Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and GranadaCost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Granada
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,253 per month in Madrid vs $1,685 in Granada, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,329 per month in Madrid vs $2,362 in Granada, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,404 per month in Madrid vs $3,038 in Granada, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 34% more than Granada, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Madrid and Granada sit above the global median – Madrid by 68%, Granada by 26%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05€14.68
$17.14€14.75
-0.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6€59.0
$44.61€38.41
53.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73€10.10
$10.07€8.67
16.48%
Cappuccino
$3.06€2.63
$2.34€2.02
30.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.77
$2.86€2.46
12.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.87
$2.20€1.89
-0.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.94€3.39
$3.57€3.07
10.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.02
$4.49€3.86
4.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.17€1.01
2.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68€1.45
$1.63€1.40
3.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$1.47€1.27
14.97%
Eggs
$3.34€2.88
$3.14€2.70
6.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.91€12.84
$16.22€13.97
-8.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.93€7.68
$8.17€7.03
9.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.84€14.50
$14.30€12.31
17.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.35
$2.71€2.33
0.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.85€1.59
14.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54€2.19
$1.90€1.63
33.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.83€2.44
-6.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$2.31€1.99
-6.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$2.60€2.24
-19.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.17
$1.61€1.39
-16.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.84
$1.02€0.88
-4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.87
$6.36€5.47
7.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.15€7.02
$4.83€4.16
68.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$1.26€1.09
10.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19€1.88
$1.96€1.69
11.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Granada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.52
$1.64€1.41
7.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.07€42.25
$45.71€39.35
7.35%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.01€3.45
$5.94€5.12
-32.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33€1.15
$1.23€1.06
8.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.19€25.13
$29.05€25.01
0.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93€1.67
$1.72€1.48
12.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$38.1K€32.8K
-2.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€29.6K
$30.5K€26.2K
12.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195€168
$157€135
24.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.66€18.65
$20.16€17.36
7.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.51€30.57
$27.61€23.77
28.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.8€46.30
$48.02€41.34
12.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.95€15.46
$14.10€12.14
27.30%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55€9.95
$9.90€8.52
16.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$676€582
$369€318
83.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1K€10.4K
$8,326€7,168
45.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.2€81.1
$73.3€63.1
28.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77€36.82
$33.48€28.82
27.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.0
$80.0€68.9
32.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134€116
$109€93.5
23.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Granada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566€1,348
$842€725
86.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,149€989
$665€572
72.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,826€2,433
$1,147€988
146.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,884€1,622
$897€772
110.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,077€7,814
$3,485€3,001
160.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,511€3,884
$2,302€1,981
96.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,626€2,261
$1,923€1,655
36.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.55
-3.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026
Last update for Granada: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,566 in Madrid versus $842 in Granada. 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 $69.0 in Madrid versus $45.00 in Granada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $276 – making Granada 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 Granada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Madrid or Granada?
Madrid costs about 34% more than Granada, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Granada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,380 per month in Madrid and $2,528 in Granada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Madrid or Granada?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Granada, 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 Granada?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 Granada?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid and $45.00 in Granada. 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 Granada?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Granada, where all-in costs run around $1,685, than in Madrid at $2,253. In Granada 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 Granada?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Granada costs $1,685 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 Granada?
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 Granada?
If budget matters most, go with Granada. 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.