Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Changwon Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Changwon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,322 in Madrid versus $1,175 in Changwon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,389 in Madrid versus $1,792 in Changwon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,456 in Madrid versus $2,409 in Changwon.

Living in Madrid is roughly 98% more expensive than in Changwon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Madrid is 68% above, Changwon is 15% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.73 €16.15

$7.31 ₩9,808

156.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 €60.5

$27.35 ₩36.7K

156.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.90 €10.26

$5.35 ₩7,169

122.43%

Cappuccino

$3.21 €2.76

$3.60 ₩4,831

-10.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 €2.91

$1.81 ₩2,423

86.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.94

$0.94 ₩1,256

139.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 €3.59

$2.91 ₩3,902

42.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 €4.60

$4.36 ₩5,847

22.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 €1.22

$2.31 ₩3,091

-38.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 €1.40

$3.13 ₩4,191

-48.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 €1.58

$3.15 ₩4,228

-41.90%

Eggs

$4.28 €3.69

$2.60 ₩3,489

64.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.06 €14.71

$11.06 ₩14.8K

54.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.63 €8.30

$10.52 ₩14.1K

-8.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.52 €15.96

$24.67 ₩33.1K

-24.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 €2.27

$11.29 ₩15.1K

-76.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 €1.98

$3.67 ₩4,926

-37.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 €2.24

$7.83 ₩10.5K

-66.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.63 €2.27

$5.89 ₩7,897

-55.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 €1.92

$5.89 ₩7,898

-62.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 €1.97

$3.27 ₩4,390

-30.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 €1.36

$2.85 ₩3,818

-44.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 €0.93

$1.33 ₩1,788

-18.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.91 €5.96

$3.40 ₩4,560

103.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.13 €7.00

$18.84 ₩25.3K

-56.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 €1.05

$2.34 ₩3,141

-47.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 €1.94

$3.50 ₩4,688

-35.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.76 €1.52

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.04 €32.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 €3.29

$2.92 ₩3,920

30.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 €1.32

$0.76 ₩1,023

101.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.08 €26.79

$16.94 ₩22.7K

83.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.84 €1.59

$1.32 ₩1,771

39.39%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.1K €31.1K

$29.5K ₩39.6M

22.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.2K €29.5K

$33.5K ₩44.9M

2.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$191 €165

$198 ₩265.3K

-3.42%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.07 €16.43

$35.58 ₩47.7K

-46.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.93 €30.97

$26.96 ₩36.2K

33.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.5 €43.50

$52.4 ₩70.3K

-3.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.37 €16.69

Cinema Ticket

$11.50 €9.92

$11.03 ₩14.8K

4.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$719 €620

$630 ₩844.5K

14.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.4K €15.8K

$22.0K ₩29.5M

-16.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.7 €77.3

$106 ₩141.6K

-15.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.13 €38.90

$65.4 ₩87.7K

-30.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 €94.5

$93.0 ₩124.7K

17.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 €98.4

$126 ₩168.9K

-9.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,577 €1,360

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,202 €1,036

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,842 €2,450

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,883 €1,623

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,245 €7,970

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,215 €3,633

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,498 €2,154

$1,661 ₩2.2M

50.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.09

4.22

-26.78%

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

Last update for Madrid: September 7, 2026

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Madrid pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Madrid vs $27.00 in Changwon. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $484, with Madrid cheaper for home cooking.

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 Changwon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Madrid and Changwon differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,322 vs $1,175 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Madrid, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Madrid pay roughly 53% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $2,322 per month in Madrid versus $1,175 in Changwon – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,175 in Changwon versus $2,322 in Madrid, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Madrid and Changwon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.