😐A single person spends $2,265 per month in Madrid vs $1,625 in Figueres, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,314 per month in Madrid vs $2,400 in Figueres, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,362 per month in Madrid vs $3,175 in Figueres, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 39% more than Figueres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Madrid and Figueres sit above the global median – Madrid by 69%, Figueres by 21%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39€14.84
$17.30€14.75
0.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€58.4
$46.03€39.26
48.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66€9.95
$11.78€10.05
-1.02%
Cappuccino
$3.09€2.64
$2.14€1.83
44.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.61
$2.27€1.93
34.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.89
$1.47€1.25
50.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01€3.42
$2.94€2.50
36.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.86
$3.79€3.23
19.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.21€1.03
-0.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68€1.43
$1.40€1.19
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$2.55€2.18
-32.55%
Eggs
$3.40€2.90
$3.45€2.94
-1.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.03€12.82
$13.23€11.28
13.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.78€7.49
$8.45€7.21
3.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18€14.66
$14.82€12.64
15.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.25
$2.47€2.11
6.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.83
$1.57€1.34
36.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55€2.17
$1.91€1.63
33.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.35
$2.57€2.19
7.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12€1.81
$1.71€1.46
23.98%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13€1.82
$2.00€1.71
6.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.18
$1.33€1.14
3.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.83
$0.71€0.60
36.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11€6.07
$6.22€5.30
14.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10€6.91
$5.92€5.05
36.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.18
$1.20€1.03
15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.84
$2.04€1.74
5.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69€1.44
$1.72€1.47
-1.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.75€41.59
$34.07€29.06
43.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.55
$4.09€3.49
1.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32€1.12
$1.21€1.03
9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.53€24.34
$24.93€21.26
14.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92€1.64
$1.74€1.48
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K€32.3K
$38.4K€32.8K
-1.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€28.4K
$29.7K€25.3K
12.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$135€115
39.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76€18.56
$20.79€17.74
4.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.31€30.12
$32.08€27.37
10.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8€45.05
$48.42€41.30
9.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.10€15.44
$15.07€12.86
20.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.60€9.89
$9.25€7.89
25.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677€578
$399€341
69.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1K€10.3K
$7,415€6,325
63.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9€80.9
$85.8€73.2
10.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98€35.81
$36.66€31.27
14.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.0
$87.5€74.7
19.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135€115
$107€91.1
26.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,578€1,346
$860€734
83.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115€951
$691€589
61.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,765€2,359
$1,346€1,148
105.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879€1,603
$1,001€854
87.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,202€7,849
$3,888€3,317
136.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,488€3,829
$2,621€2,236
71.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Figueres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,586€2,206
$1,584€1,351
63.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.5
-2.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: April 20, 2026
Last update for Figueres: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,578 in Madrid versus $860 in Figueres. 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 63% 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 $68 in Madrid versus $46 in Figueres. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $264 – making Figueres 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 Figueres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Figueres cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,438 in Figueres. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Figueres, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Madrid or Figueres?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Madrid and $46.00 in Figueres. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Madrid vs Figueres?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,265 in Madrid and $1,625 in Figueres. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Madrid or Figueres?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Figueres, where all-in costs run around $1,625, than in Madrid at $2,265. In Figueres it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Figueres more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Figueres – 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 Figueres?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Figueres. 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.