😐A single person spends $2,262 per month in Madrid vs $1,341 in Kingstown, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,324 per month in Madrid vs $2,121 in Kingstown, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,387 per month in Madrid vs $2,902 in Kingstown, rent included.
😐Madrid costs about 69% more than Kingstown, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Madrid and Kingstown sit above the global median – Madrid by 70%, Kingstown by 1%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.70€15.43
$7.43EC$20.06
138.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7€60.8
$71.0EC$192
-1.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.96€10.43
$11.26EC$30.41
6.22%
Cappuccino
$3.15€2.75
$3.40EC$9.18
-7.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11€2.71
$2.16EC$5.84
43.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22€1.94
$2.05EC$5.54
8.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.15€3.62
$1.80EC$4.85
130.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.49€3.92
$2.16EC$5.84
107.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.09
$3.15EC$8.50
-60.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70€1.48
$1.99EC$5.37
-14.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70€1.48
$1.71EC$4.61
-0.58%
Eggs
$3.51€3.06
$4.53EC$12.23
-22.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.07€13.14
$11.53EC$31.13
30.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.24€8.06
$4.74EC$12.80
94.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.07€14.88
$12.20EC$32.95
39.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.39
$8.62EC$23.27
-68.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$2.95EC$7.98
-27.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49€2.17
$9.10EC$24.58
-72.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.40
$5.13EC$13.86
-46.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14€1.87
$4.02EC$10.84
-46.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18€1.90
$3.22EC$8.71
-32.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38€1.21
$4.28EC$11.56
-67.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92€0.80
$2.93EC$7.90
-68.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.95€6.06
$4.17EC$11.25
66.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91€6.90
$16.34EC$44.13
-51.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.20
$2.18EC$5.88
-36.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24€1.96
$2.41EC$6.49
-7.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.56
$1.18EC$3.19
51.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.65€42.41
$50.3EC$136
-3.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03€3.52
$11.16EC$30.14
-63.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33€1.16
$1.83EC$4.93
-27.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.16€25.42
$29.19EC$78.8
-0.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.60
$3.17EC$8.57
-41.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K€33.2K
$38.0KEC$102.7K
0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K€29.2K
$30.1KEC$81.2K
11.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$73.6EC$199
156.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.62€18.85
$28.47EC$76.9
-24.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.96€31.35
$54.5EC$147
-34.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1€46.28
$32.41EC$87.5
63.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.13€15.80
$4.74EC$12.81
282.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47€10.00
$4.59EC$12.39
149.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$662€578
$121EC$326
449.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K€10.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2€84.7
$80.7EC$218
20.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.05€37.53
$67.0EC$181
-35.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.2
$92.4EC$249
13.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$85.6EC$231
55.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,561€1,361
$327EC$882
377.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,129€985
$324EC$874
248.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,850€2,484
$557EC$1,504
411.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,868€1,629
$472EC$1,275
295.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,099€7,933
$592EC$1,598
1437.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,243€3,699
$609EC$1,644
596.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Kingstown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,471€2,154
$1,051EC$2,838
135.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
7.5
-54.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: July 28, 2026
Last update for Kingstown: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,561 in Madrid versus $327 in Kingstown. 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 135% 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 $70.0 in Madrid versus $71.0 in Kingstown. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $413 – making Madrid 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 Kingstown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingstown cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,393 per month in Madrid and $2,011 in Kingstown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kingstown, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Kingstown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $662 per month in Madrid and $121 in Kingstown. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Kingstown?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kingstown, where all-in costs run around $1,341, than in Madrid at $2,262. In Kingstown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Kingstown more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kingstown – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Madrid or Kingstown?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kingstown. 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.