Cost of Living Comparison Between Badalona and Madrid Cost of Living Comparison Between Badalona and Madrid

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,535 per month in Badalona vs $2,253 in Madrid, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,763 per month in Badalona vs $3,329 in Madrid, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,991 per month in Badalona vs $4,404 in Madrid, rent included.

Badalona costs about 12% more than Madrid, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Badalona and Madrid sit above the global median – Badalona by 89%, Madrid by 68%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.49 €15.05
$17.05 €14.66
2.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5 €50.3
$68.6 €59.0
-14.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.45 €9.85
$11.73 €10.09
-2.39%
Cappuccino
$2.68 €2.30
$3.06 €2.63
-12.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 €2.39
$3.21 €2.76
-13.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.71
$2.18 €1.87
-8.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 €2.95
$3.94 €3.39
-12.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76 €4.09
$4.67 €4.02
1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.20 €1.03
5.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.02 €1.74
$1.68 €1.45
20.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 €1.43
$1.69 €1.45
-1.78%
Eggs
$2.98 €2.57
$3.34 €2.88
-10.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.14 €12.16
$14.91 €12.83
-5.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.10 €7.83
$8.93 €7.68
1.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.58 €15.12
$16.84 €14.49
4.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 €2.37
$2.73 €2.34
1.10%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 €2.54
$2.11 €1.82
39.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$2.54 €2.19
-15.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.75 €2.37
$2.65 €2.28
3.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 €1.24
$2.15 €1.85
-32.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 €1.28
$2.10 €1.81
-29.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.51 €1.30
$1.35 €1.17
11.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 €0.61
$0.97 €0.84
-26.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.39 €5.50
$6.82 €5.87
-6.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 €4.92
$8.15 €7.01
-29.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.32
$1.39 €1.20
10.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.81
$2.19 €1.88
-3.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.82 €2.43
$1.77 €1.52
59.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.82 €39.41
$49.07 €42.21
-6.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 €3.55
$4.01 €3.45
2.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 €1.83
$1.33 €1.14
60.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.59 €19.43
$29.19 €25.11
-22.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.61
$1.93 €1.66
-3.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €32.6K
$37.2K €32.0K
2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K €25.5K
$34.4K €29.6K
-13.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$150 €129
$195 €167
-23.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.65 €17.76
$21.66 €18.64
-4.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.00 €31.83
$35.51 €30.54
4.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.6 €43.53
$53.8 €46.26
-5.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.37 €30.42
$17.95 €15.44
97.05%
Cinema Ticket
$9.09 €7.82
$11.55 €9.94
-21.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$330 €284
$676 €582
-51.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,019 €6,038
$12.1K €10.4K
-42.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.8 €81.6
$94.2 €81.1
0.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.40 €32.17
$42.77 €36.79
-12.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 €88.4
$106 €90.9
-2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €100
$134 €116
-13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,743 €1,500
$1,566 €1,347
11.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,439 €1,238
$1,149 €988
25.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,270 €1,953
$2,826 €2,431
-19.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,584 €2,223
$1,884 €1,621
37.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$9,077 €7,808
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,502 €3,013
$4,511 €3,880
-22.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Badalona
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,060 €1,772
$2,626 €2,259
-21.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
3.43
2.04%

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

Last update for Badalona: May 31, 2026

Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,743 in Badalona versus $1,566 in Madrid. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Madrid, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Badalona versus $69.0 in Madrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $294 – making Badalona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Badalona vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Badalona and Madrid compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,535 in Badalona, $2,253 in Madrid – roughly 12% apart. Badalona costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Badalona compared to Madrid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,802 per month in Badalona and $3,380 in Madrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Badalona and Madrid?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Madrid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Badalona or Madrid?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,535 in Badalona and $2,253 in Madrid. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Badalona and Madrid?
Public transport costs about 7% less in Madrid. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madrid, where all-in costs run around $2,253, than in Badalona at $2,535. In Madrid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Badalona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Badalona and Madrid?
It depends on your priorities. Madrid has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,253 in Madrid to $2,535 in Badalona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Badalona or Madrid safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Badalona and Madrid?
If budget matters most, go with Madrid. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Badalona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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