Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Girona Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Girona

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,253 per month in Madrid vs $1,862 in Girona, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,329 per month in Madrid vs $2,719 in Girona, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,404 per month in Madrid vs $3,577 in Girona, rent included.

Madrid costs about 21% more than Girona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Madrid and Girona sit above the global median – Madrid by 68%, Girona by 39%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05 €14.66
$16.95 €14.58
0.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6 €59.0
$68.5 €58.9
0.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.73 €10.09
$9.28 €7.98
26.40%
Cappuccino
$3.06 €2.63
$2.19 €1.88
39.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 €2.76
$1.76 €1.51
82.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.87
$1.71 €1.47
27.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.94 €3.39
$3.45 €2.97
14.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 €4.02
$4.66 €4.01
0.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 €1.03
$1.23 €1.06
-2.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.45
$1.38 €1.19
21.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$1.67 €1.44
1.20%
Eggs
$3.34 €2.88
$2.93 €2.52
13.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.91 €12.83
$10.61 €9.12
40.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.93 €7.68
$8.94 €7.69
-0.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.84 €14.49
$8.91 €7.66
89.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.34
$2.36 €2.03
15.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 €1.82
$2.16 €1.85
-2.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.54 €2.19
$2.03 €1.74
25.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.28
$2.86 €2.46
-7.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 €1.85
$1.40 €1.21
53.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 €1.81
$1.41 €1.21
48.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 €1.17
$1.03 €0.88
31.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 €0.84
$0.70 €0.60
38.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82 €5.87
$5.96 €5.13
14.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.15 €7.01
$7.79 €6.70
4.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39 €1.20
$1.30 €1.12
6.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 €1.88
$2.02 €1.74
8.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Girona
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.66 €1.43
6.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.07 €42.21
$39.06 €33.60
25.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.01 €3.45
$2.25 €1.94
78.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 €1.14
$2.10 €1.81
-36.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.19 €25.11
$23.00 €19.78
26.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.93 €1.66
$1.75 €1.51
10.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K €32.0K
$37.2K €32.0K
-0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K €29.6K
$32.1K €27.7K
6.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 €167
$121 €104
61.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.66 €18.64
$20.24 €17.41
7.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.51 €30.54
$37.94 €32.64
-6.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.8 €46.26
$56.3 €48.39
-4.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.95 €15.44
$18.30 €15.74
-1.91%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55 €9.94
$10.87 €9.35
6.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$676 €582
$334 €287
102.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.1K €10.4K
$9,860 €8,482
23.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.2 €81.1
$93.0 €80.0
1.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77 €36.79
$33.79 €29.06
26.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 €90.9
$90.5 €77.8
16.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134 €116
$136 €117
-0.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Girona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 €1,347
$1,351 €1,162
15.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 €988
$877 €755
30.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,826 €2,431
$2,163 €1,861
30.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,884 €1,621
$1,389 €1,195
35.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,077 €7,808
$5,464 €4,700
66.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,511 €3,880
$3,216 €2,767
40.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Girona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,626 €2,259
$1,973 €1,697
33.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.43
3.58
-4.19%

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

Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026

Last update for Girona: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,566 in Madrid versus $1,351 in Girona. 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 33% 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 $69.0 in Madrid versus $69.0 in Girona. Groceries tell a different story – $294 in Madrid vs $241 in Girona – so Girona 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 Girona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Madrid or Girona?
Madrid costs about 21% more than Girona, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Madrid vs Girona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,380 per month in Madrid and $2,792 in Girona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Madrid or Girona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Girona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Madrid or Girona?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Madrid, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Madrid vs Girona?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid and $69.0 in Girona. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Madrid or Girona?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Girona, where all-in costs run around $1,862, than in Madrid at $2,253. In Girona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Madrid or Girona?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Girona costs $1,862 versus $2,253 in Madrid. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Madrid compared to Girona?
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.
Should I move to Madrid or Girona?
If budget matters most, go with Girona. 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.

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