Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Granada Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Granada

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,368 per month in Madrid vs $1,678 in Granada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,435 per month in Madrid vs $2,376 in Granada, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,502 per month in Madrid vs $3,074 in Granada, rent included.

Madrid costs about 41% more than Granada, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madrid and Granada sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Granada by 22%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.78 €16.15
$16.15 €13.89
16.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5 €58.9
$39.92 €34.32
71.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 €10.30
$9.41 €8.09
27.31%
Cappuccino
$3.22 €2.77
$2.29 €1.97
40.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 €2.90
$3.05 €2.62
10.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.24 €1.93
2.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.97 €3.41
$3.56 €3.06
11.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10 €4.38
$4.75 €4.08
7.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.35 €1.16
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.55 €1.33
5.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.81 €1.56
-4.42%
Eggs
$4.42 €3.80
$3.38 €2.91
30.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.22 €14.81
$17.65 €15.17
-2.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 €8.44
$7.68 €6.61
27.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.22 €15.66
$15.52 €13.35
17.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.35
$2.61 €2.24
4.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 €2.03
$2.20 €1.89
7.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 €2.23
$1.88 €1.62
37.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 €2.30
$2.57 €2.21
4.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.01 €1.73
13.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 €1.95
$2.21 €1.90
2.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 €1.36
$1.10 €0.94
43.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.96
$0.80 €0.69
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.84
$6.52 €5.60
4.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 €7.16
$4.92 €4.23
69.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.05
$1.14 €0.98
7.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.93
$1.75 €1.50
28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Granada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.84 €1.58
-7.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.94 €32.62
$40.30 €34.64
-5.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 €3.41
$5.74 €4.94
-30.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 €1.36
$2.38 €2.05
-33.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.36 €26.10
$28.85 €24.80
5.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.58
$1.69 €1.45
8.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K €31.8K
$36.2K €31.1K
2.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K €29.3K
$29.9K €25.7K
14.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 €167
$163 €141
19.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.08 €16.40
$13.21 €11.36
44.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.32 €31.23
$27.64 €23.76
31.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 €44.03
$47.37 €40.72
8.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.35 €16.63
$18.42 €15.84
5.05%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39 €9.79
$9.17 €7.89
24.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €598
$363 €312
91.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K €15.5K
$8,440 €7,256
113.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1 €76.6
$67.5 €58.0
32.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 €38.32
$33.13 €28.48
34.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €92.9
$78.9 €67.8
37.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €97.1
$108 €93.2
4.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Granada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 €1,361
$872 €749
81.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 €1,053
$725 €623
68.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,813 €2,418
$1,262 €1,085
122.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,871 €1,608
$971 €835
92.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,303 €7,998
$3,393 €2,917
174.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,251 €3,655
$2,307 €1,983
84.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,584 €2,221
$1,932 €1,661
33.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.09
3.32
-6.93%

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

Last update for Madrid: August 30, 2026

Last update for Granada: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Madrid versus $872 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 34% 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 $40.00 in Granada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $320 vs $278 – 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 41% more than Granada, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 and in Granada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,552 per month in Madrid and $2,517 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 in Granada?
Groceries cost about 15% 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 and in Granada?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Madrid and $40.00 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 in Granada?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Granada, where all-in costs run around $1,678, than in Madrid at $2,368. 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 $1,678 versus $2,368 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 to 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.

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