour with 6 Tapas and 4 Drinks: $53
  • San Miguel Market and Street Food Tour: $53
  • Tapas Dinner Party Food Tour with Guide: $53
  • Drunken Tapas Food Tour with Dinner in Madrid: $53
  • Tipsy Tapas Food Tour with Drinks and Food: $53
  • Madrid Tipsy Tapas Guided Food Tour with Dinner: $53
  • Madrid Tapas Dinner Party with Guide: $54
  • Traditional Paella & Sangría Workshop & Spanish Dinner in Madrid: $54
  • The Authentic Morning Madrid's Food Tour: $59
  • Opera and Zarzuela Show and Dinner: $61
  • Madrid San Miguel Market and City Center Street Food Tour: $63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Cooking class/Pepian Workshop: $35
  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Madrid 34
    Guatemala City 1.13

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Madrid Essential: Free Walking City Tour: $1.08
  • Tour Retiro Park - Madrid self-guided tour app: $2.15
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • Madrid Mountains Free Walking Tour: $3.28
  • Guided tour of the Madrid of spies: $3.28
  • History & Culture Guided Walking Tour: $4.31
  • Escape Game and Tour: $4.31
  • Wonders of Madrid Walking Tour : $4.37
  • 2 Hour Madrid Walking Tour : $4.37
  • Wonders of Madrid Walking Tour: $5.38
  • Mapfre Foundation Entry Ticket: $5.38
  • Wonders of Madrid City Walking Tour: $5.38

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • 2-Day Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City or Antigua: $265
  • 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $130
  • 3-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South: $55
  • 4-hour Bike Tour Guatemala City South Center: $65
  • Acatenango Volcano Overnight Adventure from Guatemala City : $300
  • Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $77
  • Antigua Guatemala , Full-Day Shared Tour from Guatemala City: $75
  • Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $58
  • Antigua walking tour from Guatemala City : $90
  • Bike Tour to Antigua Villages from Guatemala City : $175
  • Chichicastenango - Panajachel collective tour: $150
  • Chichicastenango Market Tour: $124

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Madrid 20
    Guatemala City 6.38
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:

  • Pub Crawl with Tapas and VIP Club Entry: $9.69
  • Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
  • Pub crawl & Party Tour Madrid: $14
  • Guided Pub Crawl Madrid Experience and Club Entry: $16
  • Pub Crawl Madrid Running since 2005 Bar Exploration: $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: $50
  • Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $50


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

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


Which is Bigger, Madrid or Guatemala City?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Guatemala City. When comparing the sizes of Madrid and Guatemala City, 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.