Budget — Madrid

Madrid is one of Europe's best-value capitals. A working budget of €90 per person per day covers a comfortable stay: a double room in a well-located three-star hotel, lunch in a neighbourhood bar, dinner in a good restaurant and two museum entries.

Accommodation is generally cheaper than Barcelona or Paris. A dorm bed in Malasaña or Chueca costs €20-35 per night. A decent double in a hotel or B&B runs €70-120 depending on season and neighbourhood. A four-star hotel in the Barrio de las Letras or near the Prado starts at €130-180 per night. Grand luxury hotels (Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Westin Palace, Four Seasons) surpass €500 per night.

The food scene is one of Madrid's strongest suits for budget travellers. A café con leche and two churros at the counter costs €2-3. A bocadillo de calamares on the Plaza Mayor runs €3-5. A menú del día (3 courses, bread, drink, dessert) in a neighbourhood restaurant costs €12-16 — a value proposition almost impossible to match elsewhere in Europe. A dinner at a gastronomic restaurant (DiverXO, Coque, Santceloni) starts at €150-200 per person before drinks. A tasting plate of hand-sliced jamón ibérico de bellota in a good jamonería costs €6-12.

Museum fees are competitive. Prado: €15 (free in the final two hours daily). Reina Sofía: €12 (free evenings and Sunday afternoon). Thyssen: €13 (free Monday mornings). Royal Palace: €12. El Retiro: free. The Paseo del Arte combined ticket (Prado + Reina Sofía + Thyssen) is around €29.60 — a real saving if you plan to visit all three.

Public transport is among Europe's cheapest. A single metro ticket costs €1.50-2 depending on the zone. The Metrobús 10-journey card is €12.20. The Exprés Aeropuerto express bus from the airport to Atocha/Colón/Nuevos Ministerios costs €5 — versus a flat-rate €30-33 taxi from the centre.