Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Alcoy Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Alcoy

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,293 per month in Madrid vs $1,559 in Alcoy, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,370 per month in Madrid vs $2,326 in Alcoy, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Madrid vs $3,094 in Alcoy, rent included.

Madrid costs about 47% more than Alcoy, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madrid and Alcoy sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Alcoy by 17%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33 €15.14
$10.47 €9.14
65.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €60.0
$58.9 €51.5
16.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.95 €10.44
$13.16 €11.50
-9.19%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.71
$1.90 €1.66
63.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 €2.80
$1.75 €1.53
83.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.87
$1.35 €1.18
58.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.10 €3.58
$3.42 €2.99
19.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 €3.98
$2.45 €2.14
85.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 €1.04
$1.07 €0.94
11.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.43 €1.25
19.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 €1.50
$1.46 €1.27
17.81%
Eggs
$3.52 €3.07
$2.95 €2.58
19.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.98 €13.09
$13.45 €11.75
11.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.83 €7.72
$8.64 €7.55
2.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 €14.63
$15.03 €13.13
11.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$2.47 €2.16
5.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 €1.94
$2.03 €1.77
9.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 €2.14
$1.98 €1.73
23.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.32
$2.64 €2.31
0.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 €1.81
$1.80 €1.57
15.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 €1.88
$1.92 €1.67
11.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 €1.17
$1.34 €1.17
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 €0.86
$0.56 €0.49
76.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99 €6.10
$6.14 €5.37
13.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 €6.79
$5.63 €4.92
38.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.25
$1.21 €1.06
18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.90
$1.40 €1.22
55.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 €1.56
$1.65 €1.44
7.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.79 €42.62
$33.89 €29.61
43.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 €3.60
$4.10 €3.59
0.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 €1.21
$1.26 €1.10
10.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.50 €24.90
$24.64 €21.52
15.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.75 €1.53
9.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K €32.9K
$39.3K €34.3K
-4.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K €29.8K
$29.8K €26.0K
14.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 €169
$135 €118
43.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.55 €18.83
$20.65 €18.05
4.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.97 €31.42
$31.23 €27.28
15.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 €46.04
$48.44 €42.32
8.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.64 €15.42
$15.29 €13.35
15.37%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44 €10.00
$9.03 €7.89
26.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$669 €584
$407 €355
64.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.4K
$7,491 €6,545
58.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.7 €82.7
$83.8 €73.2
12.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.81 €37.41
$36.05 €31.50
18.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €91.6
$90.2 €78.8
16.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €115
$110 €96.1
19.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 €1,404
$845 €739
90.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,151 €1,006
$689 €602
67.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,839 €2,480
$1,333 €1,165
112.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,879 €1,642
$999 €873
88.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,038 €7,896
$3,025 €2,643
198.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,262 €3,724
$2,443 €2,135
74.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Alcoy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,464 €2,153
$1,926 €1,683
27.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.43
3.5
-2.00%

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

Last update for Madrid: July 12, 2026

Last update for Alcoy: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Madrid versus $845 in Alcoy. 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 28% 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 $69.0 in Madrid versus $59.0 in Alcoy. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $258 – making Alcoy 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
Madrid vs Alcoy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Madrid and in Alcoy compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,293 in Madrid, $1,559 in Alcoy – roughly 47% apart. Madrid costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Madrid compared to Alcoy?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,439 per month in Madrid and $2,338 in Alcoy. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Madrid and Alcoy?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alcoy, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Madrid, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid and $59.0 in Alcoy. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alcoy, where all-in costs run around $1,559, than in Madrid at $2,293. In Alcoy it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Madrid and Alcoy?
It depends on your priorities. Madrid has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,559 in Alcoy to $2,293 in Madrid. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Madrid or Alcoy 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 Madrid and Alcoy?
If budget matters most, go with Alcoy. 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.

Madrid vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities