Which place is cheaper, Santo Domingo or Madrid?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Madrid or Santo Domingo?
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 Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo?
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.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a vibrant city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and modernity. Known for being the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, Santo Domingo offers a wealth of experiences that cater to every type of traveler.
Traveling to Santo Domingo on a budget is entirely achievable with some strategic planning. Accommodations range from luxury hotels to budget-friendly hostels and guesthouses. The Zona Colonial, the historic district, offers several affordable lodging options that provide easy access to major attractions. Hostels offer comfortable accommodations and a chance to meet fellow travelers, too. Eating on a budget is also feasible in Santo Domingo. Local eateries, known as "comedores," serve traditional Dominican dishes at reasonable prices.
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 Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.
-
Madrid Prices
Spain PricesSanto Domingo Prices
Dominican Republic Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMadrid €162Santo Domingo €91
The average daily cost (per person) in Madrid is €162, while the average daily cost in Santo Domingo is €91. 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 Santo Domingo in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMadrid €78Santo Domingo €37
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMadrid €156Santo Domingo €74
Compare Hotels in Madrid and Santo Domingo
Looking for a hotel in Madrid or Santo Domingo? 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 Santo Domingo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Madrid €18Santo Domingo €4.19
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:
- MAD Airport Private Transfer to/from Madrid City Center: $23
- Hotel Madrid City Private Transfer To Madrid Barajas Airport: $28
- Private transfer departure from City Centre to Madrid Airport: $29
- Madrid Airport (MAD) to Madrid - Arrival Private Transfer: $43
- Madrid Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $50
- Madrid Airport Departure Private Transfer: $51
- Madrid Airport to City Center: 1-Way Premium Private Transfer: $51
- Private Transfer From Madrid to Atocha Station in Madrid: $56
- Private Transfer From Madrid to Chamartín Station in Madrid: $56
- 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 From Madrid Airport to Madrid: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santo Domingo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Santo Domingo:
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo SDQ to Samana/Miches/Terrenas: $299
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Cabarete or Sosua: $259
- Bahía de las Águilas w/ Private Transfer: $250
- Private transfer Santo Domingo Airport to, Sosua, Cabarete,: $240
- Transfer from the Americas Inter. Airport to Punta Cana: $235
- Private transfer from Santo Domingo to Punta Cana & Viceversa (one way): $235
- Santo Domingo Airport to Uvero Alto Exclusive Transfer: $197
- Transfer from Santo Domingo SDQ /JBQ Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $192
- Santo Domingo transfer to downtown (private roundtrip): $191
- Private Transfer Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) to Puerto Plata Port: $186
- Private Arrival Transfer: Santo Domingo International Airport to Hotels (5 - 7): $184
- VIP Private Transfer from Las Americas Airport to Punta Cana: $172
Is it cheaper to fly into Madrid or Santo Domingo?
Prices for flights to both Santo Domingo 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 dayMadrid €59Santo Domingo €49
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:
- Zarzuela Opera and Dinner at La Castafiore Restaurant in Madrid: $65
- Small-Group Food Tour with Local Tapas & Spanish Wine: $69
- Madrid Old Town Tour & Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $70
- Murder Mystery Dinner Experience: $76
- Chocolate & Churros Cooking Class in Madrid: $77
- Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Food Tour – Small Group Local Bars: $94
- Madrid Spanish Omelet Cooking Class and Bottomless Wine brunch: $95
- Madrid Food Tour in a Neighborhood Market with Churros: $105
- Tapas & Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with a Professional Chef: $105
- Madrid Local Tapas Tour with Private Dinner and Bottomless Wine: $139
- Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with Bottomless Wine Pairing: $141
- Madrid Food Tour - Tapas Walking Tour: $142
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santo Domingo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Santo Domingo.
- Cooking Class in Santo Domingo:6 Recipes & Bottomless Drinks: $42
- Food Tour & Paradise Beach Day with Drinks: $140
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Madrid €33Santo Domingo €13
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
- Madrid Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $1.76
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Madrid: $3.54
- Madrid Walking Tour from Puerta del Sol to Retiro Park: $3.54
- Self-Guided Tours In Madrid With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.54
- Walking Tour of Madrid Modern: $3.54
- Madrid City Highlights Walking Tour: $4.74
- Where Cervantes Feuded: A Self-Guided Madrid Tour: $5.00
- The Red Thread of Resistance Madrid Podcast Tour: $5.67
- Let's Tapear! The Madrid Tapas Route Walking Audio Tour: $7.35
- Madrid Mystery Quest: Self-Guided Surreal Adventure Game: $8.28
- Madrid Essential : Self-Guided Tour created by local Official Guide: $8.29
- Madrid Interactive City Tour: $8.29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Santo Domingo
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Santo Domingo are as follows:
-
Snorkeling Tour€38
Tours and Activities in Santo Domingo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Santo Domingo are as follows:
- 6 Hours Private Cultural Tour in Santo Domingo: $190
- Cabarete Caves & Nature Adventure: $128
- Cultural VIP Private Tour From Santo Domingo: $150
- Cumayasa Private Buggies Tour from Santo Domingo: $135
- Dominican Food, Rum, and Beer Tasting Experience: $35
- Experience the Three Eyes Park and Columbus Lighthouse: $45
- From Catalina Island Day Tour: $85
- From Full day Historical Tour with Lunch: $75
- Full Dominican Adventure: Zipline, ATV Buggie, Horseback & Safari: $266
- Guided Full-Day Santo Domingo Tour with pickup from Punta Cana: $99
- Hiking and Hidden River Tour in Santo Domingo: $110
- Historical City Tour Santo Domingo: $105
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMadrid €19Santo Domingo €6.89
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:
- Top Pub Crawl Madrid & Party: $12
- 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 Adventure bars with Open bar and VIP Club Entry: $17
- Madrid Pub Crawl: Club Entry, Bars & Shots: $20
- Spanish Wine Tasting Overlooking Parque del Oeste: $26
- Wine Tasting near Plaza Mayor in Madrid: $36
- 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: $74
- Rooftop Bar Crawl Madrid Experience: $77
- Spanish Wine Tasting : $90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Madrid and Santo Domingo, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Santo Domingo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Madrid is in Europe and Santo Domingo is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Santo Domingo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santo Domingo 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 Santo Domingo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Madrid Expensive? and Is Santo Domingo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Madrid or Santo Domingo?
Madrid has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Santo Domingo. When comparing the sizes of Madrid and Santo Domingo, 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.