Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Cartagena Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Cartagena

😐 Solo nomad: Madrid is 54.1% more expensive than Cartagena without rent, and 60.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Madrid is 33.1% more expensive than Cartagena without rent, and 66.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.03 €14.7
$13.84 €11.95
23.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.3 €60.7
$56.9 €49.13
23.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.77 €10.16
$8.26 €7.14
42.49%
Cappuccino
$3.21 €2.77
$2.54 €2.19
26.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 €2.75
$2.43 €2.1
30.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.1 €1.82
$1.98 €1.71
6.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.13 €3.56
$3.43 €2.96
20.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49 €3.88
$3.39 €2.93
32.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.07
$1.14 €0.99
7.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 €1.41
$1.04 €0.9
56.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.69 €1.46
-2.96%
Eggs
$3.34 €2.89
$2.9 €2.51
15.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.88 €12.84
$11.56 €9.98
28.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.04 €7.81
$8.6 €7.42
5.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.8 €14.5
$14.13 €12.2
18.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.35
$2.27 €1.96
20.26%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 €1.86
$1.77 €1.53
21.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.5 €2.16
$1.38 €1.19
81.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.67 €2.31
$1.7 €1.47
57.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.14 €1.85
$1.29 €1.11
65.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 €1.87
$1.06 €0.92
103.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.17
$1.07 €0.92
26.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 €0.81
$0.52 €0.45
78.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.12 €6.15
$5.82 €5.03
22.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.96 €6.87
$5.95 €5.14
33.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.2
$1.11 €0.96
25.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €1.96
$1.3 €1.12
74.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.42 €1.22
20.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.37 €41.77
$11.44 €9.88
322.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 €3.59
$3.56 €3.08
16.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 €1.15
$1.21 €1.05
10.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.54 €24.64
$24.51 €21.16
16.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.86 €1.6
$1.82 €1.57
2.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K €32.7K
$30.3K €26.1K
25.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K €29.5K
$31.9K €27.5K
7.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 €165
$144 €125
32.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.25 €18.35
$13.22 €11.42
60.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.96 €31.05
$30.79 €26.58
16.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54 €46.59
$38.74 €33.45
39.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 €15.51
$15.24 €13.16
17.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51 €9.94
$7.99 €6.9
44.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$674 €582
$418 €361
61.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K €10.2K
$2,751 €2,375
330.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7 €82.6
$45.57 €39.35
110.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.6 €35.92
$31.42 €27.12
32.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €91.1
$44.73 €38.62
135.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €114
$75.7 €65.3
74.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,561 €1,348
$785 €677
99.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,109 €958
$623 €538
77.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,840 €2,452
$924 €798
207.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,884 €1,626
$775 €670
142.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,381 €7,236
$1,844 €1,592
354.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,938 €4,263
$1,500 €1,295
229.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Cartagena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,579 €2,227
$1,845 €1,593
39.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.43
3.44
-0.29%

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

Last update for Madrid: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cartagena: October 29, 2025

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