Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Vaughan

For one person, living is cheaper in Madrid: $2,265 a month against $2,554 in Vaughan, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Madrid
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,265
/mo nomad
Vaughan
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,554
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Madrid and in Vaughan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Madrid and in Vaughan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,265 in Madrid versus $2,554 in Vaughan.

  • Madrid $2,265
  • Vaughan $2,554

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,296 in Madrid versus $3,726 in Vaughan.

  • Madrid $3,296
  • Vaughan $3,726

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,328 in Madrid versus $4,898 in Vaughan.

  • Madrid $4,328
  • Vaughan $4,898

Living in Madrid costs roughly 11% less than in Vaughan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Madrid 68% above, Vaughan 89% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.20 €16.19
$16.73 CA$23.66
8.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €60.5
$67.5 CA$95.4
0.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.24 €9.99
$9.99 CA$14.13
12.51%
Cappuccino
$3.15 €2.80
$3.64 CA$5.15
-13.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36 €2.99
$1.97 CA$2.78
70.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 €2.10
$1.56 CA$2.21
51.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.83 €3.40
$6.29 CA$8.89
-39.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 €4.38
$6.07 CA$8.58
-18.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 €1.17
$1.94 CA$2.74
-31.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 €1.43
$2.26 CA$3.19
-28.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 €1.47
$2.69 CA$3.80
-38.66%
Eggs
$4.07 €3.62
$2.99 CA$4.22
36.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.82 €14.07
$9.22 CA$13.03
71.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 €8.44
$12.10 CA$17.10
-21.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.52 €15.59
$13.60 CA$19.22
28.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.56 €2.27
$3.41 CA$4.82
-24.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 €1.86
$1.26 CA$1.78
65.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 €2.19
$3.50 CA$4.95
-29.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 €2.22
$3.21 CA$4.54
-22.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 €2.01
$1.59 CA$2.24
42.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 €1.91
$1.59 CA$2.25
35.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.57 €1.40
$2.21 CA$3.12
-28.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.95
$1.17 CA$1.66
-8.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55 €5.82
$12.50 CA$17.68
-47.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.65 €6.81
$11.92 CA$16.85
-35.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.96 CA$2.78
-40.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.97
$1.43 CA$2.02
55.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.63 €1.45
$2.74 CA$3.87
-40.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.42 €32.39
$104 CA$147
-65.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 €3.32
$3.06 CA$4.32
21.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 €1.37
$1.19 CA$1.69
29.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.17 €25.95
$21.75 CA$30.74
34.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 €1.58
$1.09 CA$1.54
63.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K €31.6K
$24.1K CA$34.0K
47.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K €29.6K
$18.8K CA$26.6K
76.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$189 €168
$110 CA$156
71.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.48 €15.55
$29.17 CA$41.24
-40.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.32 €30.53
$49.57 CA$70.1
-30.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.62 €43.25
$31.67 CA$44.77
53.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.44 €16.40
$20.84 CA$29.46
-11.52%
Cinema Ticket
$11.04 €9.82
$9.76 CA$13.80
13.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 €617
$910 CA$1,286
-23.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.8K €15.8K
$16.9K CA$24.0K
4.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.6 €75.3
$42.04 CA$59.4
101.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50 €37.80
$36.75 CA$52.0
15.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €98.1
$106 CA$150
4.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 €99.9
$105 CA$148
7.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 €1,339
$1,669 CA$2,359
-9.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,170 €1,041
$1,478 CA$2,090
-20.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,756 €2,451
$2,629 CA$3,716
4.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,845 €1,641
$2,416 CA$3,415
-23.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,168 €8,155
$8,700 CA$12.3K
5.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,234 €3,766
$6,171 CA$8,724
-31.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madrid
Vaughan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,483 €2,209
$2,905 CA$4,107
-14.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.14
5.39
-41.74%

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

Last update for Madrid: October 11, 2026

Last update for Vaughan: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Madrid
$1.2K
Vaughan
$1.5K 26.4% $308
Groceries & Markets
Madrid
$303
Vaughan
$316 4.1% $13
Eating Out
Madrid
$269
Vaughan
$265 1.4% $3.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madrid
$241
Vaughan
$189 21.4% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Madrid
$157
Vaughan
$130 17.2% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Madrid
$71
Vaughan
$51 27.6% $20
Getting Around
Madrid
$54
Vaughan
$124 128% $70

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,506 in Madrid and $1,669 in Vaughan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vaughan pays 17% 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: $68.0 in Madrid vs $67.0 in Vaughan. Groceries flip the comparison at $303 vs $316, with Madrid cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Madrid
🇨🇦 Vaughan
🕒 Local time
20:52 8:52 PM
14:52 2:52 PM
6 h behind Madrid
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,332,035 Capital
323,103
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Madrid Vaughan 6,040 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Madrid
  • Vaughan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Vaughan?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Vaughan. 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 compared to Vaughan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,506 in Madrid versus $1,669 in Vaughan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Madrid or in Vaughan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Vaughan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Madrid and in Vaughan?
Dining out is cheaper in Madrid – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $67.0 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 in Vaughan?
At $2,265 in Madrid versus $2,554 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 $2,265 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.

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