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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,253 per month in Madrid vs $1,483 in Burgos, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,329 per month in Madrid vs $2,170 in Burgos, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,404 per month in Madrid vs $2,857 in Burgos, rent included.

Madrid costs about 52% more than Burgos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madrid and Burgos sit above the global median – Madrid by 68%, Burgos by 11%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05 €14.66
$13.96 €12.01
22.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 €59.0
$58.2 €50.1
17.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.73 €10.09
$9.50 €8.17
23.47%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.63
$1.91 €1.64
60.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 €2.76
$2.28 €1.96
40.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.87
$1.50 €1.29
45.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.94 €3.39
$3.51 €3.02
12.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 €4.02
$2.25 €1.94
107.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 €1.03
$1.19 €1.03
0.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.45
$1.20 €1.03
40.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$2.25 €1.93
-24.89%
Eggs
$3.34 €2.88
$2.63 €2.27
27.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.91 €12.83
$19.71 €16.96
-24.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.93 €7.68
$7.08 €6.09
26.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.84 €14.49
$15.07 €12.97
11.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.34
$1.96 €1.69
39.29%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$1.55 €1.34
36.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.54 €2.19
$1.75 €1.51
45.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$2.72 €2.34
-2.57%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.42 €1.22
51.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.81
$2.13 €1.83
-1.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.17
$1.04 €0.89
29.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.84
$0.73 €0.62
32.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 €5.87
$7.87 €6.77
-13.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 €7.01
$7.64 €6.57
6.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.19 €1.02
16.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 €1.88
$1.40 €1.21
56.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.43 €1.23
23.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.07 €42.21
$25.76 €22.15
90.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.01 €3.45
$2.94 €2.53
36.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 €1.14
$1.07 €0.92
24.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.19 €25.11
$22.97 €19.76
27.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.83 €1.58
5.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K €32.0K
$38.4K €33.1K
-3.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K €29.6K
$29.0K €25.0K
18.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 €167
$129 €111
51.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.66 €18.64
$22.73 €19.55
-4.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.51 €30.54
$23.34 €20.08
52.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.8 €46.26
$43.71 €37.60
23.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.95 €15.44
$10.96 €9.43
63.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55 €9.94
$8.40 €7.23
37.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$676 €582
$464 €400
45.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K €10.4K
$6,969 €5,995
74.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.2 €81.1
$115 €98.7
-17.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77 €36.79
$36.10 €31.05
18.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €90.9
$63.8 €54.8
65.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 €116
$163 €140
-17.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 €1,347
$753 €647
108.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 €988
$549 €473
109.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,826 €2,431
$1,019 €877
177.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,884 €1,621
$786 €676
139.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,077 €7,808
$2,343 €2,015
287.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,511 €3,880
$2,103 €1,809
114.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Burgos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,626 €2,259
$2,670 €2,297
-1.65%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Burgos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,566 in Madrid versus $753 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 2% 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 $69.0 in Madrid versus $58.0 in Burgos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $268 – 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 52% more than Burgos, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 vs Burgos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,380 per month in Madrid and $2,225 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 do dining costs compare in Madrid vs Burgos?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid and $58.0 in Burgos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Madrid compared to Burgos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,253 in Madrid and $1,483 in Burgos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Madrid or Burgos?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Burgos, where all-in costs run around $1,483, than in Madrid at $2,253. 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 $1,483 versus $2,253 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 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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