Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Astoria, NY and Madrid

For one person, living is cheaper in Madrid: $2,265 a month against $3,298 in Astoria, NY, rent and utilities included – about $12,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Astoria, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$3,298
/mo nomad
Madrid
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,265
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Astoria, NY and in Madrid

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Astoria, NY and in Madrid actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,298 in Astoria, NY versus $2,265 in Madrid.

  • Astoria, NY $3,298
  • Madrid $2,265

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,650 in Astoria, NY versus $3,296 in Madrid.

  • Astoria, NY $4,650
  • Madrid $3,296

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,002 in Astoria, NY versus $4,328 in Madrid.

  • Astoria, NY $6,002
  • Madrid $4,328

Living in Astoria, NY is roughly 46% more expensive than in Madrid, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Astoria, NY 144% above, Madrid 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.30 $19.30
$18.20 €16.19
6.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.7 $80.7
$68.1 €60.5
18.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.12 $10.12
$11.24 €9.99
-9.96%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$3.15 €2.80
44.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$3.36 €2.99
-49.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.36 €2.10
-20.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.09 $5.09
$3.83 €3.40
32.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.03 $8.03
$4.92 €4.38
63.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.32 €1.17
-14.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.82 $3.82
$1.61 €1.43
137.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$1.65 €1.47
122.42%
Eggs
$3.52 $3.52
$4.07 €3.62
-13.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.75 $16.75
$15.82 €14.07
5.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.07 $9.07
$9.49 €8.44
-4.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.37 $13.37
$17.52 €15.59
-23.69%
Apples (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.56 €2.27
60.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.88 $1.88
$2.09 €1.86
-10.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 $2.59
$2.47 €2.19
4.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$2.49 €2.22
59.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$2.26 €2.01
9.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.15 €1.91
13.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 $2.04
$1.57 €1.40
29.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$1.07 €0.95
132.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.17 $15.17
$6.55 €5.82
131.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.30 $20.30
$7.65 €6.81
165.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.17 €1.04
46.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 $3.41
$2.22 €1.97
53.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.07 $3.07
$1.63 €1.45
88.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
$36.42 €32.39
282.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$3.73 €3.32
-21.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 $2.13
$1.54 €1.37
38.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.52 $41.52
$29.17 €25.95
42.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.78 €1.58
-47.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2K $35.2K
$35.5K €31.6K
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$33.2K €29.6K
-24.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 $113
$189 €168
-40.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4 $57.4
$17.48 €15.55
228.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.7 $50.7
$34.32 €30.53
47.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.62 $45.62
$48.62 €43.25
-6.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.44 €16.40
-
Cinema Ticket
$20.18 $20.18
$11.04 €9.82
82.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,578 $2,578
$693 €617
271.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$34.8K $34.8K
$17.8K €15.8K
95.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.10 $25.10
$84.6 €75.3
-70.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.11 $20.11
$42.50 €37.80
-52.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$29.80 $29.80
$110 €98.1
-72.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.9 $50.9
$112 €99.9
-54.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,347 $2,347
$1,506 €1,339
55.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,091 $2,091
$1,170 €1,041
78.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,812 $3,812
$2,756 €2,451
38.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,225 $3,225
$1,845 €1,641
74.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$9,168 €8,155
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,234 €3,766
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Astoria, NY
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$2,483 €2,209
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.45
3.14
105.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Astoria, NY: October 10, 2026

Last update for Madrid: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Astoria, NY
$2.1K
Madrid
$1.2K 44.1% $922
Groceries & Markets
Astoria, NY
$382
Madrid
$303 20.7% $79
Eating Out
Astoria, NY
$295
Madrid
$269 8.9% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Astoria, NY
$221
Madrid
$241 8.7% $19
Getting Around
Astoria, NY
$165
Madrid
$54 67.1% $111
Sport & Entertainment
Astoria, NY
$86
Madrid
$71 17.8% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Astoria, NY
$57
Madrid
$157 178% $101

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,347 in Astoria, NY and $1,506 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $81.0 in Astoria, NY vs $68.0 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $382 vs $303 per month, with Madrid cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Astoria, NY
🇪🇸 Madrid
🕒 Local time
02:34 2:34 AM
08:34 8:34 AM
6 h ahead of Astoria, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
150,165
3,332,035 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Astoria, NY Madrid 5,760 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Astoria, NY
  • Madrid

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Astoria, NY vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Astoria, NY and in Madrid?
Astoria, NY and Madrid differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($3,298 vs $2,265 including rent). Madrid is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Astoria, NY compared to Madrid?
You'd need roughly $4,947 in Astoria, NY and $3,398 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 Astoria, NY and in Madrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,347 in Astoria, NY versus $1,506 in Madrid. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Astoria, NY or Madrid?
All in, you'll spend $3,298 per month in Astoria, NY versus $2,265 in Madrid – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Astoria, NY and in Madrid?
A monthly transit pass in Madrid runs roughly 283% less than in Astoria, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,265 in Madrid versus $3,298 in Astoria, NY, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Madrid but tight or insufficient in Astoria, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Madrid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Astoria, NY 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 Astoria, NY or Madrid safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Astoria, NY 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: Astoria, NY or Madrid?
Expats usually find Madrid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Astoria, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Astoria, NY vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?