๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,218 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $2,265 in Madrid.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,974 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $3,314 in Madrid.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,730 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $4,362 in Madrid.
๐Living in Puerto de la Cruz costs roughly 2% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puerto de la Cruz66% above, Madrid69% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.17โฌ10.38
$17.39โฌ14.84
-30.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.5โฌ49.00
$68.5โฌ58.4
-16.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.98โฌ7.66
$11.66โฌ9.95
-22.98%
Cappuccino
$1.96โฌ1.67
$3.09โฌ2.64
-36.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03โฌ1.73
$3.06โฌ2.61
-33.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25โฌ1.07
$2.21โฌ1.89
-43.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96โฌ2.53
$4.01โฌ3.42
-26.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.02
$4.53โฌ3.86
-47.90%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23โฌ1.05
$1.20โฌ1.03
2.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12โฌ1.81
$1.68โฌ1.43
26.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14โฌ1.83
$1.72โฌ1.47
24.42%
Eggs
$3.23โฌ2.75
$3.40โฌ2.90
-5.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.71โฌ9.99
$15.03โฌ12.82
-22.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.95โฌ8.49
$8.78โฌ7.49
13.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.85โฌ11.81
$17.18โฌ14.66
-19.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73โฌ1.47
$2.64โฌ2.25
-34.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27โฌ1.93
$2.15โฌ1.83
5.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49โฌ1.27
$2.55โฌ2.17
-41.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.63โฌ2.24
$2.76โฌ2.35
-4.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26โฌ1.92
$2.12โฌ1.81
6.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.79โฌ2.38
$2.13โฌ1.82
30.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87โฌ1.59
$1.38โฌ1.18
35.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90โฌ0.77
$0.97โฌ0.83
-7.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17โฌ3.56
$7.11โฌ6.07
-41.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.12โฌ6.08
$8.10โฌ6.91
-12.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35โฌ1.15
$1.38โฌ1.18
-2.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47โฌ1.25
$2.16โฌ1.84
-31.94%
๐ Getting Around
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63โฌ1.39
$1.69โฌ1.44
-3.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.56โฌ37.16
$48.75โฌ41.59
-10.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.45โฌ2.95
$4.16โฌ3.55
-17.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05โฌ1.75
$1.32โฌ1.12
55.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.35โฌ19.92
$28.53โฌ24.34
-18.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.67โฌ1.42
$1.92โฌ1.64
-13.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9Kโฌ33.2K
$37.8Kโฌ32.3K
2.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7Kโฌ25.3K
$33.3Kโฌ28.4K
-10.72%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.8โฌ69.8
$188โฌ161
-56.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.49โฌ17.48
$21.76โฌ18.56
-5.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.29โฌ25.84
$35.31โฌ30.12
-14.22%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.7โฌ44.06
$52.8โฌ45.05
-2.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.28โฌ14.74
$18.10โฌ15.44
-4.53%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48โฌ8.09
$11.60โฌ9.89
-18.28%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$530โฌ452
$677โฌ578
-21.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,540โฌ4,726
$12.1Kโฌ10.3K
-54.29%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102โฌ86.6
$94.9โฌ80.9
7.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4โฌ44.68
$41.98โฌ35.81
24.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106โฌ90.1
$104โฌ89.0
1.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140โฌ119
$135โฌ115
3.27%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,173โฌ1,000
$1,578โฌ1,346
-25.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,283โฌ1,094
$1,115โฌ951
15.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,884โฌ1,607
$2,765โฌ2,359
-31.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,591โฌ1,357
$1,879โฌ1,603
-15.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,853โฌ3,286
$9,202โฌ7,849
-58.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,948โฌ2,515
$4,488โฌ3,829
-34.31%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,336โฌ1,140
$2,586โฌ2,206
-48.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto de la Cruz: April 21, 2026
Last update for Madrid: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,173 in Puerto de la Cruz and $1,578 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMadrid pays 94% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $57 in Puerto de la Cruz vs $68 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $295 per month, with Puerto de la Cruz 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
Puerto de la Cruz vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Puerto de la Cruz or Madrid?
Puerto de la Cruz wins on cost โ living expenses run 2% lower than in Madrid. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Puerto de la Cruz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Puerto de la Cruz or Madrid?
On paper, Madrid earns 94% 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 Puerto de la Cruz vs Madrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,173 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $1,578 in Madrid. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Puerto de la Cruz or Madrid?
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 Puerto de la Cruz vs Madrid?
Dining out is cheaper in Puerto de la Cruz โ a meal for two runs $57.0 versus $68.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Puerto de la Cruz or Madrid?
At $2,218 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $2,265 in Madrid, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Puerto de la Cruz but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Puerto de la Cruz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Puerto de la Cruz or Madrid?
Both work as nomad bases, but Puerto de la Cruz delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $2,218 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Puerto de la Cruz hard to pass up.
How safe is Puerto de la Cruz compared to Madrid?
Safety-wise, Puerto de la Cruz and Madrid 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 Puerto de la Cruz gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 2% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Puerto de la Cruz vs other spots: cost of living compared