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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,293 per month in Madrid vs $1,655 in Granada, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,370 per month in Madrid vs $2,373 in Granada, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,447 per month in Madrid vs $3,091 in Granada, rent included.

Madrid costs about 39% more than Granada, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Madrid and Granada sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Granada by 24%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33 €15.17
$17.03 €14.92
1.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.7 €60.2
$44.39 €38.87
54.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.95 €10.47
$9.96 €8.73
19.98%
Cappuccino
$3.10 €2.72
$2.26 €1.98
37.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 €2.81
$2.92 €2.56
9.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 €1.88
$2.31 €2.02
-7.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.10 €3.59
$3.45 €3.02
18.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.55 €3.99
$4.39 €3.84
3.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 €1.04
$1.17 €1.03
1.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 €1.50
$1.61 €1.41
6.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 €1.50
$1.54 €1.35
11.69%
Eggs
$3.52 €3.08
$3.05 €2.67
15.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.98 €13.12
$15.82 €13.85
-5.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.83 €7.74
$8.16 €7.15
8.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.75 €14.67
$13.91 €12.18
20.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 €2.28
$2.80 €2.45
-7.14%
Banana (1kg)
$2.22 €1.94
$1.94 €1.69
14.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.45 €2.15
$1.88 €1.65
30.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.65 €2.32
$2.67 €2.34
-0.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 €1.81
$2.28 €1.99
-9.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 €1.88
$2.58 €2.26
-16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 €1.17
$1.57 €1.37
-14.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 €0.87
$1.03 €0.90
-3.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.99 €6.12
$6.35 €5.56
10.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 €6.81
$4.97 €4.35
56.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.25
$1.28 €1.12
11.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 €1.91
$1.99 €1.74
9.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Granada
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.78 €1.56
$1.65 €1.45
7.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$48.79 €42.73
$47.13 €41.28
3.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 €3.61
$5.83 €5.11
-29.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 €1.22
$1.24 €1.09
12.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.50 €24.96
$29.37 €25.72
-2.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.79 €1.57
7.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K €33.0K
$38.4K €33.7K
-2.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K €29.9K
$30.5K €26.7K
11.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$193 €169
$159 €139
21.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.55 €18.88
$19.95 €17.47
8.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.97 €31.50
$28.13 €24.64
27.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 €46.15
$48.43 €42.41
8.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.64 €15.45
$13.86 €12.14
27.27%
Cinema Ticket
$11.44 €10.02
$9.58 €8.39
19.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$669 €586
$380 €333
76.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.4K
$8,111 €7,104
46.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.7 €82.9
$74.9 €65.6
26.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.81 €37.50
$33.55 €29.38
27.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €91.8
$77.9 €68.2
34.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132 €116
$110 €96.1
20.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Granada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,607 €1,408
$838 €734
91.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,151 €1,008
$683 €598
68.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,839 €2,486
$1,150 €1,007
146.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,879 €1,646
$918 €804
104.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,038 €7,915
$3,423 €2,998
163.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,262 €3,733
$2,304 €2,018
84.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,464 €2,158
$1,876 €1,643
31.34%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Granada: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,607 in Madrid versus $838 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 31% 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 $44.00 in Granada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $274 – 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 39% 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 and in Granada?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,439 per month in Madrid and $2,482 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 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 and in Granada?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Madrid and $44.00 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 $1,655, than in Madrid at $2,293. 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 $1,655 versus $2,293 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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