Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Girona and Madrid

For one person, living is cheaper in Girona: $1,844 a month against $2,265 in Madrid, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Girona
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,844
/mo nomad
Madrid
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,265
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $1,844 per month in Girona vs $2,265 in Madrid, rent included.

  • Girona $1,844
  • Madrid $2,265

A couple spends around $2,700 per month in Girona vs $3,296 in Madrid, rent included.

  • Girona $2,700
  • Madrid $3,296

A family of three spends $3,555 per month in Girona vs $4,328 in Madrid, rent included.

  • Girona $3,555
  • Madrid $4,328

Girona is about 19% cheaper than Madrid, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Girona and Madrid sit above the global median – Girona by 37%, Madrid by 68%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.88 €15.91
$18.20 €16.19
-1.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.2 €54.5
$68.1 €60.5
-10.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.86 €7.88
$11.24 €9.99
-21.17%
Cappuccino
$2.48 €2.21
$3.15 €2.80
-21.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.87
$3.36 €2.99
-37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 €1.77
$2.36 €2.10
-15.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.18 €3.72
$3.83 €3.40
9.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 €3.86
$4.92 €4.38
-11.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.12
$1.32 €1.17
-5.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.61 €1.43
-27.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 €1.24
$1.65 €1.47
-15.15%
Eggs
$2.99 €2.66
$4.07 €3.62
-26.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 €9.76
$15.82 €14.07
-30.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.02 €7.14
$9.49 €8.44
-15.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.78 €13.15
$17.52 €15.59
-15.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 €2.14
$2.56 €2.27
-5.86%
Banana (1kg)
$2.07 €1.84
$2.09 €1.86
-0.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.14 €1.91
$2.47 €2.19
-13.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.26
$2.49 €2.22
2.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 €1.43
$2.26 €2.01
-29.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 €1.78
$2.15 €1.91
-6.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 €1.16
$1.57 €1.40
-16.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 €0.56
$1.07 €0.95
-41.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €6.09
$6.55 €5.82
4.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.61 €5.88
$7.65 €6.81
-13.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 €1.51
$1.17 €1.04
44.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 €1.60
$2.22 €1.97
-18.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Girona
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.85 €1.64
$1.63 €1.45
13.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.60 €31.66
$36.42 €32.39
-2.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 €2.39
$3.73 €3.32
-27.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.85 €1.65
$1.54 €1.37
20.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.08 €19.64
$29.17 €25.95
-24.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 €1.59
$1.78 €1.58
0.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K €30.7K
$35.5K €31.6K
-2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2K €26.8K
$33.2K €29.6K
-9.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 €113
$189 €168
-32.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.73 €21.11
$17.48 €15.55
35.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.06 €30.29
$34.32 €30.53
-0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 €46.37
$48.62 €43.25
7.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.24 €19.79
$18.44 €16.40
20.61%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 €8.18
$11.04 €9.82
-16.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$670 €596
$693 €617
-3.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,374 €8,338
$17.8K €15.8K
-47.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.7 €67.3
$84.6 €75.3
-10.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.35 €38.56
$42.50 €37.80
2.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.6 €70.8
$110 €98.1
-27.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$112 €99.9
6.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Girona
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,096
$1,506 €1,339
-18.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$893 €794
$1,170 €1,041
-23.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,065 €1,837
$2,756 €2,451
-25.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,348 €1,199
$1,845 €1,641
-26.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,150 €4,581
$9,168 €8,155
-43.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,686 €3,278
$4,234 €3,766
-12.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Girona
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,786 €1,589
$2,483 €2,209
-28.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.02
3.14
-3.82%

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

Last update for Girona: October 12, 2026

Last update for Madrid: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Girona
$893
Madrid
$1.2K 31% $277
Groceries & Markets
Girona
$252
Madrid
$303 20.4% $51
Eating Out
Girona
$245
Madrid
$269 9.6% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Girona
$185
Madrid
$241 30.1% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Girona
$143
Madrid
$157 9.8% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Girona
$71
Madrid
$71 0.3% $0.2
Getting Around
Girona
$55
Madrid
$54 1% $0.6

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,232 in Girona versus $1,506 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 39% 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 $61.0 in Girona versus $68.0 in Madrid. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $303 – making Girona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Girona
🇪🇸 Madrid
🕒 Local time
17:40 5:40 PM
17:40 5:40 PM
Same time as Girona
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
104,320
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 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Girona Madrid 570 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Girona
  • 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
Girona vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Girona or Madrid?
Madrid costs about 23% more than Girona, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Girona and in Madrid?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,766 per month in Girona and $3,398 in Madrid. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Girona or Madrid?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Girona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Girona or in Madrid?
Groceries cost about 20% more in Madrid, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Girona and in Madrid?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Girona and $68.0 in Madrid. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Girona or in Madrid?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Girona, where all-in costs run around $1,844, than in Madrid at $2,265. In Girona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Girona or Madrid?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Girona costs $1,844 versus $2,265 in Madrid. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Girona compared to 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.
Should I move to Girona or to Madrid?
If budget matters most, go with Girona. 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.

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