🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,273 in Madrid versus $2,313 in Kilkenny.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,389 in Madrid versus $3,242 in Kilkenny.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,505 in Madrid versus $4,170 in Kilkenny.
🙂Living in Madrid costs roughly 2% less than in Kilkenny, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madrid70% above, Kilkenny73% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.10
$16.14€13.81
9.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5€60.3
$69.6€59.6
1.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66€9.98
$10.61€9.09
9.90%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.65
$4.19€3.59
-26.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.62
$2.37€2.03
29.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.80
$1.71€1.47
22.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07€3.48
$5.98€5.12
-31.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52€3.87
$6.90€5.91
-34.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.16€1.00
7.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.44
$2.04€1.75
-17.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65€1.41
$1.68€1.43
-1.79%
Eggs
$3.35€2.87
$3.22€2.76
4.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.57€12.47
$9.45€8.09
54.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€7.80
$9.39€8.04
-2.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.67€14.27
$8.59€7.35
94.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66€2.28
$2.29€1.96
16.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.73€1.48
27.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47€2.11
$3.57€3.06
-30.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71€2.32
$2.01€1.72
34.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$1.18€1.01
78.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.83
$1.13€0.96
89.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.20
$1.02€0.87
38.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.83
$1.02€0.88
-4.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08€6.06
$19.08€16.33
-62.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12€6.95
$14.02€12.00
-42.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.19
$2.90€2.49
-52.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$2.96€2.54
-23.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.52
$2.26€1.94
-21.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.86€41.82
$99.8€85.4
-51.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.56
$5.24€4.48
-20.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.18
$1.19€1.02
15.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.62€24.50
$35.96€30.78
-20.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88€1.61
$2.07€1.78
-9.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K€32.8K
$37.6K€32.2K
1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€29.4K
$22.0K€18.8K
56.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€164
$160€137
19.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.59€18.48
$21.79€18.65
-0.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.26€30.19
$49.91€42.72
-29.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4€45.71
$54.6€46.75
-2.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.72€15.17
$11.76€10.06
50.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.78€10.08
$13.68€11.71
-13.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$674€577
$1,012€866
-33.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K€10.5K
$7,370€6,309
65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7€81.9
$75.4€64.6
26.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.61€35.61
$23.59€20.19
76.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.4
$83.4€71.4
25.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€114
$81.9€70.1
62.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595€1,365
$1,464€1,253
8.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109€949
$1,219€1,044
-9.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,858€2,446
$2,476€2,119
15.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,890€1,618
$1,677€1,435
12.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,394€8,042
$8,474€7,253
10.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,583€3,923
$2,310€1,977
98.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Kilkenny
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,602€2,227
$2,859€2,447
-8.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
4.27
-19.67%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Madrid: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Kilkenny: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,595 in Madrid and $1,464 in Kilkenny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kilkenny pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Madrid vs $70.0 in Kilkenny. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $269, with Kilkenny cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Madrid vs Kilkenny: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Kilkenny cheaper than Madrid?
Madrid is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Madrid or Kilkenny?
On paper, Kilkenny earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Madrid and Kilkenny?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,595 in Madrid versus $1,464 in Kilkenny. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $674 in Madrid versus $1,012 in Kilkenny. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Madrid and Kilkenny?
Shoppers in Kilkenny pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Madrid or Kilkenny?
At $2,273 in Madrid versus $2,313 in Kilkenny, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Madrid but tight or insufficient in Kilkenny. The gap between the two cities makes Madrid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Madrid or Kilkenny more family-friendly?
For families, Madrid is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kilkenny, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Kilkenny?
Safety-wise, Madrid and Kilkenny are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Madrid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Kilkenny. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.