Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Badalona Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Badalona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,293 per month in Madrid vs $2,449 in Badalona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,370 per month in Madrid vs $2,907 in Badalona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Madrid vs $3,366 in Badalona, rent included.

Madrid is about 6% cheaper than Badalona, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madrid and Badalona sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Badalona by 83%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.33 €15.14

$17.68 €15.45

-1.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.7 €60.0

$57.8 €50.5

18.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.95 €10.44

$11.78 €10.30

1.44%

Cappuccino

$3.10 €2.71

$2.57 €2.25

20.62%

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

$3.21 €2.80

$2.78 €2.43

15.47%

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

$3.49 €3.05

17.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 €3.98

$4.58 €4.00

-0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 €1.04

$1.26 €1.10

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 €1.49

$2.06 €1.80

-16.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 €1.50

$1.67 €1.46

2.99%

Eggs

$3.52 €3.07

$2.85 €2.49

23.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.98 €13.09

$14.43 €12.61

3.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.83 €7.72

$9.37 €8.19

-5.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.75 €14.63

$17.39 €15.19

-3.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 €2.27

$2.69 €2.35

-3.35%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 €1.94

$2.84 €2.48

-21.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 €2.14

$2.11 €1.84

16.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.65 €2.32

$2.75 €2.40

-3.64%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 €1.81

$1.46 €1.27

41.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 €1.88

$1.42 €1.24

51.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 €1.17

$1.52 €1.33

-11.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 €0.86

$0.69 €0.61

43.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.99 €6.10

$6.15 €5.37

13.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 €6.79

$5.74 €5.01

35.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 €1.25

$1.53 €1.34

-6.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 €1.90

$2.03 €1.77

7.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 €1.56

$2.76 €2.41

-35.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.79 €42.62

$46.59 €40.70

4.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.12 €3.60

$4.02 €3.51

2.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 €1.21

$2.11 €1.84

-34.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.50 €24.90

$22.70 €19.84

25.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.92 €1.68

$1.81 €1.58

6.08%

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

$37.7K €32.9K

$37.0K €32.3K

1.81%

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

$34.1K €29.8K

$29.9K €26.2K

13.98%

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

$193 €169

$151 €132

27.57%

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

$21.55 €18.83

$20.36 €17.79

5.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.97 €31.42

$36.75 €32.11

-2.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.7 €46.04

$49.64 €43.37

6.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.64 €15.42

$34.15 €29.84

-48.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.44 €10.00

$9.02 €7.88

26.83%

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

$669 €584

$334 €292

100.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K €10.4K

$6,813 €5,953

74.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$94.7 €82.7

$95.4 €83.3

-0.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 €37.41

$37.40 €32.68

14.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 €91.6

$106 €92.5

-0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$132 €115

$116 €101

13.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,607 €1,404

$1,723 €1,505

-6.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,151 €1,006

$1,439 €1,258

-20.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,839 €2,480

$2,287 €1,998

24.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,879 €1,642

$1,014 €886

85.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,038 €7,896

$2,938 €2,567

207.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,262 €3,724

$2,360 €2,062

80.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,464 €2,153

$2,010 €1,756

22.57%

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 Badalona: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Madrid versus $1,723 in Badalona. 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 23% higher in Madrid, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid versus $58.0 in Badalona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $291 – making Badalona 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 Badalona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,293 in Madrid, $2,449 in Badalona – roughly 7% apart. Badalona costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,439 per month in Madrid and $3,673 in Badalona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madrid, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,293 in Madrid and $2,449 in Badalona. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Madrid. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madrid, where all-in costs run around $2,293, than in Badalona at $2,449. In Madrid it covers expenses comfortably, while in Badalona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Madrid has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,293 in Madrid to $2,449 in Badalona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Madrid. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Badalona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.