😐A single person spends $2,293 per month in Madrid vs $1,585 in Aranjuez, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,370 per month in Madrid vs $2,309 in Aranjuez, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Madrid vs $3,032 in Aranjuez, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 45% more than Aranjuez, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Madrid and Aranjuez sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Aranjuez by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33€15.14
$15.04€13.14
15.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7€60.0
$58.1€50.7
18.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.95€10.44
$12.71€11.11
-5.98%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.71
$2.66€2.33
16.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.80
$2.50€2.18
28.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14€1.87
$1.96€1.71
9.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.10€3.58
$3.43€2.99
19.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55€3.98
$3.41€2.98
33.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.04
$1.12€0.97
6.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71€1.49
$1.37€1.20
24.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72€1.50
$1.68€1.47
2.38%
Eggs
$3.52€3.07
$2.80€2.45
25.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.98€13.09
$11.26€9.84
33.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.83€7.72
$8.59€7.51
2.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.75€14.63
$14.20€12.41
17.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60€2.27
$2.61€2.28
-0.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.22€1.94
$1.80€1.57
23.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.45€2.14
$2.06€1.80
18.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.32
$2.46€2.15
7.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$1.87€1.63
10.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.88
$2.01€1.76
6.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34€1.17
$1.58€1.38
-15.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.86
$0.75€0.65
32.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99€6.10
$6.84€5.97
2.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.77€6.79
$5.72€5.00
35.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43€1.25
$1.48€1.29
-3.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.90
$2.00€1.75
9.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.56
$1.71€1.49
4.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.79€42.62
$33.58€29.34
45.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12€3.60
$3.45€3.01
19.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39€1.21
$1.17€1.02
18.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.50€24.90
$24.81€21.68
14.87%
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
$29.0K€25.3K
29.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.8K
$27.8K€24.3K
22.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$193€169
$144€126
34.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.55€18.83
$13.59€11.87
58.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.97€31.42
$30.91€27.01
16.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7€46.04
$48.15€42.07
9.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.64€15.42
$14.98€13.09
17.76%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44€10.00
$10.05€8.78
13.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$669€584
$609€532
9.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.4K
$12.0K€10.5K
-0.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.7€82.7
$75.9€66.3
24.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.81€37.41
$23.48€20.52
82.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.6
$70.0€61.1
49.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€115
$94.2€82.3
40.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,607€1,404
$856€748
87.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,151€1,006
$684€598
68.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,839€2,480
$1,304€1,139
117.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879€1,642
$1,002€876
87.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,038€7,896
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,262€3,724
$1,594€1,393
167.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Aranjuez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,464€2,153
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.44
-0.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: July 12, 2026
Last update for Aranjuez: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Madrid versus $856 in Aranjuez. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid versus $58.0 in Aranjuez. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $254 – making Aranjuez 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 Aranjuez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aranjuez cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $2,378 in Aranjuez. 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 Aranjuez, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 45% less in Aranjuez. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $669 per month in Madrid and $609 in Aranjuez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Aranjuez?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aranjuez, where all-in costs run around $1,585, than in Madrid at $2,293. In Aranjuez it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Aranjuez more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aranjuez – 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 Aranjuez?
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 Aranjuez. 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.