Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,368 per month in Madrid vs $1,780 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,435 per month in Madrid vs $2,665 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,502 per month in Madrid vs $3,551 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, rent included.

Madrid costs about 33% more than Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madrid and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria sit above the global median – Madrid by 72%, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria by 30%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.78 €16.20
$13.73 €11.84
36.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5 €59.1
$74.9 €64.6
-8.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.98 €10.33
$10.84 €9.35
10.52%
Cappuccino
$3.22 €2.78
$2.59 €2.23
24.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 €2.91
$2.20 €1.90
53.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €1.97
$1.76 €1.52
30.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.97 €3.43
$3.11 €2.69
27.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.10 €4.39
$3.71 €3.20
37.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.19 €1.02
13.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.74 €1.50
-5.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 €1.50
$1.66 €1.43
4.22%
Eggs
$4.42 €3.81
$3.77 €3.25
17.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.22 €14.86
$12.70 €10.95
35.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 €8.47
$10.28 €8.87
-4.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.22 €15.71
$18.93 €16.33
-3.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 €2.36
$2.72 €2.35
0.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 €2.03
$2.63 €2.27
-10.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 €2.24
$2.36 €2.03
9.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.68 €2.31
$2.58 €2.23
3.88%
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 €1.98
$2.38 €2.06
-3.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 €1.95
$2.46 €2.13
-7.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.58 €1.36
$2.10 €1.81
-24.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 €0.96
$0.85 €0.73
31.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79 €5.86
$4.67 €4.03
45.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 €7.18
$7.05 €6.08
18.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 €1.06
$1.85 €1.60
-33.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 €1.94
$2.73 €2.35
-17.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.71 €1.47
$1.88 €1.62
-9.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.94 €32.72
$15.99 €13.79
137.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 €3.42
$3.47 €2.99
14.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 €1.36
$2.36 €2.03
-33.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.36 €26.19
$29.44 €25.39
3.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.58
$1.70 €1.46
8.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K €31.9K
$36.4K €31.4K
1.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K €29.4K
$30.4K €26.3K
12.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 €168
$118 €102
64.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.08 €16.45
$20.60 €17.77
-7.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.32 €31.33
$28.87 €24.90
25.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.2 €44.18
$43.89 €37.85
16.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.35 €16.69
$16.81 €14.50
15.11%
Cinema Ticket
$11.39 €9.82
$9.53 €8.22
19.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 €600
$490 €423
42.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K €15.6K
$6,914 €5,963
160.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1 €76.9
$91.0 €78.5
-2.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 €38.45
$39.73 €34.27
12.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 €93.2
$95.1 €82.0
13.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €97.4
$128 €111
-12.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,583 €1,366
$1,008 €869
57.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 €1,057
$815 €703
50.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,813 €2,426
$1,651 €1,424
70.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,871 €1,613
$1,282 €1,106
45.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,303 €8,024
$3,292 €2,839
182.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,251 €3,667
$1,922 €1,658
121.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,584 €2,229
$1,781 €1,536
45.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.09
3.15
-1.90%

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

Last update for Madrid: August 30, 2026

Last update for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,583 in Madrid versus $1,008 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 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 45% 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 $75.0 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Madrid vs $309 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – so Las Palmas de Gran Canaria wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria cheaper than Madrid?
Yes – Madrid is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $3,552 per month in Madrid and $2,669 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Madrid and in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,368 in Madrid and $1,780 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 137% less in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Madrid or in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where all-in costs run around $1,780, than in Madrid at $2,368. In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madrid it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Madrid or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – 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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria?
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 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. 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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