Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and GranadaCost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Granada
Monthly Cost of Living
๐A single person spends $2,282 per month in Madrid vs $1,649 in Granada, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $3,376 per month in Madrid vs $2,381 in Granada, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $4,470 per month in Madrid vs $3,112 in Granada, rent included.
๐Madrid costs about 38% more than Granada, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both Madrid and Granada sit above the global median โ Madrid by 69%, Granada by 22%.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19โฌ14.63
$17.14โฌ14.59
0.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4โฌ59.9
$44.71โฌ38.04
57.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.06โฌ10.26
$9.81โฌ8.35
22.94%
Cappuccino
$3.15โฌ2.68
$2.31โฌ1.96
36.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21โฌ2.73
$2.93โฌ2.49
9.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11โฌ1.80
$2.30โฌ1.96
-8.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.96โฌ3.37
$3.51โฌ2.99
12.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53โฌ3.85
$4.62โฌ3.93
-1.95%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25โฌ1.06
$1.16โฌ0.99
7.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$1.61โฌ1.37
4.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.46
$1.51โฌ1.29
13.25%
Eggs
$3.40โฌ2.89
$3.14โฌ2.67
8.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.93โฌ12.71
$16.14โฌ13.74
-7.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.95โฌ7.62
$8.33โฌ7.09
7.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18โฌ14.62
$14.18โฌ12.06
21.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60โฌ2.22
$2.81โฌ2.39
-7.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19โฌ1.87
$1.92โฌ1.64
14.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.56โฌ2.18
$1.88โฌ1.60
36.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64โฌ2.25
$2.71โฌ2.31
-2.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.80
$2.28โฌ1.94
-7.02%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10โฌ1.78
$2.50โฌ2.13
-16.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41โฌ1.20
$1.56โฌ1.32
-9.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96โฌ0.82
$1.02โฌ0.87
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.06โฌ6.01
$6.32โฌ5.38
11.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.28โฌ7.05
$4.92โฌ4.18
68.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45โฌ1.24
$1.27โฌ1.08
14.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27โฌ1.93
$2.02โฌ1.72
12.38%
๐ Getting Around
Madrid
Granada
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77โฌ1.50
$1.60โฌ1.37
10.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.35โฌ41.99
$45.81โฌ38.99
7.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.94โฌ3.35
$5.76โฌ4.90
-31.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33โฌ1.14
$1.22โฌ1.04
9.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.57โฌ24.32
$29.11โฌ24.77
-1.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90โฌ1.62
$1.73โฌ1.47
9.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4Kโฌ32.6K
$38.5Kโฌ32.8K
-0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1Kโฌ29.0K
$29.6Kโฌ25.2K
15.15%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196โฌ167
$158โฌ135
23.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.30โฌ18.13
$19.82โฌ16.87
7.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.85โฌ30.51
$28.27โฌ24.06
26.81%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9โฌ45.90
$48.74โฌ41.48
10.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.54โฌ14.93
$13.66โฌ11.63
28.40%
Cinema Ticket
$11.36โฌ9.66
$9.88โฌ8.41
14.98%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$671โฌ571
$382โฌ325
75.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9Kโฌ10.1K
$8,386โฌ7,137
42.03%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.1โฌ80.1
$73.0โฌ62.2
28.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.46โฌ36.14
$33.78โฌ28.75
25.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104โฌ88.9
$77.7โฌ66.1
34.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133โฌ113
$107โฌ90.6
24.62%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Granada
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,572โฌ1,338
$858โฌ730
83.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,126โฌ958
$687โฌ584
63.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,857โฌ2,432
$1,142โฌ971
150.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,920โฌ1,634
$927โฌ789
107.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,268โฌ7,887
$3,512โฌ2,989
163.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,531โฌ3,856
$2,337โฌ1,989
93.85%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Granada
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,609โฌ2,220
$1,931โฌ1,643
35.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.55
-3.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: April 13, 2026
Last update for Granada: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $1,572 in Madrid versus $858 in Granada. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐ฐSalaries run about 35% higher in Madrid, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $70 in Madrid versus $45 in Granada. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $276 โ 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 38% 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 $3,423 per month in Madrid and $2,474 in Granada. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 $70.0 in Madrid and $45.00 in Granada. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ 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 $1,649, than in Madrid at $2,282. 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 $1,649 versus $2,282 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 โ 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.