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Madrid vs Rome cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ช๐ธ Madrid
๐ฎ๐น Rome
At a glance
- Where Rome is clearly cheaper: Coffee (28%โ), Bottled water (17%โ), Studio rent (month) (16%โ)
- Where Madrid is clearly cheaper: Beer (33%โ), Scooter rental (30%โ), Street food (26%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Madrid is easier to travel (1.8 vs 2.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Madrid 2 vs Rome 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Madrid | Rome | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฌ 14$16.3 | โฌ 15$17.4 | Madrid โ7% |
| Street food1 item | โฌ 5$5.81 | โฌ 6.8$7.91 | Madrid โ26% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฌ 30$34.9 | โฌ 30$34.9 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | โฌ 2.5$2.91 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | Rome โ28% |
| Beerone bottle | โฌ 4$4.65 | โฌ 6$6.98 | Madrid โ33% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฌ 9$10.5 | โฌ 9$10.5 | similar |
| Bottled water | โฌ 1.2$1.4 | โฌ 1$1.16 | Rome โ17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | โฌ 1.8$2.09 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฌ 11$12.8 | โฌ 14$16.3 | Madrid โ21% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฌ 7$8.14 | โฌ 9$10.5 | Madrid โ22% |
| Transitone ride | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | โฌ 1.5$1.74 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฌ 35$40.7 | โฌ 50$58.1 | Madrid โ30% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฌ 120$140 | โฌ 130$151 | Madrid โ8% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฌ 1,250$1,453 | โฌ 1,050$1,221 | Rome โ16% |
| Laundry | โฌ 3$3.49 | โฌ 3.5$4.07 | Madrid โ14% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 13$15.1 | Rome โ13% |
| Haircutcut | โฌ 18$20.9 | โฌ 20$23.3 | Madrid โ10% |
| Massage1 hour | โฌ 50$58.1 | โฌ 55$64 | Madrid โ9% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฌ 35$40.7 | โฌ 45$52.3 | Madrid โ22% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฌ 15$17.4 | โฌ 15$17.4 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Madrid or Rome?
Madrid and Rome cost about the same. Daily budget $267 vs $290; a month $5,187 vs $4,804.
Which is easier to travel, Madrid or Rome?
Madrid is easier: Madrid 1.8/5 vs Rome 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Madrid and Rome?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Madrid is about $5,187 and Rome about $4,804 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.