Cost of living comparison
Madrid is 21.0% cheaper than Brussels.
If you lived in Madrid instead of Brussels, you would:
pay 16.1% less for restaurants
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$16.49
€15.47
|
$13.19
€12.38
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.90
€9.28
|
$8.80
€8.25
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.58
€2.42
|
$2.53
€2.37
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.54
€2.38
|
$1.74
€1.63
|
|
pay 12.9% less for groceries
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$2.31
€2.17
|
$1.25
€1.17
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.55
€7.08
|
$5.92
€5.56
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.69
€4.40
|
$3.90
€3.66
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.50
€3.28
|
$2.69
€2.52
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$4.96
€4.66
|
$3.74
€3.51
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$1.14
€1.07
|
$1.08
€1.01
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
€0.74
|
$0.98
€0.91
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.17
€1.10
|
$0.86
€0.81
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.36
€1.28
|
$1.03
€0.97
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.69
€0.64
|
$0.67
€0.63
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$0.60
€0.56
|
$0.74
€0.69
|
|
pay 8.2% less for transportation
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$7.71
€7.24
|
$7.44
€6.98
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$53.87
€50.55
|
$59.37
€55.70
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,486.24
€25,788.97
|
$27,693.49
€25,983.41
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.76
€21.35
|
$13.63
€12.79
|
|
pay 16.1% less for housing
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$55.77
€52.33
|
$34.19
€32.08
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,043.18
€978.76
|
$1,094.67
€1,027.07
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$873.71
€819.76
|
$816.29
€765.88
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$164.26
€154.11
|
$125.07
€117.35
|
|
pay 52.6% less for childcare
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$944.84
€886.50
|
$529.47
€496.78
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$24,473.75
€22,962.49
|
$9,499.24
€8,912.67
|
|
pay 24.2% less for entertainment and sports
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.50
€5.16
|
$3.30
€3.09
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.72
€3.49
|
$2.17
€2.04
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$8.80
€8.25
|
$5.61
€5.26
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.17
€32.06
|
$41.71
€39.13
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.19
€12.38
|
$9.90
€9.28
|
|
pay 16.8% less for clothing
Brussels
|
Madrid
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$89.22
€83.71
|
$67.45
€63.29
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.58
€30.57
|
$35.01
€32.85
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$97.94
€91.89
|
$76.87
€72.13
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$132.04
€123.89
|
$94.21
€88.39
|
|
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