Cost of living comparison

compared to

York vs. Madrid Cost of Living Summary

York is 3.9% more expensive than Madrid.

Restaurants
pay 12.5% less in York
Groceries
pay 59.1% more in York
Transportation
pay 28.7% less in York
Housing
pay 4.2% less in York
Childcare
pay 92.0% more in York
Entertainment and Sports
pay 18.7% more in York
Clothing
pay 26.2% less in York

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

York vs. Madrid Cost Breakdown

If you lived in York instead of Madrid, you would:

pay 12.5% less for restaurants

 
Madrid
York
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $17.92
€16.07
$15.00
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$11.20
€10.05
$10.00
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $3.30
€2.96
$2.83
 

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pay 59.1% more for groceries

 
Madrid
York
Bread
1 loaf
$1.57
€1.41
$4.11
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $8.35
€7.49
$8.53
 
Milk (1 gallon) $5.25
€4.71
$4.95
 

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pay 28.7% less for transportation

 
Madrid
York
Gasoline (1 gallon) $6.88
€6.17
$3.76
 
Monthly public transit pass $36.95
€33.15
??
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $35,271.67
€31,643.98
$30,000.00
 

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pay 4.2% less for housing

 
Madrid
York
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$34.86
€31.28
$77.77
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,491.38
€1,337.99
$1,375.33
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,193.86
€1,071.07
$1,008.00
 

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pay 92.0% more for childcare

 
Madrid
York
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $668.48
€599.73
$1,100.00
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $17,859.91
€16,023.02
$40,000.00
 

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pay 18.7% more for entertainment and sports

 
Madrid
York
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.92
€3.52
$4.00
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.07
€2.76
$4.92
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.72
€6.03
$13.94
 

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pay 26.2% less for clothing

 
Madrid
York
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$86.50
€77.60
$50.00
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$42.98
€38.56
$44.11
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$108.99
€97.78
$68.33
 

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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