Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cordoba and Madrid

For one person, living is cheaper in Cordoba: $1,620 a month against $2,304 in Madrid, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cordoba, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Cordoba
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,620
/mo nomad
Madrid
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,304
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cordoba 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 Cordoba and in Madrid actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,620 per month in Cordoba vs $2,304 in Madrid, rent included.

  • Cordoba $1,620
  • Madrid $2,304

A couple spends around $2,432 per month in Cordoba vs $3,389 in Madrid, rent included.

  • Cordoba $2,432
  • Madrid $3,389

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Cordoba vs $4,475 in Madrid, rent included.

  • Cordoba $3,245
  • Madrid $4,475

Cordoba is about 30% cheaper than Madrid, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Cordoba and Madrid sit above the global median – Cordoba by 19%, Madrid by 69%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16 €11.82
$17.73 €15.93
-25.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.1 €49.50
$66.9 €60.1
-17.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.34 €8.39
$11.30 €10.15
-17.35%
Cappuccino
$2.57 €2.31
$3.04 €2.73
-15.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.17
$3.36 €3.02
-28.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 €1.44
$2.35 €2.11
-31.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 €2.48
$3.89 €3.50
-29.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 €2.95
$4.80 €4.31
-31.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 €0.87
$1.32 €1.18
-27.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 €1.42
$1.64 €1.47
-3.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 €1.34
$1.72 €1.55
-12.79%
Eggs
$2.51 €2.26
$4.20 €3.78
-40.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.11 €9.98
$15.91 €14.29
-30.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.80 €7.01
$9.36 €8.41
-16.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.27 €14.62
$17.21 €15.46
-5.46%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.34
$2.56 €2.30
1.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 €1.40
$2.09 €1.88
-25.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 €1.45
$2.55 €2.29
-36.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.94
$2.58 €2.32
-16.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 €1.50
$2.31 €2.08
-27.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.09 €1.87
$2.17 €1.95
-3.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 €0.81
$1.50 €1.35
-40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 €0.46
$1.07 €0.96
-52.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 €6.30
$6.57 €5.90
6.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.55 €4.09
$7.87 €7.07
-42.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 €1.31
$1.21 €1.09
20.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 €1.88
$2.17 €1.95
-3.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 €1.34
$1.67 €1.50
-10.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$58.8 €52.9
$37.53 €33.71
56.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.27 €2.93
$3.76 €3.38
-13.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.06 €1.85
$1.49 €1.34
38.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.80 €24.97
$30.17 €27.10
-7.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 €1.56
$1.85 €1.66
-5.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.7K €30.3K
$33.9K €30.4K
-0.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K €28.4K
$33.3K €29.9K
-5.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 €165
$192 €172
-4.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.41 €17.43
$17.66 €15.86
9.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.94 €26.90
$35.07 €31.51
-14.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.91 €43.94
$47.27 €42.46
3.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.67 €10.48
$18.23 €16.37
-35.98%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02 €8.10
$11.29 €10.14
-20.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$313 €281
$687 €617
-54.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,765 €6,077
$18.0K €16.2K
-62.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.5 €82.2
$86.5 €77.7
5.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.63 €29.31
$41.65 €37.41
-21.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 €73.7
$108 €97.1
-24.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 €105
$112 €100
5.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$771 €692
$1,508 €1,355
-48.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 €588
$1,210 €1,087
-45.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,909 €1,715
$2,829 €2,541
-32.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 €995
$2,004 €1,800
-44.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,689 €2,416
$9,002 €8,086
-70.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,118 €1,903
$4,710 €4,231
-55.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cordoba
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,854 €1,665
$2,453 €2,204
-24.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.18
3.14
1.27%

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

Last update for Cordoba: October 27, 2026

Last update for Madrid: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cordoba
$654
Madrid
$1.2K 84.9% $555
Groceries & Markets
Cordoba
$242
Madrid
$304 25.9% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cordoba
$233
Madrid
$244 5% $12
Eating Out
Cordoba
$201
Madrid
$264 31.7% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Cordoba
$146
Madrid
$157 7.5% $11
Getting Around
Cordoba
$78
Madrid
$55 29.3% $23
Sport & Entertainment
Cordoba
$67
Madrid
$70 4.3% $2.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $771 in Cordoba versus $1,508 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 32% higher in Madrid, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55 in Cordoba versus $67 in Madrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $242 vs $304 – making Cordoba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Cordoba
🇪🇸 Madrid
🕒 Local time
19:41 7:41 PM
19:41 7:41 PM
Same time as Cordoba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
323,763
3,332,035 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.898 EUR (1 EUR = 1.11 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cordoba Madrid 300 km
From you
  • Cordoba
  • 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
Cordoba vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cordoba cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 42%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,430 per month in Cordoba and $3,456 in Madrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cordoba, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $771 there versus $1,508 in Madrid.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $313 per month in Cordoba and $687 in Madrid. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cordoba and in Madrid?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Madrid, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is Cordoba or Madrid more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cordoba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cordoba or Madrid?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cordoba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madrid makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Cordoba vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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