Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and VaughanCost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Vaughan
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,253 in Madrid versus $2,551 in Vaughan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,329 in Madrid versus $3,782 in Vaughan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,404 in Madrid versus $5,013 in Vaughan.
🙂Living in Madrid costs roughly 12% less than in Vaughan, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madrid68% above, Vaughan90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05€14.68
$14.57CA$20.26
17.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.6€59.0
$75.7CA$105
-9.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73€10.10
$10.41CA$14.48
12.68%
Cappuccino
$3.06€2.63
$3.54CA$4.92
-13.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21€2.77
$2.10CA$2.92
52.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.87
$1.71CA$2.37
27.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.94€3.39
$6.31CA$8.77
-37.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.02
$5.16CA$7.18
-9.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.76CA$2.44
-31.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68€1.45
$2.25CA$3.13
-25.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.46
$3.80CA$5.29
-55.53%
Eggs
$3.34€2.88
$3.41CA$4.74
-2.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.91€12.84
$8.66CA$12.04
72.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.93€7.68
$10.81CA$15.04
-17.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.84€14.50
$6.60CA$9.18
155.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73€2.35
$2.98CA$4.14
-8.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11€1.82
$1.54CA$2.14
37.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.54€2.19
$2.79CA$3.88
-8.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$3.40CA$4.72
-22.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.94CA$2.70
10.82%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10€1.81
$2.04CA$2.84
2.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35€1.17
$1.79CA$2.50
-24.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97€0.84
$1.69CA$2.36
-42.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82€5.87
$12.99CA$18.07
-47.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.15€7.02
$12.00CA$16.69
-32.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.20
$2.14CA$2.98
-35.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19€1.88
$2.14CA$2.97
2.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77€1.52
$2.82CA$3.92
-37.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.07€42.25
$111CA$154
-55.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.01€3.45
$3.17CA$4.40
26.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33€1.15
$1.37CA$1.90
-2.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.19€25.13
$22.62CA$31.46
29.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93€1.67
$1.15CA$1.60
67.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$24.8KCA$34.5K
50.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K€29.6K
$19.7KCA$27.4K
74.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$195€168
$132CA$184
46.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.66€18.65
$33.47CA$46.55
-35.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.51€30.57
$51.1CA$71.0
-30.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.8€46.30
$32.59CA$45.33
65.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.95€15.46
$21.71CA$30.19
-17.32%
Cinema Ticket
$11.55€9.95
$10.72CA$14.91
7.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$676€582
$815CA$1,133
-16.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1K€10.4K
$18.6KCA$25.8K
-34.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.2€81.1
$43.55CA$60.6
116.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77€36.82
$37.06CA$51.5
15.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.0
$60.1CA$83.5
75.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$134€116
$105CA$146
28.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,566€1,348
$1,712CA$2,380
-8.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,149€989
$1,513CA$2,104
-24.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,826€2,433
$3,092CA$4,300
-8.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,884€1,622
$2,483CA$3,453
-24.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,077€7,814
$8,784CA$12.2K
3.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,511€3,884
$6,361CA$8,846
-29.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,626€2,261
$3,036CA$4,222
-13.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
6.73
-49.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026
Last update for Vaughan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,566 in Madrid and $1,712 in Vaughan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vaughan pays 16% 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: $69.0 in Madrid vs $76.0 in Vaughan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $297 per month, with Madrid 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 Vaughan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Madrid or Vaughan?
Madrid wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Vaughan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Madrid the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Madrid or Vaughan?
On paper, Vaughan earns 16% 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 Vaughan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,566 in Madrid versus $1,712 in Vaughan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Madrid or Vaughan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Vaughan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Madrid vs Vaughan?
Dining out is cheaper in Madrid – a meal for two runs $69.0 versus $76.0 in Vaughan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Madrid or Vaughan?
At $2,253 in Madrid versus $2,551 in Vaughan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Madrid but tight or insufficient in Vaughan. The gap between the two cities makes Madrid the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Madrid or Vaughan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Madrid delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,253 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Madrid hard to pass up.
How safe is Madrid compared to Vaughan?
Safety-wise, Madrid and Vaughan 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 Madrid gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Vaughan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.