๐A single person spends $2,265 per month in Madrid vs $1,579 in Caleta de Fuste, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,314 per month in Madrid vs $2,363 in Caleta de Fuste, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,362 per month in Madrid vs $3,148 in Caleta de Fuste, rent included.
๐Madrid costs about 43% more than Caleta de Fuste, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both Madrid and Caleta de Fuste sit above the global median โ Madrid by 69%, Caleta de Fuste by 18%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39โฌ14.84
$12.07โฌ10.30
44.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5โฌ58.4
$58.9โฌ50.2
16.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66โฌ9.95
$10.25โฌ8.74
13.76%
Cappuccino
$3.09โฌ2.64
$2.28โฌ1.94
35.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06โฌ2.61
$2.10โฌ1.79
45.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21โฌ1.89
$1.25โฌ1.07
76.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01โฌ3.42
$2.81โฌ2.39
42.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53โฌ3.86
$4.43โฌ3.78
2.26%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20โฌ1.03
$1.23โฌ1.05
-2.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$1.44โฌ1.22
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$0.84โฌ0.71
104.76%
Eggs
$3.40โฌ2.90
$3.35โฌ2.85
1.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.03โฌ12.82
$11.79โฌ10.05
27.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.78โฌ7.49
$10.12โฌ8.63
-13.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18โฌ14.66
$17.22โฌ14.69
-0.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64โฌ2.25
$2.51โฌ2.14
5.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15โฌ1.83
$2.16โฌ1.84
-0.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$2.23โฌ1.91
14.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$1.76โฌ1.50
56.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.80โฌ1.53
17.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13โฌ1.82
$2.74โฌ2.34
-22.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.85โฌ1.58
-25.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97โฌ0.83
$0.97โฌ0.83
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11โฌ6.07
$4.67โฌ3.98
52.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10โฌ6.91
$7.16โฌ6.11
13.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.26โฌ1.07
9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16โฌ1.84
$3.84โฌ3.28
-43.75%
๐ Getting Around
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69โฌ1.44
$1.64โฌ1.40
3.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.75โฌ41.59
$34.04โฌ29.03
43.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16โฌ3.55
$3.49โฌ2.98
19.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32โฌ1.12
$2.13โฌ1.82
-38.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.53โฌ24.34
$22.72โฌ19.38
25.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$1.48โฌ1.26
29.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8Kโฌ32.3K
$39.3Kโฌ33.6K
-3.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
$30.6Kโฌ26.1K
8.91%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188โฌ161
$81.1โฌ69.1
132.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76โฌ18.56
$21.20โฌ18.08
2.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.31โฌ30.12
$30.04โฌ25.62
17.54%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8โฌ45.05
$48.49โฌ41.36
8.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.10โฌ15.44
$15.27โฌ13.03
18.53%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60โฌ9.89
$9.27โฌ7.91
25.13%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677โฌ578
$529โฌ451
28.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1Kโฌ10.3K
$6,400โฌ5,459
89.38%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9โฌ80.9
$100โฌ85.5
-5.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98โฌ35.81
$51.1โฌ43.54
-17.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104โฌ89.0
$107โฌ91.5
-2.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135โฌ115
$144โฌ123
-5.96%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,578โฌ1,346
$844โฌ720
86.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115โฌ951
$681โฌ581
63.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,765โฌ2,359
$1,336โฌ1,139
107.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879โฌ1,603
$998โฌ851
88.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,202โฌ7,849
$3,526โฌ3,008
160.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,488โฌ3,829
$2,391โฌ2,039
87.73%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,586โฌ2,206
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: April 20, 2026
Last update for Caleta de Fuste: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,578 in Madrid versus $844 in Caleta de Fuste. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $68 in Madrid versus $59 in Caleta de Fuste. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $282 โ making Caleta de Fuste 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 Caleta de Fuste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caleta de Fuste cheaper than Madrid?
Yes โ Madrid is pricier by about 43%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,398 per month in Madrid and $2,369 in Caleta de Fuste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Caleta de Fuste, 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 43% less in Caleta de Fuste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $677 per month in Madrid and $529 in Caleta de Fuste. 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 Madrid or Caleta de Fuste?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Caleta de Fuste, where all-in costs run around $1,579, than in Madrid at $2,265. In Caleta de Fuste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Caleta de Fuste more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Caleta de Fuste โ 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 Caleta de Fuste?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Caleta de Fuste. 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.