😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,262 in Madrid versus $1,641 in Cornella de Llobregat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,324 in Madrid versus $2,428 in Cornella de Llobregat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,387 in Madrid versus $3,214 in Cornella de Llobregat.
🌍Living in Madrid is roughly 38% more expensive than in Cornella de Llobregat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madrid70% above, Cornella de Llobregat23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70€15.43
$15.32€13.36
15.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€60.8
$56.9€49.59
22.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.96€10.43
$12.70€11.07
-5.83%
Cappuccino
$3.15€2.75
$2.67€2.33
17.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11€2.71
$2.48€2.16
25.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.94
$1.98€1.72
12.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.15€3.62
$3.49€3.04
18.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49€3.92
$3.40€2.97
32.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.09
$1.13€0.99
10.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70€1.48
$1.29€1.13
31.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.72€1.50
-1.16%
Eggs
$3.51€3.06
$2.93€2.56
19.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.07€13.14
$11.19€9.76
34.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.24€8.06
$8.57€7.47
7.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.07€14.88
$14.36€12.52
18.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.39
$2.66€2.32
3.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$1.80€1.57
18.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49€2.17
$2.09€1.82
19.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$2.46€2.15
11.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$1.89€1.65
13.23%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18€1.90
$1.86€1.62
17.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.21
$1.52€1.32
-9.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.80
$0.71€0.62
29.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95€6.06
$6.73€5.87
3.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91€6.90
$5.78€5.04
36.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$1.39€1.21
-0.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.96
$1.98€1.73
13.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.56
$1.63€1.42
9.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.65€42.41
$34.22€29.84
42.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03€3.52
$3.51€3.06
14.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33€1.16
$1.25€1.09
6.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.16€25.42
$25.12€21.90
16.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.60
$1.75€1.52
5.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K€33.2K
$34.1K€29.7K
11.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K€29.2K
$32.6K€28.4K
2.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$142€123
33.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.62€18.85
$13.40€11.68
61.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.96€31.35
$30.86€26.90
16.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1€46.28
$46.84€40.84
13.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.13€15.80
$15.32€13.36
18.34%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47€10.00
$9.66€8.42
18.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$662€578
$588€513
12.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.3K
$11.9K€10.4K
-0.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2€84.7
$89.2€77.8
8.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.05€37.53
$36.82€32.10
16.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.2
$101€88.4
3.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$116€101
15.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,561€1,361
$868€756
79.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,129€985
$685€598
64.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,850€2,484
$1,344€1,172
112.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,868€1,629
$1,003€874
86.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,099€7,933
$5,800€5,056
56.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,243€3,699
$3,956€3,449
7.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Cornella de Llobregat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,471€2,154
$2,651€2,311
-6.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.39
1.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: July 28, 2026
Last update for Cornella de Llobregat: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,561 in Madrid and $868 in Cornella de Llobregat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cornella de Llobregat pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Madrid vs $57.0 in Cornella de Llobregat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $254 per month, with Cornella de Llobregat cheaper across the board.
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 Cornella de Llobregat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cornella de Llobregat cheaper than Madrid?
Cornella de Llobregat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Madrid or Cornella de Llobregat?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Cornella de Llobregat. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Madrid and Cornella de Llobregat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,561 in Madrid versus $868 in Cornella de Llobregat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $662 in Madrid versus $588 in Cornella de Llobregat. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Madrid and in Cornella de Llobregat?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Madrid. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Cornella de Llobregat?
At $1,641 in Cornella de Llobregat versus $2,262 in Madrid, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Cornella de Llobregat but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Cornella de Llobregat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Madrid or Cornella de Llobregat more family-friendly?
For families, Cornella de Llobregat is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Madrid, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Cornella de Llobregat?
Safety-wise, Madrid and Cornella de Llobregat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cornella de Llobregat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.