Cost of Living

Madrid, Spain

Live cost-of-living data for Madrid — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
39/ 10061% cheaper than New York
+13% rent since Jul 2026
$2,200/mo
Median Income
71/100
Safety
25%
Income Tax
continental
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
68/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,370/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$1,070/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$2,560/month
Food & Groceries
50/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.2/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.64/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.85/kg
Transportation
45/100
Monthly Transit Pass$76/month
One-Way Ticket$2.18/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.64/km
Utilities
48/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$224/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$45/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$32/month
Healthcare
75/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$87/visit
Dentist Visit$109/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$16/course
Education
62/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$545/month
International Primary School (yearly)$13,090/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$436/course
Entertainment
52/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$13/ticket
Theater Ticket$44/ticket
Museum Entry$16/ticket
Clothing
56/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$71/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$44/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$98/pair
Personal Care
48/100
Haircut (Men)$22/cut
Haircut (Women)$44/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$5.45/bottle
Dining Out
52/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$17/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$65/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$10/meal
Childcare
62/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$872/month
Babysitter (per hour)$16/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$22/pack
Fitness & Sports
52/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$49/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$22/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$9/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

200 Mbps
Internet Speed
$200
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
74/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Malasaña, Chueca, Salamanca

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madrid cheap to live in?

Madrid has a cost of living index of 39/100, where New York = 100. It is 61% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $1,400–$1,960 per month.

How much does rent cost in Madrid?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Madrid costs approximately $1,370/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $1,070/month.

Is Madrid good for digital nomads?

Madrid has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 200 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $200/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Madrid?

The median net monthly salary in Madrid is approximately $2,200 USD. The income tax rate is around 25%.

How does Madrid compare to New York for cost of living?

Madrid (cost index 39) is 61% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,525/month by moving from New York to Madrid.

Compare Madrid with…

Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Madrid wins or loses.

Cities that cost about the same as Madrid

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

Compare Madrid with another city

See exactly how Madrid stacks up against your current city or next destination.

Free to start · No credit card needed