🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,146 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $2,253 in Madrid.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,969 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $3,329 in Madrid.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,792 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $4,404 in Madrid.
🙂Living in Puerto de la Cruz costs roughly 5% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Puerto de la Cruz60% above, Madrid68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.12€10.51
$17.05€14.79
-28.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3€50.6
$68.6€59.5
-14.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.39€8.14
$11.73€10.18
-19.95%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.67
$3.06€2.66
-37.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.79
$3.21€2.79
-35.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21€1.05
$2.18€1.89
-44.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.88€2.50
$3.94€3.42
-26.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.97
$4.67€4.05
-51.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.03
$1.20€1.04
-1.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.77
$1.68€1.46
21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07€1.79
$1.69€1.47
22.49%
Eggs
$3.20€2.77
$3.34€2.90
-4.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.91€10.33
$14.91€12.94
-20.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.20€8.85
$8.93€7.74
14.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.06€12.20
$16.84€14.61
-16.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$2.73€2.37
-37.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.20€1.91
$2.11€1.83
4.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52€1.32
$2.54€2.21
-40.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$2.65€2.30
-5.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.24€1.95
$2.15€1.86
4.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66€2.31
$2.10€1.83
26.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.89€1.64
$1.35€1.18
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90€0.78
$0.97€0.85
-7.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27€3.70
$6.82€5.92
-37.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96€6.04
$8.15€7.07
-14.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.12
$1.39€1.21
-7.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51€1.31
$2.19€1.90
-31.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.66€1.44
$1.77€1.53
-6.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.64€38.73
$49.07€42.58
-9.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.51€3.04
$4.01€3.47
-12.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.84
$1.33€1.15
60.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.27€20.19
$29.19€25.32
-20.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68€1.46
$1.93€1.68
-12.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5K€33.4K
$37.2K€32.3K
3.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K€26.1K
$34.4K€29.8K
-12.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.1€68.6
$195€169
-59.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.05€18.27
$21.66€18.80
-2.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.35€26.33
$35.51€30.80
-14.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.4€44.58
$53.8€46.66
-4.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67€15.33
$17.95€15.58
-1.56%
Cinema Ticket
$9.21€7.99
$11.55€10.02
-20.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$525€456
$676€587
-22.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,547€4,813
$12.1K€10.5K
-54.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€89.1
$94.2€81.8
9.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3€44.52
$42.77€37.11
19.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€92.3
$106€91.7
0.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140€122
$134€117
4.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,179€1,023
$1,566€1,358
-24.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253€1,087
$1,149€997
9.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,867€1,620
$2,826€2,452
-33.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,635€1,419
$1,884€1,635
-13.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,810€3,305
$9,077€7,875
-58.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,907€2,522
$4,511€3,914
-35.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto de la Cruz
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,396€1,211
$2,626€2,278
-46.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
3.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto de la Cruz: June 1, 2026
Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,179 in Puerto de la Cruz and $1,566 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Madrid pays 88% 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: $58.0 in Puerto de la Cruz vs $69.0 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $294 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 – living expenses run 5% 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 88% 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: $1,179 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $1,566 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 – a meal for two runs $58.0 versus $69.0 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 $2,146 in Puerto de la Cruz versus $2,253 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 – similar infrastructure at $2,146 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 – expenses run 5% 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