🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,488 in El Ejido versus $2,265 in Madrid.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,179 in El Ejido versus $3,314 in Madrid.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,869 in El Ejido versus $4,362 in Madrid.
🙂Living in El Ejido costs roughly 34% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: El Ejido11% above, Madrid69% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.53€14.95
$17.39€14.84
0.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2€48.79
$68.5€58.4
-16.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.52€8.97
$11.66€9.95
-9.78%
Cappuccino
$2.07€1.77
$3.09€2.64
-33.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19€1.01
$3.06€2.61
-61.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49€1.27
$2.21€1.89
-32.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.85€2.43
$4.01€3.42
-28.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.88
$4.53€3.86
-25.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31€1.12
$1.20€1.03
9.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.51
$1.68€1.43
5.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56€1.33
$1.72€1.47
-9.30%
Eggs
$2.98€2.55
$3.40€2.90
-12.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.61€9.90
$15.03€12.82
-22.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.09
$8.78€7.49
8.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.81€12.63
$17.18€14.66
-13.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50€2.13
$2.64€2.25
-5.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61€1.37
$2.15€1.83
-25.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45€1.23
$2.55€2.17
-43.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30€1.96
$2.76€2.35
-16.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64€1.40
$2.12€1.81
-22.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67€1.43
$2.13€1.82
-21.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11€0.95
$1.38€1.18
-19.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67€0.57
$0.97€0.83
-30.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.20€5.29
$7.11€6.07
-12.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.43€4.63
$8.10€6.91
-32.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$1.38€1.18
-17.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.56
$2.16€1.84
-15.28%
🚌 Getting Around
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.40
$1.69€1.44
-2.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.33€29.29
$48.75€41.59
-29.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72€1.47
$4.16€3.55
-58.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27€1.09
$1.32€1.12
-3.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.05€14.54
$28.53€24.34
-40.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.54
$1.92€1.64
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.3K€33.5K
$37.8K€32.3K
3.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K€25.7K
$33.3K€28.4K
-9.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.2€68.4
$188€161
-57.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.14€17.18
$21.76€18.56
-7.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.35€27.59
$35.31€30.12
-8.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.04€40.98
$52.8€45.05
-9.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.32€13.07
$18.10€15.44
-15.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.70€8.27
$11.60€9.89
-16.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$722€616
$677€578
6.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,005
$12.1K€10.3K
-12.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.56€20.10
$94.9€80.9
-75.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91€26.37
$41.98€35.81
-26.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$29.32€25.01
$104€89.0
-71.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.79€33.94
$135€115
-70.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$854€729
$1,578€1,346
-45.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$683€582
$1,115€951
-38.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,323€1,129
$2,765€2,359
-52.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,005€857
$1,879€1,603
-46.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,752€3,200
$9,202€7,849
-59.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,677€2,283
$4,488€3,829
-40.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Ejido
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,504€1,283
$2,586€2,206
-41.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.58
3.43
4.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Ejido: April 20, 2026
Last update for Madrid: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $854 in El Ejido and $1,578 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Madrid pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $57 in El Ejido vs $68 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $295 per month, with El Ejido 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
El Ejido vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madrid cheaper than El Ejido?
El Ejido is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: El Ejido or Madrid?
On paper, Madrid earns 72% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between El Ejido and Madrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $854 in El Ejido versus $1,578 in Madrid. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in El Ejido or Madrid?
Dining out is cheaper in El Ejido – a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $68.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in El Ejido vs Madrid?
All in, you'll spend $1,488 per month in El Ejido versus $2,265 in Madrid – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for El Ejido or Madrid?
At $1,488 in El Ejido versus $2,265 in Madrid, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Ejido but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes El Ejido the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is El Ejido or Madrid more family-friendly?
For families, El Ejido is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Madrid, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, El Ejido or Madrid?
Safety-wise, El Ejido 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Ejido gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.