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Madrid vs Tokyo cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇪🇸 Madrid
🇯🇵 TokyoTokyo is 22% cheaper than Madrid
Living on $4,794 a month in Madrid feels like about $3,667 in Tokyo — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$252 vs $201
Per month
$4,794 vs $3,667
Local meal
€ 12 vs ¥ 1,000
$14 vs $6.76
Taxi 5 km
€ 10 vs ¥ 2,500
$11.6 vs $16.9
At a glance
FoodTokyo 42% cheaper
Cafés & drinksMadrid 24% cheaper
TransportMadrid 15% cheaper
StayTokyo 27% cheaper
FunMadrid 8% cheaper
- Where Tokyo is clearly cheaper: Convenience store (54%↓), Bottled water (54%↓), Street food (52%↓)
- Where Madrid is clearly cheaper: Coffee (37%↓), Taxi (31%↓), Laundry (30%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Madrid | Tokyo | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | € 12$14 | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | Tokyo −52% |
| Street food1 item | € 5.4$6.28 | ¥ 450$3.04 | Tokyo −52% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | € 26$30.2 | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | Tokyo −22% |
| Coffeeone cup | € 2$2.33 | ¥ 550$3.72 | Madrid −37% |
| Beerone bottle | € 3$3.49 | ¥ 600$4.05 | Madrid −14% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | € 7.8$9.07 | ¥ 1,600$10.8 | Madrid −16% |
| Bottled water | € 1.5$1.74 | ¥ 120$0.81 | Tokyo −54% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | € 3.8$4.42 | ¥ 300$2.03 | Tokyo −54% |
| Taxi5 km in town | € 10$11.6 | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | Madrid −31% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | € 7$8.14 | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | Madrid −20% |
| Transitone ride | € 1.5$1.74 | ¥ 210$1.42 | Tokyo −19% |
| Scooter rentalper day | € 30$34.9 | ¥ 4,400$29.7 | Tokyo −15% |
| Hotel night3-star | € 120$140 | ¥ 15,000$101 | Tokyo −27% |
| Studio rent (month) | € 1,200$1,395 | ¥ 150,000$1,014 | Tokyo −27% |
| Laundry | € 3$3.49 | ¥ 740$5 | Madrid −30% |
| SIM card1 week data | € 13$15.1 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | Madrid −25% |
| Haircutcut | € 16$18.6 | ¥ 3,100$20.9 | Madrid −11% |
| Massage1 hour | € 47$54.7 | ¥ 8,900$60.1 | Madrid −9% |
| Half-day tourper person | € 43$50 | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | Madrid −26% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | € 13$15.1 | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | Tokyo −20% |
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 Tokyo?
Tokyo is 22% cheaper than Madrid. Daily budget $252 vs $201; a month $4,794 vs $3,667.
How do monthly costs compare between Madrid and Tokyo?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Madrid is about $4,794 and Tokyo about $3,667 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.