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

Should you visit Tehran or Madrid?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tehran and Madrid. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Tehran or Madrid?

Tehran

The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.

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 Contiki Tours to Spain, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Spain.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid or Tehran?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $78, 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 Tehran and Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tehran $62
    Madrid $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tehran $124
    Madrid $166
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Tehran 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 Tehran


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: Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tehran $0.39
    Madrid $20

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: $452
  • Private Transfer from Moratalla to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $273
  • From Hot Air Balloon over Segovia with Transfer: $264
  • Balloon Ride with Transfer Option from Madrid City: $264
  • Private Transfer from Bolnuevo to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $254
  • Private Transfer from La Manga strip dos Mares to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $237
  • Arrival Transfer Madrid Airport MAD to Avila City by Sedan: $229
  • 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
  • Private Transfer from La Torre Golf to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $182

Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid and Tehran 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
    Tehran $14
    Madrid $36

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:

  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tehran $4.59
    Madrid $36

Tours and Activities in Madrid

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

  • Madrid Photo Tour with Pro Photographer Lifestyle and Portrait: $82
  • Madrid Tour and Guided Visit Royal Palace: $76
  • Prado Museum and Madrid Royal Palace Morning Guided Tour: $71
  • Skip the Line Guided Tour Royal Palace Madrid: $72
  • Toledo with Cathedral from Madrid Full Day Tour: $134
  • Ávila & Segovia Day Tour from Madrid: $163
  • 1 Hour Private Tuk tuk Tour in Madrid: $98
  • 1 hour tour in Madrid in Tuk Tuk through the best of the city: $137
  • 1-Hour Private Flamenco Class in Madrid Experience: $45
  • 2 Hour Madrid Walking Tour : $4.37
  • 2-Hour Tour of the Madrid of Mysteries: $14
  • 2-Hour Walking Tour on the History of Islamic Medieval the origins: $38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tehran -
    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: $9.69
  • 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 Tehran and Madrid, we can see that Madrid is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East 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 Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Tehran.

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


Which is Bigger, Tehran or Madrid?

Tehran has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Madrid. When comparing the sizes of Tehran 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.