Should you visit Paris or Madrid?
Should I visit Paris or Madrid? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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.
Which city is cheaper, Madrid or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €184, while the average daily cost in Madrid is €107. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Paris and Madrid in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €242 in Paris For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around €118 for a double occupancy room in Madrid If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Food in Paris costs travelers about €31 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
The price of a meal in Madrid can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is €27 per person, and a typical meal will cost around €11 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Paris €31
Madrid €27
Typical Food prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
-
Ice Cream
€8.00
-
Breakfast
€7.00
-
Breakfast for 2
€30
-
Dinner on River Cruise
€86
-
Dinner
€57
-
Cheese
€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Authentic Dinner at Parisian's Home:
$41
-
Paris en Scene Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise:
$49
-
3-course Dinner Cruise with Panorama on Seine River:
$49
-
Italian Dinner Cruise on the River Seine:
$57
-
Paris River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$60
-
Special Dinner in French Cuisine near Notre Dame:
$61
-
Italian dinner on the river Seine:
$61
-
Seine River Cruise with French Dinner on Champs-Elysees Avenue:
$61
-
Paris Food Tour: Bustronome Gourmet Tour of Paris:
$61
-
Choux cooking class for kids in Paris:
$62
-
Romantic Cruise with 3-course Dinner on Seine River:
$63
-
Capitaine Fracasse Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise:
$67
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:
-
Virtual Cooking Class: The Spanish Paella Experience:
$24
-
Florida Retiro Dinner Show:
$38
-
Murder Mystery Dinner Experience:
$49
-
Virtual cooking - spanish "tortilla de patatas":
$50
-
Skip the Line: Flamenco Show with Dinner and Workshop in Madrid Ticket:
$52
-
Private Food Tour in The 10 Tastings:
$53
-
Homemade pasta cooking class and lunch in the heart of Madrid:
$58
-
Mamaz Social Italian Dinner in Madrid:
$60
-
3-hour Virtual Spanish Cooking Class in Madrid:
$62
-
Opera and Zarzuela Show and Dinner:
$62
-
Authentic Italian Dinner in Madrid:
$68
-
Zarzuela Opera and Dinner at La Castafiore Restaurant in Madrid:
$68
Local Transportation
To get around in Paris, the average visitor spends €17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
To get around in Madrid, the average visitor spends €15 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro
€6.40
-
Train from Airport
€9.00
-
Metro tickets
€6.80
-
Train
€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private transfer from Paris to London. Professional drivers, Mercedes cars!:
$1,687
-
Paris To Geneva - Private Vehicule Transfer Express:
$1,431
-
Transfer from Paris to Geneva or from Geneva to Paris:
$1,431
-
Private Transfer from Paris to Bayeux - Up to 7 people:
$1,227
-
Private Transfer from Paris to Mont Saint-Michel - Up to 7 people:
$1,219
-
Private Transfer from Paris to Caen - Up to 7 people:
$1,204
-
Intimate Guided Normandy Tour from Paris with Hotel Transfers:
$1,106
-
Private Transfer from Paris to Honfleur - Up to 7 people:
$1,025
-
Paris Private Round-trip Transfer: Paris City to Castle Castelnaud-la-Chapelle:
$1,023
-
Private transfer Paris to Amsterdam - 1 to 3 people:
$877
-
Private Transfer from Paris City Center to Mont-Saint-Michel:
$717
-
Private transfer between Paris and London:
$710
Typical Local Transportation prices in Madrid
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid
Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private one way transfer from Madrid to Seville with private pick up & drop off:
$1,081
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Biarritz:
$890
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Biarritz Airport:
$890
-
Private Weekend Trip to Madrid with Private Transfers and Private Tours:
$840
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Pamplona:
$753
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Pamplona Airport:
$753
-
DUCA - Hassle-Free transfer from Madrid to Vicentine Coast:
$743
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Bilbao:
$739
-
Private Transfer from Madrid to Bilbao Cruise Port:
$739
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Bilbao Airport:
$739
-
Private Transfer from Madrid to Santander Port:
$677
-
Private Transfer from Madrid city to Santander Airport:
$677
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Madrid?
