Cost of Living Comparison Between Sitges and Madrid Cost of Living Comparison Between Sitges and Madrid

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,653 in Sitges versus $2,253 in Madrid.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,843 in Sitges versus $3,329 in Madrid.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,033 in Sitges versus $4,404 in Madrid.

Living in Sitges costs roughly 27% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sitges 23% above, Madrid 68% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.77 €12.71
$17.05 €14.66
-13.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7 €50.5
$68.6 €59.0
-14.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.61 €10.84
$11.73 €10.09
7.50%
Cappuccino
$2.62 €2.25
$3.06 €2.63
-14.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 €1.95
$3.21 €2.76
-29.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 €1.68
$2.18 €1.87
-10.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.53 €3.04
$3.94 €3.39
-10.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 €3.03
$4.67 €4.02
-24.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 €1.01
$1.20 €1.03
-1.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 €1.16
$1.68 €1.45
-19.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.69 €1.45
4.14%
Eggs
$2.91 €2.51
$3.34 €2.88
-12.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.39 €9.80
$14.91 €12.83
-23.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.60 €7.40
$8.93 €7.68
-3.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.02 €12.06
$16.84 €14.49
-16.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 €2.23
$2.73 €2.34
-5.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$2.11 €1.82
-11.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.06 €1.77
$2.54 €2.19
-18.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 €2.07
$2.65 €2.28
-9.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 €1.63
$2.15 €1.85
-11.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 €1.67
$2.10 €1.81
-7.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 €1.40
$1.35 €1.17
20.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 €0.65
$0.97 €0.84
-21.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 €5.05
$6.82 €5.87
-13.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.77 €4.97
$8.15 €7.01
-29.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 €1.34
$1.39 €1.20
12.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.19 €1.88
-8.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.61 €2.25
$1.77 €1.52
47.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.73 €29.02
$49.07 €42.21
-31.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 €2.90
$4.01 €3.45
-15.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 €1.04
$1.33 €1.14
-9.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.77 €21.31
$29.19 €25.11
-15.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.49
$1.93 €1.66
-10.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K €25.1K
$37.2K €32.0K
-21.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K €28.4K
$34.4K €29.6K
-3.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 €122
$195 €167
-27.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.23 €11.38
$21.66 €18.64
-38.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.07 €25.87
$35.51 €30.54
-15.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.9 €55.0
$53.8 €46.26
18.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.81 €12.74
$17.95 €15.44
-17.49%
Cinema Ticket
$10.12 €8.70
$11.55 €9.94
-12.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 €497
$676 €582
-14.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K €9,565
$12.1K €10.4K
-8.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.3 €78.5
$94.2 €81.1
-3.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.48 €32.24
$42.77 €36.79
-12.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 €86.9
$106 €90.9
-4.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €111
$134 €116
-3.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$847 €728
$1,566 €1,347
-45.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 €595
$1,149 €988
-39.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,188 €1,882
$2,826 €2,431
-22.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,776 €1,528
$1,884 €1,621
-5.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,521 €3,029
$9,077 €7,808
-61.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,262 €1,945
$4,511 €3,880
-49.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sitges
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,036 €2,612
$2,626 €2,259
15.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.44
3.43
0.29%

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

Last update for Sitges: June 1, 2026

Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $847 in Sitges and $1,566 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sitges pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Sitges vs $69.0 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $294 per month, with Sitges 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
Sitges vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sitges or Madrid?
Sitges wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Madrid. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sitges the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sitges or Madrid?
Sitges pays 16% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sitges vs Madrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $847 in Sitges 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 Sitges or Madrid?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Madrid. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Sitges vs Madrid?
Dining out is cheaper in Sitges – a meal for two runs $59.0 versus $69.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Sitges or Madrid?
At $1,653 in Sitges versus $2,253 in Madrid, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sitges but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Sitges the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sitges or Madrid?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sitges delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,653 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sitges hard to pass up.
How safe is Sitges compared to Madrid?
Safety-wise, Sitges 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 Sitges gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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