😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,273 in Madrid versus $1,622 in Ontinyent.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,389 in Madrid versus $2,420 in Ontinyent.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,505 in Madrid versus $3,218 in Ontinyent.
😐Living in Madrid is roughly 40% more expensive than Ontinyent, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madrid70% above, Ontinyent21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.64€15.10
$16.74€14.33
5.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.5€60.3
$50.7€43.36
39.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66€9.98
$12.29€10.52
-5.13%
Cappuccino
$3.10€2.65
$2.15€1.84
44.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.62
$1.98€1.69
54.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.80
$1.58€1.35
32.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07€3.48
$2.25€1.92
80.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52€3.87
$3.44€2.95
31.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25€1.07
$1.30€1.12
-3.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.44
$1.44€1.24
17.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65€1.41
$1.45€1.24
13.79%
Eggs
$3.35€2.87
$2.87€2.46
16.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.57€12.47
$16.49€14.12
-11.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€7.80
$9.64€8.26
-5.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.67€14.27
$13.74€11.77
21.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66€2.28
$3.00€2.57
-11.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.52€1.30
45.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47€2.11
$1.57€1.34
57.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.71€2.32
$3.24€2.77
-16.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$1.82€1.56
15.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.14€1.83
$2.06€1.76
3.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.41€1.20
$1.37€1.18
2.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.83
$1.10€0.95
-11.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.08€6.06
$5.66€4.84
25.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.12€6.95
$4.57€3.91
77.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.19
$1.20€1.03
15.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.92
$1.76€1.51
27.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.52
$1.69€1.45
5.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.86€41.82
$34.66€29.67
40.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16€3.56
$5.31€4.54
-21.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.18
$0.98€0.84
40.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.62€24.50
$28.56€24.44
0.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88€1.61
$1.69€1.45
11.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K€32.8K
$38.2K€32.7K
0.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€29.4K
$30.5K€26.1K
12.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€164
$132€113
45.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.59€18.48
$20.86€17.86
3.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.26€30.19
$27.72€23.73
27.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4€45.71
$48.00€41.09
11.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.72€15.17
$14.80€12.67
19.73%
Cinema Ticket
$11.78€10.08
$8.25€7.06
42.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$674€577
$399€341
69.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.2K€10.5K
$9,863€8,443
23.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.7€81.9
$69.5€59.5
37.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.61€35.61
$40.16€34.38
3.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104€89.4
$99.0€84.7
5.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€114
$118€101
12.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,595€1,365
$843€722
89.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,109€949
$705€603
57.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,858€2,446
$1,340€1,147
113.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,890€1,618
$1,015€868
86.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,394€8,042
$3,163€2,708
196.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,583€3,923
$2,366€2,025
93.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Ontinyent
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,602€2,227
$1,641€1,404
58.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.62
-5.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ontinyent: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,595 in Madrid and $843 in Ontinyent. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Madrid pays 59% 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 $51.0 in Ontinyent for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $277 per month, with Ontinyent cheaper across the board.
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 Ontinyent: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Madrid or Ontinyent?
Ontinyent wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Madrid. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ontinyent the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Madrid or Ontinyent?
Madrid pays 59% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Madrid vs Ontinyent?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,595 in Madrid versus $843 in Ontinyent. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Madrid or Ontinyent?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Madrid. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Madrid vs Ontinyent?
Dining out is cheaper in Ontinyent – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $70.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Madrid or Ontinyent?
At $1,622 in Ontinyent versus $2,273 in Madrid, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Ontinyent but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Ontinyent the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Madrid or Ontinyent?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ontinyent delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,622 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ontinyent hard to pass up.
How safe is Madrid compared to Ontinyent?
Safety-wise, Madrid and Ontinyent 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ontinyent gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.