๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Madrid versus $1,966 in Texas City, TX.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,314 in Madrid versus $2,661 in Texas City, TX.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,362 in Madrid versus $3,356 in Texas City, TX.
๐Living in Madrid is roughly 15% more expensive than Texas City, TX, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madrid69% above, Texas City, TX47% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.39โฌ14.84
$18.07$18.07
-3.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5โฌ58.4
$59.2$59.2
15.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.66โฌ9.95
$9.98$9.98
16.83%
Cappuccino
$3.09โฌ2.64
$3.94$3.94
-21.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06โฌ2.61
$1.33$1.33
130.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21โฌ1.89
$1.89$1.89
16.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.01โฌ3.42
$4.87$4.87
-17.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53โฌ3.86
$7.19$7.19
-37.00%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20โฌ1.03
$0.74$0.74
62.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68โฌ1.43
$2.67$2.67
-37.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.72โฌ1.47
$3.46$3.46
-50.29%
Eggs
$3.40โฌ2.90
$3.97$3.97
-14.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.03โฌ12.82
$6.43$6.43
133.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.78โฌ7.49
$10.68$10.68
-17.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.18โฌ14.66
$10.57$10.57
62.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64โฌ2.25
$4.82$4.82
-45.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15โฌ1.83
$1.56$1.56
37.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55โฌ2.17
$4.36$4.36
-41.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76โฌ2.35
$4.11$4.11
-32.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$2.84$2.84
-25.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13โฌ1.82
$2.76$2.76
-22.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$1.97$1.97
-29.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97โฌ0.83
$2.19$2.19
-55.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11โฌ6.07
$7.98$7.98
-10.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.10โฌ6.91
$9.71$9.71
-16.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38โฌ1.18
$2.36$2.36
-41.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16โฌ1.84
$3.58$3.58
-39.66%
๐ Getting Around
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69โฌ1.44
$0.98$0.98
72.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.75โฌ41.59
$39.86$39.86
22.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.16โฌ3.55
$4.28$4.28
-2.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.32โฌ1.12
$1.74$1.74
-24.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.53โฌ24.34
$20.19$20.19
41.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92โฌ1.64
$0.68$0.68
182.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8Kโฌ32.3K
$25.2K$25.2K
50.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
$25.9K$25.9K
28.47%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188โฌ161
$177$177
6.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.76โฌ18.56
$25.42$25.42
-14.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.31โฌ30.12
$65.8$65.8
-46.34%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8โฌ45.05
$15.21$15.21
247.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.10โฌ15.44
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.60โฌ9.89
$15.10$15.10
-23.18%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$677โฌ578
$1,202$1,202
-43.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1Kโฌ10.3K
$21.7K$21.7K
-44.10%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9โฌ80.9
$55.7$55.7
70.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.98โฌ35.81
$46.22$46.22
-9.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104โฌ89.0
$64.8$64.8
61.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135โฌ115
$119$119
13.29%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,578โฌ1,346
$1,080$1,080
46.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,115โฌ951
$861$861
29.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,765โฌ2,359
$1,509$1,509
83.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,879โฌ1,603
$981$981
91.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,202โฌ7,849
$9,357$9,357
-1.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,488โฌ3,829
$7,743$7,743
-42.04%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Texas City, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,586โฌ2,206
$4,643$4,643
-44.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
6.45
-46.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: April 20, 2026
Last update for Texas City, TX: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,578 in Madrid and $1,080 in Texas City, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐTexas City, TX pays 80% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $68 in Madrid vs $59 in Texas City, TX. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $326, with Madrid cheaper for home cooking.
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 Texas City, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Madrid or Texas City, TX?
Texas City, TX wins on cost โ living expenses run 15% lower than in Madrid. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Texas City, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Madrid or Texas City, TX?
On paper, Texas City, TX earns 80% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Madrid vs Texas City, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,578 in Madrid versus $1,080 in Texas City, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Madrid or Texas City, TX?
Shoppers in Madrid pay roughly 11% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Madrid vs Texas City, TX?
Dining out is cheaper in Texas City, TX โ a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $68.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Madrid or Texas City, TX?
At $1,966 in Texas City, TX versus $2,265 in Madrid, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Texas City, TX but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Texas City, TX the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Madrid or Texas City, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Texas City, TX delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $1,966 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Texas City, TX hard to pass up.
How safe is Madrid compared to Texas City, TX?
Safety-wise, Madrid and Texas City, TX 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 Texas City, TX gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 15% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.