🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,588 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $2,273 in Madrid.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,365 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $3,389 in Madrid.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,141 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $4,505 in Madrid.
🙂Living in Alcala de Guadaira costs roughly 30% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Alcala de Guadaira19% above, Madrid70% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.83€11.81
$17.64€15.07
-21.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1€49.60
$70.5€60.2
-17.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.56€9.02
$11.66€9.95
-9.43%
Cappuccino
$2.24€1.91
$3.10€2.64
-27.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04€1.74
$3.06€2.62
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.41
$2.10€1.79
-20.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34€2.00
$4.07€3.48
-42.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.02
$4.52€3.86
-21.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15€0.98
$1.25€1.06
-8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55€1.32
$1.69€1.44
-8.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$1.65€1.41
6.67%
Eggs
$3.42€2.92
$3.35€2.86
2.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.57€11.59
$14.57€12.44
-6.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.46€8.08
$9.12€7.79
3.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.02€14.53
$16.67€14.24
2.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38€2.04
$2.66€2.27
-10.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.78€1.52
$2.21€1.89
-19.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07€0.91
$2.47€2.11
-56.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.87€1.59
$2.71€2.31
-31.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.77€1.51
$2.11€1.80
-16.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22€1.04
$2.14€1.83
-42.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11€0.94
$1.41€1.20
-21.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.52
$0.97€0.83
-37.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54€5.58
$7.08€6.04
-7.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.97€5.10
$8.12€6.94
-26.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.39€1.19
-0.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.83
$2.25€1.92
-4.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.40
$1.78€1.52
-7.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.34€29.33
$48.86€41.73
-29.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25€1.92
$4.16€3.55
-45.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06€0.90
$1.38€1.18
-23.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.03€11.98
$28.62€24.44
-50.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83€1.56
$1.88€1.60
-2.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K€32.6K
$38.3K€32.7K
-0.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K€25.2K
$34.4K€29.4K
-14.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118€101
$192€164
-38.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.59€20.15
$21.59€18.44
9.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.62€31.28
$35.26€30.12
3.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.95€40.95
$53.4€45.60
-10.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.27€13.04
$17.72€15.13
-13.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02€7.70
$11.78€10.06
-23.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$392€335
$674€576
-41.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,517€5,566
$12.2K€10.4K
-46.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.1€73.5
$95.7€81.7
-10.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.00€35.01
$41.61€35.53
-1.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.5€64.5
$104€89.2
-27.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108€92.0
$133€113
-18.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$855€730
$1,595€1,362
-46.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698€596
$1,109€947
-37.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,326€1,133
$2,858€2,441
-53.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,013€865
$1,890€1,614
-46.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,464€2,958
$9,394€8,023
-63.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,353€2,010
$4,583€3,914
-48.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alcala de Guadaira
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$2,602€2,222
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.51
3.43
2.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alcala de Guadaira: April 26, 2026
Last update for Madrid: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $855 in Alcala de Guadaira and $1,595 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Alcala de Guadaira vs $70.0 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $294 per month, with Alcala de Guadaira cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Alcala de Guadaira vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alcala de Guadaira and Madrid?
Alcala de Guadaira and Madrid differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,588 vs $2,273 including rent). Alcala de Guadaira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Alcala de Guadaira compared to Madrid?
You'd need roughly $2,382 in Alcala de Guadaira and $3,409 in Madrid to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Alcala de Guadaira and Madrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $855 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $1,595 in Madrid. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Madrid. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Alcala de Guadaira – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $70.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,588 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $2,273 in Madrid, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Alcala de Guadaira but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Alcala de Guadaira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alcala de Guadaira and Madrid?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Alcala de Guadaira or Madrid safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Alcala de Guadaira and Madrid are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Alcala de Guadaira or Madrid?
Expats usually find Alcala de Guadaira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alcala de Guadaira vs other spots: cost of living compared