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

Should you visit Tangier or Madrid?

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

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

Tangier

Welcome to the gateway to Africa. Sitting on the coast of the Strait of Gibraltar, Tangier, Morocco has historically served as the meeting point of the Mediterranean and Africa.

After World War II, this city became a destination for eccentric foreigners, artists, spies and hippies. After that, the city was neglected and gained a horrible reputation for the hustlers cheating visitors left and right.

In 1999 Morocco saw the beginning of a new monarch who was more progressive with his vision for tourism. This message lit a fire under Tangier, helping the people see the amazing potential in their great city. They built a new port, a new business district and revamped the airport. The beaches and streets have been cleaned up of trash and hustlers and there's a sudden surge in cultural activities.

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 10-Day Tours in Morocco, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Morocco, The Best Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Tangier?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tangier is $61, 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 Tangier and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tangier $23
    Madrid $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tangier $46
    Madrid $166
Compare Hotels in Tangier and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Tangier 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 Tangier


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: Tangier Hotel Prices and Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tangier $23
    Madrid $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tangier

Also for Tangier, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Tangier to Marrakesh: $801
  • Transfer from Tangier to Nador: $618
  • Transfer from Tangier to Casablanca: $397
  • Door to door transfer from Tangier to Fes: $291
  • Tangier to Chefchaouen: Private Transfer (English Speaking Driver): $276
  • Private Transfer from Asilah to Rabat (RBA) Airport: $273
  • From Tangier : Private Luxury Transfer to Fes: $272
  • Private Transfer from Tarifa to Malaga (AGP) Airport: $262
  • From Transfer to Fez via Chefchaouen and Volubilis: $245
  • Transfers From Tangier To Marrakech: $245
  • Transfer from Tangier to Kenitra: $237
  • Luxury transfer from Tangier to Tamuda bay or vice versa: $233

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:

  • Segovia: Full-Day Tour with Transfer to and from Madrid: $449
  • Private Transfer Madrid City to Valladolid City by Sedan: $299
  • Private Transfer from Moratalla to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $273
  • Private Transfer from Madrid Airport MAD to Segovia City by Van: $267
  • Balloon Ride with Transfer Option from Madrid City: $262
  • From Hot Air Balloon over Segovia with Transfer: $262
  • 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 from La Manga Club to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $227
  • Private Transfer from Corvera Golf Resort to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $218
  • 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 Tangier or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Tangier 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
    Tangier $20
    Madrid $36
Typical Food Prices in Tangier

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tangier:


  • Fruit & Yogurt
    $1.69

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tangier

For Tangier, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 3 Hour Private Moroccan Food Tour in Tanger : $49
  • Tanger Local Street food tours: $60
  • Tangier Private Cooking Class With a Local Family: $66
  • Tangier Food Tour with a certified local guide!: $67
  • Tangier food tour with Rababe: $71
  • Tangier food tour : $71
  • Tangier Food Tour with a certified guide!: $71
  • Morocco Food Cooking Class and Tangier City Tour: $71
  • Moroccan 3-in-1 Cooking Experience: $75
  • Moroccan 3 in 1 Cooking Experience: $76
  • The Food tour of Tangier: $76
  • Inclusive Beach Camel Ride, Cap Spartel, Hercules & Full Dinner: $80

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.
    Tangier $20
    Madrid $36

Tours and Activities in Tangier

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

  • 3-Hour Private Enchanting Tangier Coastal Adventure: $87
  • Highlights of Tangier Half Day Tour: $87
  • Luxury Tangier private Day Tour from Tarifa Spain All inclusive : $251
  • Private Guided Food Experience Tour in Medina of Tangier: $76
  • Private LuxuryTour of Tangier for 4hours: $76
  • Tangier Private Tour from Tarifa Ferry & Lunch Included : $209
  • Tangier private customized tour & camel ride experience : $102
  • Tangier walking tour with lunch Moroccan food : $60
  • The Best of Tangier Walking Tour : $208
  • 2 Days Chefchaouen and Tangier Tour from Casablanca: $541
  • 2 Days Chefchaouen and Tangier Tour from Casablanca: $512
  • 2 Days Luxury Tour to Merzouga Desert from Fez with Small Group: $251

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Private Combo Tour Prado Museum and Reina Sofia: $222
  • Toledo with Cathedral from Madrid Full Day Tour: $134
  • Ávila & Segovia Day Tour from Madrid: $97
  • "Prado Museum" Tour A Treasure of World Art: $65
  • 1 Hour Private Tuk tuk Tour in Madrid: $98
  • 1 hour tour in Madrid in Tuk Tuk through the best of the city: $136
  • 1-Hour Madrid Segway Tour: $32
  • 1-Hour Private Flamenco Class in Madrid Experience: $45
  • 2 Hour Madrid Walking Tour : $4.36
  • 2 Hours Private Tuk tuk Tour in Madrid: $164
  • 2.5-Hour Evening Tapas Tour through Madrid: $37
  • 3 Hours Private Madrid City Tour Guide: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tangier $11
    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 Tangier and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Tangier much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tangier 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 Tangier would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tangier 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 Tangier.

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


Which is Bigger, Tangier or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Tangier. When comparing the sizes of Tangier 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.