😐A single person spends $2,368 per month in Madrid vs $1,759 in Fuengirola, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,435 per month in Madrid vs $2,642 in Fuengirola, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,502 per month in Madrid vs $3,526 in Fuengirola, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 35% more than Fuengirola, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Madrid and Fuengirola sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Fuengirola by 28%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.78€16.20
$16.38€14.13
14.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5€59.1
$69.0€59.5
-0.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98€10.33
$10.52€9.07
13.88%
Cappuccino
$3.22€2.78
$2.80€2.41
15.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.91
$2.53€2.19
33.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29€1.97
$2.20€1.90
4.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.97€3.43
$3.43€2.96
15.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10€4.39
$4.66€4.02
9.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.16
$1.28€1.10
5.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64€1.41
$1.44€1.24
13.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73€1.50
$1.61€1.39
7.45%
Eggs
$4.42€3.81
$2.99€2.58
47.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.22€14.86
$15.52€13.39
10.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.82€8.47
$8.26€7.12
18.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.22€15.71
$15.27€13.17
19.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.36
$2.32€2.00
17.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.36€2.03
$2.02€1.75
16.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.24
$1.77€1.52
46.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.68€2.31
$2.50€2.16
7.20%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29€1.98
$1.58€1.36
44.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27€1.95
$1.69€1.46
34.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.58€1.36
$1.22€1.05
29.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12€0.96
$0.63€0.55
77.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.86
$5.82€5.02
16.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.33€7.18
$6.40€5.52
30.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.06
$1.08€0.93
13.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.94
$1.60€1.38
40.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71€1.47
$2.29€1.98
-25.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.94€32.72
$11.48€9.91
230.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.97€3.42
$2.00€1.73
98.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58€1.36
$1.22€1.05
29.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.36€26.19
$22.87€19.72
32.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$1.78€1.54
3.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K€31.9K
$36.8K€31.8K
0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K€29.4K
$30.5K€26.3K
12.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195€168
$158€136
23.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.08€16.45
$10.76€9.28
77.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.32€31.33
$26.89€23.19
35.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.2€44.18
$46.79€40.35
9.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.35€16.69
$29.50€25.44
-34.41%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39€9.82
$9.98€8.61
14.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696€600
$392€338
77.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.0K€15.6K
$10.7K€9,260
67.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1€76.9
$66.1€57.0
34.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57€38.45
$37.21€32.09
19.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€93.2
$72.2€62.3
49.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113€97.4
$85.8€74.0
31.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,583€1,366
$1,079€930
46.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,225€1,057
$846€730
44.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,813€2,426
$1,805€1,557
55.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,871€1,613
$1,352€1,166
38.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,303€8,024
$3,766€3,248
147.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,251€3,667
$2,873€2,478
47.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Fuengirola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,584€2,229
$1,886€1,627
36.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.09
3.31
-6.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: August 30, 2026
Last update for Fuengirola: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Madrid versus $1,079 in Fuengirola. 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 37% 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 $68.0 in Madrid versus $69.0 in Fuengirola. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Madrid vs $265 in Fuengirola – so Fuengirola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Fuengirola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Madrid and in Fuengirola compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,368 in Madrid, $1,759 in Fuengirola – roughly 35% apart. Madrid costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Madrid compared to Fuengirola?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,552 per month in Madrid and $2,638 in Fuengirola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Madrid and Fuengirola?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fuengirola, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Madrid and Fuengirola?
Kindergarten costs $696 per month in Madrid and $392 in Fuengirola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Madrid, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Fuengirola, where all-in costs run around $1,759, than in Madrid at $2,368. In Fuengirola 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 Fuengirola?
It depends on your priorities. Madrid has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,759 in Fuengirola to $2,368 in Madrid. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Madrid or Fuengirola 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 Fuengirola?
If budget matters most, go with Fuengirola. 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.