Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Burgos Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Burgos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,368 per month in Madrid vs $1,613 in Burgos, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,435 per month in Madrid vs $2,333 in Burgos, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,502 per month in Madrid vs $3,054 in Burgos, rent included.

Madrid costs about 47% more than Burgos, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Madrid and Burgos sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Burgos by 17%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.78 €16.20
$18.44 €15.90
1.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5 €59.1
$58.1 €50.1
17.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 €10.33
$10.58 €9.13
13.23%
Cappuccino
$3.22 €2.78
$1.91 €1.65
68.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 €2.91
$2.22 €1.91
51.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$1.59 €1.37
44.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.97 €3.43
$3.53 €3.04
12.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10 €4.39
$3.54 €3.05
44.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.25 €1.08
8.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.21 €1.04
35.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 €1.50
$1.90 €1.64
-8.95%
Eggs
$4.42 €3.81
$2.65 €2.28
66.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.22 €14.86
$21.00 €18.12
-18.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 €8.47
$8.54 €7.37
14.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.22 €15.71
$16.21 €13.98
12.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.36
$2.38 €2.06
14.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 €2.03
$1.68 €1.45
40.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 €2.24
$1.69 €1.46
53.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 €2.31
$2.87 €2.48
-6.62%
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$1.43 €1.23
60.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 €1.95
$2.13 €1.83
6.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.18 €1.01
33.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.96
$1.05 €0.91
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.86
$8.18 €7.06
-16.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 €7.18
$7.75 €6.68
7.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.17 €1.01
5.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.91 €1.65
17.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.40 €1.21
22.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.94 €32.72
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 €3.42
$7.03 €6.07
-43.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 €1.36
$0.98 €0.84
61.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.36 €26.19
$23.27 €20.07
30.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.58
$1.71 €1.48
7.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K €31.9K
$37.2K €32.1K
-0.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K €29.4K
$30.4K €26.2K
12.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 €168
$142 €123
36.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.08 €16.45
$23.38 €20.16
-18.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.32 €31.33
$35.96 €31.01
1.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 €44.18
$31.23 €26.93
64.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.35 €16.69
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.39 €9.82
$5.93 €5.12
92.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €600
$468 €404
48.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K €15.6K
$14.4K €12.4K
25.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1 €76.9
$103 €88.9
-13.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 €38.45
$32.92 €28.40
35.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €93.2
$70.9 €61.2
52.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €97.4
$137 €118
-17.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 €1,366
$818 €706
93.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 €1,057
$664 €573
84.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,813 €2,426
$1,121 €967
150.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,871 €1,613
$897 €774
108.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,303 €8,024
$2,472 €2,132
276.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,251 €3,667
$2,251 €1,941
88.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,584 €2,229
$2,590 €2,234
-0.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.09
2.92
5.82%

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

Last update for Madrid: August 30, 2026

Last update for Burgos: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Madrid versus $818 in Burgos. 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 0% higher in Burgos, 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 $68.0 in Madrid versus $58.0 in Burgos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $291 – making Burgos 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 Burgos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Madrid or Burgos?
Madrid costs about 47% more than Burgos, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Madrid and in Burgos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,552 per month in Madrid and $2,420 in Burgos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Madrid or Burgos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Burgos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Madrid compared to Burgos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,368 in Madrid and $1,613 in Burgos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Madrid and in Burgos?
Kindergarten costs $696 per month in Madrid and $468 in Burgos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Madrid or in Burgos?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgos, where all-in costs run around $1,613, than in Madrid at $2,368. In Burgos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Madrid or Burgos?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Burgos costs $1,613 versus $2,368 in Madrid. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Madrid compared to Burgos?
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.
Should I move to Madrid or to Burgos?
If budget matters most, go with Burgos. 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.

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