Just returned from Madrid, and many friends have been asking how much money they should prepare for a trip to Madrid. I’ve organized the expenses from my Madrid Airport Bus Ticket Prices 7-day itinerary to provide a reference for everyone. Everyone has different spending habits - my budget falls into the mid-range category, neither backpacking nor luxury travel.
Accommodation Costs
Accommodation is the biggest expense. I stayed at an Airbnb near the city center, approximately 70 euros per night, totaling 490 euros for 7 nights. If you stay in hostel dorm beds following a Madrid Travel Budget, you can manage with 20-30 euros per night, but I prefer having private space. Hotels around Puerta del Sol are more expensive, with standard 3-star hotels ranging from 90-120 euros per night. I recommend booking in advance on Booking.com or Airbnb to find good value options.
Dining Expenses
I didn’t particularly economize on food. Breakfast at a cafe with tostada and coffee costs about 5 euros. The Menu del dia for lunch is great value at 10-15 euros for three courses plus a drink. For dinner, if you go to a Madrid Dining Costs tapas bar and order several tapas with beer, it’s around 20 euros per person. Daily food expenses come to about 40-50 euros, totaling approximately 300 euros for 7 days. If you buy fruits and snacks from supermarkets, add another 5 euros per day.
Transportation and Attractions
Madrid’s metro system is very convenient. I purchased a Tourist Travel Pass for 32 euros covering 7 days, allowing unlimited travel within the city. Main attraction tickets: Prado Museum 15 euros, Reina Sofia Art Center 10 euros, Royal Palace 13 euros. I also took a day trip to Toledo, with round-trip train tickets and entrance fees totaling about 50 euros. All transportation and tickets combined came to approximately 120 euros.
| Item | Daily Budget | 7-Day Total |
|---|
| Accommodation | 70€ | 490€ |
| Dining | 45€ | 315€ |
| Transport & Tickets | 17€ | 120€ |
| Shopping & Entertainment | 20€ | 140€ |
Miscellaneous Reserve Fund | 15€ | 105€ |
Other Expenses
For shopping, I bought some souvenirs and local specialties, spending about 100 euros. I also purchased a flamenco show ticket for 40 euros. I recommend keeping some reserve funds for unexpected situations - I set aside 100 euros but barely used it.
My total 7-day Madrid trip cost approximately 1,170 euros. If you’re more budget-conscious, staying in hostels, eating more supermarket food, and visiting fewer paid attractions, 800 euros can still provide a good experience. If you prefer better accommodations and Michelin-starred restaurants, doubling the budget to over 2,000 euros is quite normal. Everyone can adjust according to their own situation - Madrid is actually quite a flexible city, suitable for all budgets.