Prices for flights to both Madrid and Paris 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.
Entertainment
In Paris, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €62 per person, per day.
In Madrid, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €27 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Louvre Entry for Two
€18
-
Admission to Pantheon
€5.00
-
Catacombs (2)
€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
-
1 Day Private Walking Tour Of Montmartre, Latin Quarter, Champs Élysées:
$180
-
1 Day in Eiffel Tower, Cruise, City Tour, and Louvre:
$139
-
1 Hour Real time Virtual Tour in Paris:
$150
-
1 hour Sainte Chapelle- skip the line access - English or Español:
$51
-
1.5-Hour Paris Segway Night Tour:
$105
-
14-day Taste of Europe Tour: France, Italy, Monaco,Switzerland,Germany and more.:
$1,565
-
15+ Top Sights Paris Tour with Fun Guide:
$52
-
180° Paris by Night Tour: Exclusively for You & Your Group:
$54
-
1:30 hours tour of Louvre museum:
$261
-
1st Day in Paris Discovery Private Tour: 'How-to' Orientation & Sightseeing Fun!:
$63
-
2 Hours Paris city center walking tour:
$16
-
2 Hours Photoshoot tours at the Eiffel tower, Trocadero, Champs de Mars and more:
$423
Tours and Activities in Madrid
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.
-
1-Hour Historic Tour of Madrid by Scrooser:
$29
-
10 Days Tour Heart of Spain:
$1,592
-
10-Day Andalusia and Morocco escorted tour from Madrid:
$1,680
-
10-Day Guided Tour Morocco and Andalusia from Madrid:
$1,709
-
11-Day Portugal and Andalucia Guided Tour from Madrid:
$1,735
-
12-Day Morocco and South of Spain Tour from Madrid:
$1,722
-
13-Day Mediterranean Capitals Guided Tour from Madrid:
$2,114
-
2 Day Bus Tour: Granada, Toledo & Madrid from Costa del Sol:
$259
-
2 Hour Hidden Oasis Retiro Park Madrid Small Group Segway Tour:
$33
-
2 Hours Secrets of Madrid Retiro Park Tour:
$11
-
2-Day Guided Tour Cordoba and Seville from Madrid:
$404
-
2-Day Tour of Cordoba and Sevilla from Madrid:
$406
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Paris, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €19.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Madrid, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €16.
Typical Alcohol prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
-
Paris Pub Crawl with Free Club Entry and Free Shots:
$18
-
New Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Wine Tasting with Professional Sommelier:
$29
-
Introductory French Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$29
-
Wine Tasting at the Cellars of Bercy Village:
$36
-
Pub Crawl in Latin Quarter:
$37
-
French Wine Experience with Wine Tasting:
$37
-
Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris:
$40
-
Guided tour and wine tasting in a historic cellar in the center of Paris:
$41
-
Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex:
$47
-
Organic wine tasting in Paris:
$56
-
Wine Shopping & Wine Tasting Class in the 5th:
$61
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:
-
5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$13
-
Madrid Pub Crawl:
$14
-
Pub Crawl in Madrid:
$15
-
Pub Crawl Madrid by Madpartycrew:
$19
-
Wine Tasting near Plaza Mayor:
$20
-
Private Pub Crawl Madrid:
$21
-
Wine Tasting Experience:
$32
-
Madrid Wine Tasting, Flamenco Class, and Pub Crawl:
$44
-
Madrid 6-Hour Tapas and Flamenco Bar Crawl:
$46
-
Madrid Tapas and Mysteries Walking Tour with Private Option and Pub Crawl:
$47
-
Wine Tasting and Flamenco Master Class in Madrid:
$58
-
Segovia and Spanish Versailles Full-Day Tour with Wine Tasting:
$62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Madrid, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Madrid much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Madrid would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Madrid 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Madrid.
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