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Madrid vs San Sebastián cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇪🇸 Madrid
🇪🇸 San Sebastián
At a glance
- Where San Sebastián is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (57%↓), Entry ticket (47%↓), Street food (30%↓)
- Where Madrid is clearly cheaper: Laundry (62%↓), Half-day tour (42%↓), Transit (23%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Madrid 2 vs San Sebastián 1. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Madrid | San Sebastián | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | € 14$16.3 | € 18$20.9 | Madrid −22% |
| Street food1 item | € 5$5.81 | € 3.5$4.07 | San Sebastián −30% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | € 30$34.9 | € 35$40.7 | Madrid −14% |
| Coffeeone cup | € 2.5$2.91 | € 2.2$2.56 | San Sebastián −12% |
| Beerone bottle | € 4$4.65 | € 3.5$4.07 | San Sebastián −12% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | € 9$10.5 | € 8$9.3 | San Sebastián −11% |
| Bottled water | € 1.2$1.4 | € 1$1.16 | San Sebastián −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | € 1.8$2.09 | € 1.5$1.74 | San Sebastián −17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | € 11$12.8 | € 10$11.6 | San Sebastián −9% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | € 7$8.14 | € 7$8.14 | similar |
| Transitone ride | € 1.5$1.74 | € 1.95$2.27 | Madrid −23% |
| Scooter rentalper day | € 35$40.7 | € 15$17.4 | San Sebastián −57% |
| Hotel night3-star | € 120$140 | € 140$163 | Madrid −14% |
| Studio rent (month) | € 1,250$1,453 | € 1,200$1,395 | similar |
| Laundry | € 3$3.49 | € 8$9.3 | Madrid −62% |
| SIM card1 week data | € 15$17.4 | € 15$17.4 | similar |
| Haircutcut | € 18$20.9 | € 17$19.8 | San Sebastián −6% |
| Massage1 hour | € 50$58.1 | € 55$64 | Madrid −9% |
| Half-day tourper person | € 35$40.7 | € 60$69.8 | Madrid −42% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | € 15$17.4 | € 8$9.3 | San Sebastián −47% |
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 San Sebastián?
Madrid is 13% cheaper than San Sebastián. Daily budget $267 vs $307; a month $5,187 vs $5,909.
Which is easier to travel, Madrid or San Sebastián?
About the same: Madrid 1.8/5, San Sebastián 1.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Madrid and San Sebastián?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Madrid is about $5,187 and San Sebastián about $5,909 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.