Cost of living comparison

compared to
Madrid vs. Abu Dhabi Cost of Living Summary

Madrid is 24.0% more expensive than Abu Dhabi.

Restaurants
pay 2.4 times more in Madrid
Groceries
pay 20.4% more in Madrid
Transportation
pay 71.2% more in Madrid
Housing
pay 11.0% less in Madrid
Childcare
pay 18.4% less in Madrid
Entertainment and Sports
pay 34.3% less in Madrid
Clothing
pay 2.4% more in Madrid

The cost of restaurants, transportation, groceries, and clothing in Madrid are more expensive than in Abu Dhabi. Expenses including entertainment and sports, childcare, and housing are lower in Madrid. Notably, restaurants is significantly more expensive in Madrid.

Madrid vs. Abu Dhabi Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Madrid instead of Abu Dhabi, you would:

pay 2.4 times more for restaurants

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $10.89
AED40.00
$16.08
€15.51
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$9.53
AED35.00
$10.72
€10.34
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.08
AED3.95
$2.79
€2.69

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pay 20.4% more for groceries

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Bread
1 loaf
$1.37
AED5.03
$1.50
€1.44
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.80
AED17.63
$6.92
€6.68
Milk (1 gallon) $6.85
AED25.17
$4.41
€4.25

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pay 71.2% more for transportation

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.03
AED11.11
$6.79
€6.55
Monthly public transit pass $24.50
AED90.00
$42.87
€41.37
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $45,026.41
AED165,379.75
$35,759.38
€34,506.80

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pay 11.0% less for housing

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$103.04
AED378.46
$31.85
€30.73
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,349.31
AED4,955.93
$1,468.90
€1,417.45
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,005.59
AED3,693.50
$1,074.71
€1,037.07

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pay 18.4% less for childcare

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $669.40
AED2,458.66
$567.57
€547.69
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $12,841.46
AED47,166.02
$10,069.47
€9,716.76

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pay 34.3% less for entertainment and sports

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $10.89
AED40.00
$3.75
€3.62
Cappuccino in mid-range area $5.88
AED21.61
$2.59
€2.50
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.13
AED22.50
$6.43
€6.21

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pay 2.4% more for clothing

 
Abu Dhabi
Madrid
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$67.20
AED246.81
$90.50
€87.33
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$62.59
AED229.90
$37.21
€35.91
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$103.06
AED378.55
$97.88
€94.45

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: February 2025
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