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Compare cities › Madrid vs Rome
Madrid vs Rome cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇪🇸 Madrid
🇮🇹 RomeMadrid is 5% cheaper than Rome
Living on $4,794 a month in Madrid feels like about $4,743 in Rome — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$252 vs $281
Per month
$4,794 vs $4,743
Local meal
€ 12 vs € 13
$14 vs $15.1
Taxi 5 km
€ 10 vs € 13
$11.6 vs $15.1
At a glance
FoodMadrid 10% cheaper
Cafés & drinksMadrid 27% cheaper
TransportMadrid 15% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunMadrid 14% cheaper
- Where Rome is clearly cheaper: Coffee (25%↓)
- Where Madrid is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (40%↓), Beer (40%↓), Taxi (23%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Madrid | Rome | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | € 12$14 | € 13$15.1 | Madrid −8% |
| Street food1 item | € 5.4$6.28 | € 5.9$6.86 | Madrid −8% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | € 26$30.2 | € 30$34.9 | Madrid −13% |
| Coffeeone cup | € 2$2.33 | € 1.5$1.74 | Rome −25% |
| Beerone bottle | € 3$3.49 | € 5$5.81 | Madrid −40% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | € 7.8$9.07 | € 13$15.1 | Madrid −40% |
| Bottled water | € 1.5$1.74 | € 1.5$1.74 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | € 3.8$4.42 | € 3.8$4.42 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | € 10$11.6 | € 13$15.1 | Madrid −23% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | € 7$8.14 | € 8.5$9.88 | Madrid −18% |
| Transitone ride | € 1.5$1.74 | € 1.5$1.74 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | € 30$34.9 | € 30$34.9 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | € 120$140 | € 130$151 | Madrid −8% |
| Studio rent (month) | € 1,200$1,395 | € 1,100$1,279 | Rome −8% |
| Laundry | € 3$3.49 | € 3.5$4.07 | Madrid −14% |
| SIM card1 week data | € 13$15.1 | € 13$15.1 | similar |
| Haircutcut | € 16$18.6 | € 18$20.9 | Madrid −11% |
| Massage1 hour | € 47$54.7 | € 52$60.5 | Madrid −10% |
| Half-day tourper person | € 43$50 | € 52$60.5 | Madrid −17% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | € 13$15.1 | € 15$17.4 | Madrid −13% |
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 is 5% cheaper than Rome. Daily budget $252 vs $281; a month $4,794 vs $4,743.
How do monthly costs compare between Madrid and Rome?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Madrid is about $4,794 and Rome about $4,743 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.