Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Badajoz

For one person, living is cheaper in Badajoz: $1,341 a month against $2,265 in Madrid, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Madrid
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,265
/mo nomad
Badajoz
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,341
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Madrid and in Badajoz

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Madrid and in Badajoz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Madrid versus $1,341 in Badajoz.

  • Madrid $2,265
  • Badajoz $1,341

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,296 in Madrid versus $1,991 in Badajoz.

  • Madrid $3,296
  • Badajoz $1,991

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Madrid versus $2,641 in Badajoz.

  • Madrid $4,328
  • Badajoz $2,641

Living in Madrid is roughly 69% more expensive than in Badajoz, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Madrid is 68% above, Badajoz is 1% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.20 €16.19
$14.63 €13.02
24.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €60.5
$51.0 €45.32
33.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.24 €9.99
$10.96 €9.75
2.55%
Cappuccino
$3.15 €2.80
$2.02 €1.79
55.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 €2.99
$2.85 €2.53
17.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 €2.10
$1.86 €1.66
26.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.83 €3.40
$3.16 €2.81
21.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 €4.38
$4.37 €3.89
12.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.17
$1.07 €0.95
23.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 €1.43
$1.30 €1.16
23.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 €1.47
$1.60 €1.42
3.12%
Eggs
$4.07 €3.62
$2.77 €2.46
46.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.82 €14.07
$14.52 €12.91
8.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 €8.44
$7.95 €7.07
19.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.52 €15.59
$12.46 €11.08
40.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$2.25 €2.00
13.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$2.70 €2.41
-22.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 €2.19
$2.17 €1.93
13.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 €2.22
$2.42 €2.15
2.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.81 €1.61
24.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 €1.91
$1.89 €1.68
13.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 €1.40
$0.88 €0.78
78.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.95
$0.58 €0.52
84.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.82
$5.70 €5.07
14.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.65 €6.81
$6.71 €5.97
14.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.64 €1.46
-28.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.97
$2.41 €2.14
-7.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.63 €1.45
$1.38 €1.23
18.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.42 €32.39
$25.39 €22.59
43.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 €3.32
$2.81 €2.50
32.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.41 €1.25
9.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.17 €25.95
$21.19 €18.85
37.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 €1.58
$1.75 €1.56
1.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K €31.6K
$25.6K €22.8K
38.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K €29.6K
$26.6K €23.7K
24.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €168
$127 €113
48.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 €15.55
$17.92 €15.94
-2.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.32 €30.53
$32.50 €28.91
5.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.62 €43.25
$41.98 €37.34
15.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.44 €16.40
$4.53 €4.03
307.06%
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 €9.82
$8.17 €7.27
35.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 €617
$355 €316
95.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.8K
$5,944 €5,287
198.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6 €75.3
$98.7 €87.8
-14.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50 €37.80
$30.35 €27.00
40.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €98.1
$57.8 €51.4
90.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 €99.9
$72.3 €64.3
55.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 €1,339
$588 €523
156.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 €1,041
$474 €421
146.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,756 €2,451
$869 €773
217.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 €1,641
$685 €609
169.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,168 €8,155
$1,757 €1,563
421.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,234 €3,766
$1,363 €1,212
210.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Badajoz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,483 €2,209
$1,470 €1,308
68.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.14
2.77
13.36%

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

Last update for Madrid: October 11, 2026

Last update for Badajoz: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Madrid
$1.2K
Badajoz
$474 59.5% $696
Groceries & Markets
Madrid
$303
Badajoz
$256 15.5% $47
Eating Out
Madrid
$269
Badajoz
$218 19.1% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
$241
Badajoz
$177 26.3% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
$157
Badajoz
$117 25.9% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
$71
Badajoz
$58 17.5% $12
Getting Around
Madrid
$54
Badajoz
$41 25.1% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,506 in Madrid and $588 in Badajoz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Madrid pays 69% 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: $68.0 in Madrid vs $51.0 in Badajoz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $256 per month, with Badajoz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Madrid
🇪🇸 Badajoz
🕒 Local time
07:07 7:07 AM
07:07 7:07 AM
Same time as Madrid
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,332,035 Capital
150,190
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Madrid Badajoz 330 km
From you
  • Madrid
  • Badajoz

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
Madrid vs Badajoz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Badajoz cheaper than Madrid?
Badajoz is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Madrid or Badajoz?
Average pay runs 69% higher in Madrid, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Madrid and Badajoz?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,506 in Madrid versus $588 in Badajoz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Madrid and in Badajoz?
All in, you'll spend $2,265 per month in Madrid versus $1,341 in Badajoz – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Badajoz runs roughly 43% less than in Madrid. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Badajoz?
At $1,341 in Badajoz versus $2,265 in Madrid, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badajoz but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Badajoz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Madrid or Badajoz more family-friendly?
For families, Badajoz is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Madrid, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Badajoz?
Safety-wise, Madrid and Badajoz are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Badajoz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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