Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and Madrid Cost of Living Comparison Between Escazu and Madrid

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,032 in Escazu versus $2,273 in Madrid.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,800 in Escazu versus $3,389 in Madrid.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,569 in Escazu versus $4,505 in Madrid.

Living in Escazu costs roughly 11% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Escazu 52% above, Madrid 70% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.96 ₡4,993

$17.64 €15.07

-37.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 ₡27.2K

$70.5 €60.2

-15.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,512

$11.66 €9.95

-15.09%

Cappuccino

$3.90 ₡1,777

$3.10 €2.64

25.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₡937

$3.06 €2.62

-32.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡758

$2.10 €1.79

-20.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,374

$4.07 €3.48

-25.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.65 ₡2,120

$4.52 €3.86

2.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.06 ₡938

$1.25 €1.06

64.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₡1,252

$1.69 €1.44

62.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,008

$1.65 €1.41

33.94%

Eggs

$2.94 ₡1,340

$3.35 €2.86

-12.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 ₡4,492

$14.57 €12.44

-32.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.28 ₡4,226

$9.12 €7.79

1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 ₡6,254

$16.67 €14.24

-17.64%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 ₡2,110

$2.66 €2.27

74.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡679

$2.21 €1.89

-32.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.21 ₡1,919

$2.47 €2.11

70.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,459

$2.71 €2.31

18.08%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₡1,627

$2.11 €1.80

69.19%

Onion (1kg)

$3.24 ₡1,475

$2.14 €1.83

51.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 ₡431

$1.41 €1.20

-32.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.96 ₡1,347

$0.97 €0.83

205.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.83 ₡2,200

$7.08 €6.04

-31.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.74 ₡8,537

$8.12 €6.94

130.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₡804

$1.39 €1.19

26.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₡1,244

$2.25 €1.92

21.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ₡439

$1.78 €1.52

-46.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.86 €41.73

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.66 ₡758

$4.16 €3.55

-60.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡806

$1.38 €1.18

28.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,688

$28.62 €24.44

-71.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ₡633

$1.88 €1.60

-26.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.4K ₡14.3M

$38.3K €32.7K

-18.09%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K ₡14.8M

$34.4K €29.4K

-5.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.2 ₡30.2K

$192 €164

-65.52%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.87 ₡11.8K

$21.59 €18.44

19.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.1 ₡22.8K

$35.26 €30.12

42.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 ₡49.1K

$53.4 €45.60

101.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.16 ₡4,629

$17.72 €15.13

-42.66%

Cinema Ticket

$9.78 ₡4,454

$11.78 €10.06

-16.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$580 ₡264.0K

$674 €576

-14.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.3K ₡6.5M

$12.2K €10.4K

16.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ₡28.1K

$95.7 €81.7

-35.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.2 ₡23.3K

$41.61 €35.53

22.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$126 ₡57.5K

$104 €89.2

20.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₡48.0K

$133 €113

-20.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 ₡485.3K

$1,595 €1,362

-33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 ₡482.4K

$1,109 €947

-4.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,681 ₡765.7K

$2,858 €2,441

-41.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 ₡597.5K

$1,890 €1,614

-30.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 ₡740.0K

$9,394 €8,023

-82.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,132 ₡515.8K

$4,583 €3,914

-75.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,759 ₡801.2K

$2,602 €2,222

-32.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

3.43

196.50%

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

Last update for Escazu: April 27, 2026

Last update for Madrid: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,065 in Escazu and $1,595 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Madrid pays 48% 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: $60.0 in Escazu vs $70.0 in Madrid. Groceries flip the comparison at $359 vs $294, with Madrid cheaper for home cooking.

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

Escazu vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Escazu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Madrid earns 48% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,065 in Escazu versus $1,595 in Madrid. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Madrid pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,032 per month in Escazu versus $2,273 in Madrid – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $2,032 in Escazu versus $2,273 in Madrid, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Escazu but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Escazu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Escazu 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.

Safety-wise, Escazu 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.

Expats usually find Escazu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.