How expensive is Madrid compared to the rest of Spain?

Madrid ranks #184 out of 577 cities globally. It is 19.9% more expensive than the Spain average, based on 15 cities. The rent index is 33.8 and local purchasing power is 101.7.

What is the average rent in Madrid?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Madrid city centre costs approximately EUR 1,323 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to EUR 1,059 (saving 20%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around EUR 2,440.

Is Madrid affordable to live in?

Madrid is expensive by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are average, and local purchasing power is average. Workers in Spain earning EUR 50,000 gross take home approximately EUR 2,962 per month after tax.

Madrid Cost of Living 2026: rent €1,323/mo, +20% vs country avg

Apartamento	Centro	Fuera del Centro	Ahorras
1 Dormitorio	EUR 1,323/mo ≈ $1,486	EUR 1,059/mo ≈ $1,190	20%
3 Dormitorios	EUR 2,440/mo ≈ $2,742	EUR 1,623/mo ≈ $1,824	34%

Prices of Goods & Services in Madrid

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	EUR 2.46	3 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	EUR 1.21	2 sources
Bread (500g)	EUR 1.18	3 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	EUR 15.87	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	EUR 7.33	3 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	EUR 5.99	2 sources
Eggs (12)	EUR 3.01	2 sources
Milk (1L)	EUR 1.02	3 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	EUR 2.37	1 source
Rice (1kg)	EUR 1.40	1 source
Tomatoes (1kg)	EUR 2.58	1 source
Water (1.5L)	EUR 0.50	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	EUR 9.00	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

EUR 2.46

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

EUR 1.21

Bread (500g)

EUR 1.18

Local cheese (1kg)

EUR 15.87

Chicken (1kg)

EUR 7.33

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

EUR 5.99

Eggs (12)

EUR 3.01

Milk (1L)

EUR 1.02

Potatoes (1kg)

EUR 2.37

Rice (1kg)

EUR 1.40

Tomatoes (1kg)

EUR 2.58

Water (1.5L)

EUR 0.50

Wine (mid-range)

EUR 9.00

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	EUR 3.75	3 sources
Cappuccino	EUR 3.05	2 sources
McMeal	EUR 10.25	2 sources
Cheap meal	EUR 15.83	3 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	EUR 62.67	3 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

EUR 3.75

Cappuccino

EUR 3.05

McMeal

EUR 10.25

Cheap meal

EUR 15.83

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

EUR 62.67

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	EUR 111.00	1 source
Jeans (Levi's 501)	EUR 89.00	1 source
Sport shoes (Nike)	EUR 94.25	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	EUR 39.03	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

EUR 111.00

Jeans (Levi's 501)

EUR 89.00

Sport shoes (Nike)

EUR 94.25

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

EUR 39.03

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	EUR 10.47	3 sources
Gym membership	EUR 51.21	3 sources

Cinema ticket

EUR 10.47

Gym membership

EUR 51.21

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Electricity (85m² apt)	EUR 75.00	1 source
Garbage collection	EUR 10.00	1 source
Natural gas (85m² apt)	EUR 28.00	1 source
Internet (60 Mbps)	EUR 28.00	1 source
Basic utilities (85m²)	EUR 145.10	2 sources
Water (85m² apt)	EUR 19.00	1 source

Electricity (85m² apt)

EUR 75.00

Garbage collection

EUR 10.00

Natural gas (85m² apt)

EUR 28.00

Internet (60 Mbps)

EUR 28.00

Basic utilities (85m²)

EUR 145.10

Water (85m² apt)

EUR 19.00

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	EUR 1.52	3 sources
Taxi per km	EUR 1.40	1 source
Taxi start	EUR 2.88	2 sources
Monthly pass	EUR 35.90	3 sources
Single ticket	EUR 1.50	1 source

Gasoline (1L)

EUR 1.52

Taxi per km

EUR 1.40

Taxi start

EUR 2.88

Monthly pass

EUR 35.90

Single ticket

EUR 1.50

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Madrid has a cost of living index of 46.9 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

46.9

Index

Sources

3.6

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

47.3

Expatistan

48.0

LivingCost

47.9

ShouldIMove price index

44.4

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

107.6

Based on 93 country PLI x 1.157 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Índices de Coste

Coste de Vida

+19.9% Expensive

Alquiler

+39.1% Very expensive

Supermercado

+5.4% Average

Restaurantes

+4.9% Average

Poder Adquisitivo

+4.4% Average

Vivir en Madrid: Qué Esperar

Madrid es expensive según estándares globales (puesto #184 de 577 ciudades). Está 19.9% más caro que el promedio de Spain, basado en 15 ciudades.

Los comestibles son average, mientras que comer fuera es average. Restaurants ofrece el mejor valor, mientras que Rent es lo más caro.

Los trabajadores en Spain con EUR 50,000 brutos se llevan EUR 2,962/mes neto después de impuestos (28.9%% tipo efectivo). Ver calculadora fiscal completa de Spain →

Coste de Vida en Madrid

Precios de Alquiler en Madrid