😐A single person spends $2,293 per month in Madrid vs $1,552 in Antequera, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,370 per month in Madrid vs $2,242 in Antequera, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Madrid vs $2,931 in Antequera, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 48% more than Antequera, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Madrid and Antequera sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Antequera by 16%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33€15.14
$12.14€10.61
42.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€60.0
$34.35€30.01
99.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.95€10.44
$9.45€8.26
26.46%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.71
$2.23€1.95
39.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.80
$1.47€1.28
118.37%
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
$2.26€1.97
81.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.98
$3.30€2.88
37.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.04
$1.15€1.01
3.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71€1.49
$1.18€1.04
44.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72€1.50
$1.29€1.12
33.33%
Eggs
$3.52€3.07
$3.28€2.87
7.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.98€13.09
$13.99€12.22
7.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.83€7.72
$8.34€7.29
5.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.75€14.63
$17.68€15.45
-5.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.25€1.97
15.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22€1.94
$2.17€1.89
2.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$1.75€1.52
40.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.32
$1.19€1.04
122.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$1.70€1.49
21.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.88
$2.09€1.83
2.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34€1.17
$1.43€1.25
-6.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.86
$0.60€0.53
65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.10
$6.60€5.77
5.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.77€6.79
$6.04€5.27
28.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$1.38€1.20
3.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.90
$2.38€2.08
-8.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.56
$1.63€1.43
9.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.79€42.62
$34.48€30.13
41.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.60
$2.31€2.01
78.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39€1.21
$1.04€0.91
33.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.50€24.90
$24.99€21.84
14.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92€1.68
$1.80€1.57
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K€32.9K
$38.1K€33.2K
-1.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.8K
$31.6K€27.6K
7.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193€169
$108€94.4
78.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.55€18.83
$13.63€11.91
58.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.97€31.42
$22.80€19.92
57.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7€46.04
$46.93€41.00
12.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.64€15.42
$15.09€13.18
16.90%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44€10.00
$9.31€8.14
22.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$669€584
$384€336
74.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.4K
$6,666€5,824
78.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.7€82.7
$84.5€73.9
12.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.81€37.41
$42.24€36.90
1.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.6
$91.7€80.1
14.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€115
$117€102
13.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,607€1,404
$851€743
88.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151€1,006
$698€609
65.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,839€2,480
$1,304€1,140
117.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879€1,642
$1,021€892
84.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,038€7,896
$3,449€3,013
162.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,262€3,724
$2,080€1,817
104.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Antequera
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,464€2,153
$1,725€1,507
42.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.51
-2.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: July 12, 2026
Last update for Antequera: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Madrid versus $851 in Antequera. 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 43% 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 $34.00 in Antequera. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $262 – making Antequera 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 Antequera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antequera cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 48%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,439 per month in Madrid and $2,328 in Antequera. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Antequera, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Madrid and in Antequera?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,293 in Madrid and $1,552 in Antequera. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 42% less in Antequera. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Antequera?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Antequera, where all-in costs run around $1,552, than in Madrid at $2,293. In Antequera it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Antequera more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Antequera – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Antequera?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Antequera. 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.