🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,767 in Terrassa versus $2,253 in Madrid.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,580 in Terrassa versus $3,329 in Madrid.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,393 in Terrassa versus $4,404 in Madrid.
🙂Living in Terrassa costs roughly 22% less than in Madrid, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Terrassa32% above, Madrid68% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.64€14.32
$17.05€14.66
-2.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.2€58.7
$68.6€59.0
-0.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.79€11.00
$11.73€10.09
9.04%
Cappuccino
$2.56€2.20
$3.06€2.63
-16.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17€1.87
$3.21€2.76
-32.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00€1.72
$2.18€1.87
-8.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$3.94€3.39
-9.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58€3.94
$4.67€4.02
-1.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28€1.10
$1.20€1.03
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66€1.43
$1.68€1.45
-1.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88€1.62
$1.69€1.45
11.24%
Eggs
$3.44€2.96
$3.34€2.88
2.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.59€9.11
$14.91€12.83
-28.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.17€7.89
$8.93€7.68
2.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.75€16.13
$16.84€14.49
11.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44€2.10
$2.73€2.34
-10.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.14€1.84
$2.11€1.82
1.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$2.54€2.19
-22.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.95€2.54
$2.65€2.28
11.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$2.15€1.85
-32.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68€1.44
$2.10€1.81
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03€0.88
$1.35€1.17
-23.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85€0.73
$0.97€0.84
-12.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.20€5.33
$6.82€5.87
-9.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.07€6.08
$8.15€7.01
-13.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$1.39€1.20
-2.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15€1.85
$2.19€1.88
-1.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.41
$1.77€1.52
-7.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.12€29.35
$49.07€42.21
-30.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.96€3.40
$4.01€3.45
-1.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12€1.83
$1.33€1.14
59.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.08€25.02
$29.19€25.11
-0.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90€1.64
$1.93€1.66
-1.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K€33.0K
$37.2K€32.0K
3.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K€27.7K
$34.4K€29.6K
-6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€161
$195€167
-3.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.91€19.71
$21.66€18.64
5.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83€31.68
$35.51€30.54
3.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.78€34.22
$53.8€46.26
-26.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.33€13.18
$17.95€15.44
-14.60%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13€9.58
$11.55€9.94
-3.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$644€554
$676€582
-4.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,647€8,298
$12.1K€10.4K
-20.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0€75.7
$94.2€81.1
-6.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85€29.11
$42.77€36.79
-20.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6€77.9
$106€90.9
-14.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$134€116
-11.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$846€728
$1,566€1,347
-45.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701€603
$1,149€988
-38.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,335€1,148
$2,826€2,431
-52.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,001€861
$1,884€1,621
-46.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,867€2,466
$9,077€7,808
-68.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,208€1,899
$4,511€3,880
-51.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Terrassa
Madrid
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,327€2,002
$2,626€2,259
-11.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
3.43
2.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Terrassa: June 1, 2026
Last update for Madrid: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $846 in Terrassa and $1,566 in Madrid. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Madrid pays 13% 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 Terrassa vs $69.0 in Madrid for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $294 per month, with Terrassa 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
Terrassa vs Madrid: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Terrassa or Madrid?
Terrassa wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Madrid. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Terrassa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Terrassa or Madrid?
On paper, Madrid earns 13% 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 Terrassa vs Madrid?
Rent for a central apartment: $846 in Terrassa 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 Terrassa or Madrid?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Madrid. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Terrassa vs Madrid?
Dining out is cheaper in Terrassa – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $69.0 in Madrid. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Terrassa or Madrid?
At $1,767 in Terrassa versus $2,253 in Madrid, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Terrassa but tight or insufficient in Madrid. The gap between the two cities makes Terrassa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Terrassa or Madrid?
Both work as nomad bases, but Terrassa delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,767 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Terrassa hard to pass up.
How safe is Terrassa compared to Madrid?
Safety-wise, Terrassa 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 Terrassa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Madrid. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.