😐A single person spends $2,273 per month in Madrid vs $1,524 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,389 per month in Madrid vs $2,185 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,505 per month in Madrid vs $2,847 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 49% more than Castello de la Plana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Madrid and Castello de la Plana sit above the global median – Madrid by 70%, Castello de la Plana by 14%.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.10
$15.26€13.06
15.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5€60.3
$58.4€50.0
20.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66€9.98
$8.33€7.13
39.98%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.65
$2.51€2.15
23.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.62
$2.24€1.92
36.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.80
$1.77€1.52
18.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07€3.48
$2.94€2.52
38.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52€3.87
$3.44€2.94
31.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.16€0.99
7.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.44
$2.07€1.77
-18.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65€1.41
$1.92€1.64
-14.06%
Eggs
$3.35€2.87
$2.97€2.54
12.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.57€12.47
$15.02€12.86
-3.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€7.80
$8.60€7.36
6.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.67€14.27
$15.54€13.30
7.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66€2.28
$2.50€2.14
6.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.72€1.47
28.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47€2.11
$1.66€1.42
48.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71€2.32
$2.49€2.13
8.84%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$1.87€1.60
12.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.83
$1.79€1.54
19.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.20
$1.47€1.26
-4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.83
$0.60€0.51
61.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08€6.06
$7.07€6.05
0.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12€6.95
$5.16€4.42
57.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.19
$1.05€0.90
32.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.32€1.98
-3.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.52
$1.42€1.22
25.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.86€41.82
$17.68€15.14
176.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.56
$4.55€3.90
-8.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.18
$1.00€0.86
38.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.62€24.50
$15.03€12.86
90.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88€1.61
$1.74€1.49
8.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K€32.8K
$38.7K€33.1K
-0.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€29.4K
$32.3K€27.6K
6.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€164
$135€115
42.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.59€18.48
$19.62€16.80
10.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.26€30.19
$27.25€23.33
29.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4€45.71
$45.69€39.11
16.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.72€15.17
$15.29€13.09
15.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.78€10.08
$8.24€7.05
42.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$674€577
$588€504
14.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K€10.5K
$7,999€6,847
52.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7€81.9
$64.3€55.0
48.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.61€35.61
$21.67€18.55
92.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.4
$103€88.0
1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€114
$117€100
13.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595€1,365
$736€630
116.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109€949
$606€519
82.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,858€2,446
$1,007€862
183.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,890€1,618
$792€678
138.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,394€8,042
$1,882€1,611
399.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,583€3,923
$1,461€1,251
213.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Castello de la Plana
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,602€2,227
$1,869€1,600
39.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.2
7.19%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Madrid: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Castello de la Plana: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,595 in Madrid versus $736 in Castello de la Plana. 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 39% higher in Madrid, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Madrid versus $58.0 in Castello de la Plana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $271 – making Castello de la Plana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Madrid vs Castello de la Plana: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
How do living costs in Madrid and Castello de la Plana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,273 in Madrid, $1,524 in Castello de la Plana – roughly 49% apart. Madrid costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Madrid compared to Castello de la Plana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,409 per month in Madrid and $2,286 in Castello de la Plana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Madrid and Castello de la Plana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Castello de la Plana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Madrid and Castello de la Plana?
Public transport costs about 176% less in Castello de la Plana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Madrid and Castello de la Plana?
Kindergarten costs $674 per month in Madrid and $588 in Castello de la Plana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Castello de la Plana, where all-in costs run around $1,524, than in Madrid at $2,273. In Castello de la Plana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Madrid and Castello de la Plana?
It depends on your priorities. Madrid has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,524 in Castello de la Plana to $2,273 in Madrid. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Madrid or Castello de la Plana safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Madrid and Castello de la Plana?
If budget matters most, go with Castello de la Plana. 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.