Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Madrid?
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 Madrid or Machu Picchu?
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 Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu?
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.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Madrid Prices
Spain PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMadrid €162Machu Picchu €111
The average daily cost (per person) in Madrid is €162, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €111. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMadrid €78Machu Picchu €40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMadrid €156Machu Picchu €80
Compare Hotels in Madrid and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Madrid or Machu Picchu? 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: Madrid Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Madrid €18Machu Picchu €29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
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Taxi Ride€26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid
Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Tour of the Prado & Reina Sofía, Tickets and Transfer Included: $280
- Private Transfer from Moratalla to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $273
- Private Transfer from Bolnuevo to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer from La Manga strip dos Mares to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $237
- Private Transfer to Toledo or Segovia from Madrid: $228
- Private Transfer from La Manga Club to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $227
- Madrid Airport Transfer to Toledo or Avila by Van: $221
- Private Transfer from Corvera Golf Resort to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $218
- Shuttle Transfer Arrivals: Madrid Airport to City Center: $205
- Private Shuttle Transfer from City Centre to Airport: $205
- Private Transfer from Cieza to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $205
- Private Transfer from El Verger to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $191
Is it cheaper to fly into Madrid or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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
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Food Meals for one dayMadrid €59Machu Picchu €32
Typical Food Prices in Madrid
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:
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Coffee€2.00
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Ice Cream€3.00
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Kebabs (for 2)€16
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Croissant€1.50
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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:
- Madrid Street Food Tour with Local Tastings: $52
- Corral de la Moreria Madrid Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $57
- Madrid Paella Cooking Class with Unlimited Sangría: $62
- San Miguel Market & Tapas Small-Group Food Tour: $67
- Murder Mystery Dinner Experience: $73
- Spanish Tapas Experience and Sangría Showcooking in Madrid: $74
- Chocolate & Churros Cooking Class in Madrid: $74
- 10 Tapas Cooking Class Experience in Madrid with Sangria: $84
- Madrid Food Tour: Tapas, Drinks and Delights with a Local: $86
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Food Tour – Small Group Local Bars: $90
- Madrid Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Food Tour: $90
- Madrid Food Tour: Tapas, Wine & Local Bars: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Madrid €33Machu Picchu €71
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: $113
- 2 Days Guided Cultural Tour in Madrid Royal Palace and 3 Museums: $217
- 2 Hour Private Panoramic Tuk Tuk Tour: $194
- 2-Hour Patisserie Experience for Dessert Lovers: $114
- 3 Hour Private Bike Tour in Madrid with a Guide: $171
- 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: $203
- 5-6 pax Tuk Tuk Tour 120 mins + Natural Limonade: $297
- A Complete Walking Tour of Imperial and Literary Madrid: $28
- A Self-Guided Tour of El Retiro Park’s Rise, Ruin and Redemption: $5.00
- A local's A self-guided audio tour: $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor€2.60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMadrid €19Machu Picchu €6.61
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€5.00
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Drinks and Tapas (for 2)€13
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
- Madrid Pub Crawl: Club Entry, Bars & Shots: $19
- Spanish Wine Tasting Overlooking Parque del Oeste: $25
- Wine Tasting near Plaza Mayor in Madrid: $34
- Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
- Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $53
- Madrid Royal Palace Small Group Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $67
- Hypno Tasting Wine Tasting under Hypnosis in Madrid: $74
- Rooftop Bar Crawl Madrid Experience: $74
- Toledo Tour & Vineyard Experience with Wine Tasting from Madrid: $86
- Madrid Tapas and Wine Tour with a Local Guide: $89
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Madrid and Machu Picchu, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Madrid is in Europe and Machu Picchu is in South 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Madrid Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.