Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Algeciras Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Algeciras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,242 in Madrid versus $1,142 in Algeciras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,340 in Madrid versus $1,820 in Algeciras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,439 in Madrid versus $2,498 in Algeciras.

Living in Madrid is roughly 96% more expensive than in Algeciras, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Madrid is 68% above, Algeciras is 14% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.43 €15.21

$9.56 €8.34

82.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$69.5 €60.7

$35.28 €30.78

97.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.74 €10.25

$9.60 €8.37

22.29%

Cappuccino

$3.22 €2.81

$1.98 €1.72

62.63%

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

$3.18 €2.77

$1.97 €1.72

61.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 €1.84

$1.19 €1.03

76.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.00 €3.49

$3.29 €2.87

21.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 €3.94

$4.31 €3.76

4.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 €1.05

$1.12 €0.98

7.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 €1.41

$1.42 €1.24

14.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 €1.51

$1.48 €1.29

16.89%

Eggs

$3.38 €2.95

$3.13 €2.73

7.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.68 €12.81

$9.69 €8.45

51.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 €7.66

$7.96 €6.94

10.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.04 €14.86

$14.21 €12.39

19.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 €2.28

$1.92 €1.68

35.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 €1.85

$2.07 €1.81

2.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 €2.25

$1.69 €1.48

52.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.64 €2.30

$2.28 €1.99

15.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 €1.81

$1.32 €1.15

56.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.13 €1.86

$1.42 €1.24

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 €1.23

$1.57 €1.37

-10.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 €0.87

$0.44 €0.38

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.88 €6.00

$6.23 €5.43

10.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.34 €7.27

$5.05 €4.41

65.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 €1.20

$1.27 €1.11

8.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 €1.97

$1.95 €1.70

15.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.70 €1.48

$1.65 €1.44

3.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.95 €43.58

$33.91 €29.58

47.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.16 €3.63

$4.14 €3.61

0.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.37 €1.19

$1.39 €1.21

-1.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.95 €25.26

$28.37 €24.75

2.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.85 €1.62

$1.69 €1.47

9.47%

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

$37.5K €32.7K

$31.1K €27.1K

20.48%

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

$34.4K €30.0K

$29.7K €25.9K

15.58%

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

$193 €168

$83.5 €72.8

131.04%

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

$21.04 €18.35

$11.37 €9.92

85.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.82 €31.26

$27.85 €24.30

28.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 €46.56

$35.29 €30.79

51.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.10 €15.79

$14.82 €12.93

22.13%

Cinema Ticket

$11.39 €9.94

$9.64 €8.41

18.15%

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

$662 €578

$379 €330

74.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.0K €10.5K

$8,313 €7,253

44.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.4 €82.4

$75.4 €65.8

25.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.12 €37.62

$34.09 €29.75

26.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 €92.3

$78.5 €68.5

34.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$133 €116

$106 €92.5

25.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,565 €1,366

$470 €410

232.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,145 €999

$364 €317

214.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,860 €2,496

$983 €858

190.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,904 €1,661

$782 €682

143.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,209 €8,035

$2,160 €1,884

326.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,376 €3,818

$1,793 €1,564

144.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,615 €2,281

$1,924 €1,678

35.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.43

3.55

-3.38%

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

Last update for Madrid: June 14, 2026

Last update for Algeciras: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,565 in Madrid and $470 in Algeciras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Madrid pays 36% 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: $70.0 in Madrid vs $35.00 in Algeciras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $234 per month, with Algeciras 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

Madrid vs Algeciras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Madrid and Algeciras differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($2,242 vs $1,142 including rent). Algeciras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Madrid, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,565 in Madrid versus $470 in Algeciras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Algeciras runs roughly 47% less than in Madrid. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $662 in Madrid versus $379 in Algeciras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,142 in Algeciras versus $2,242 in Madrid, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Algeciras but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Algeciras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Madrid and Algeciras 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 Algeciras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.