Cost of Living Comparison Between Madrid and Zurich 

Indices DifferenceInfo
Cost of Living in Zurich is 98.7% higher than in Madrid (excluding rent)
Cost of Living Including Rent in Zurich is 98.3% higher than in Madrid
Rent Prices in Zurich are 97.6% higher than in Madrid
Restaurant Prices in Zurich are 95.1% higher than in Madrid
Groceries Prices in Zurich are 104.7% higher than in Madrid
Local Purchasing Power in Zurich is 58.7% higher than in Madrid
Currency: Sticky Currency      Switch to metric measurement units
Restaurants
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit Difference
Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant 15.00 €
(13.99 Fr.)
26.81 €
(25.00 Fr.)
     +78.7 %
Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) 60.00 €
(55.95 Fr.)
128.69 €
(120.00 Fr.)
     +114.5 %
Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) 10.25 €
(9.56 Fr.)
16.09 €
(15.00 Fr.)
     +56.9 %
Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) 3.50 €
(3.26 Fr.)
8.58 €
(8.00 Fr.)
     +145.1 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 4.50 €
(4.20 Fr.)
7.51 €
(7.00 Fr.)
     +66.8 %
Cappuccino (Regular Size) 2.61 €
(2.43 Fr.)
5.90 €
(5.50 Fr.)
     +126.0 %
Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) 2.65 €
(2.47 Fr.)
5.19 €
(4.84 Fr.)
     +96.0 %
Bottled Water (12 oz) 1.72 €
(1.60 Fr.)
4.61 €
(4.29 Fr.)
     +167.9 %
Markets
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) 1.08 €
(1.00 Fr.)
1.87 €
(1.75 Fr.)
     +74.0 %
Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) 1.14 €
(1.07 Fr.)
2.66 €
(2.48 Fr.)
     +132.4 %
White Rice (1 lb) 0.70 €
(0.65 Fr.)
1.43 €
(1.34 Fr.)
     +104.7 %
Eggs (12, Large Size) 3.25 €
(3.03 Fr.)
6.76 €
(6.30 Fr.)
     +108.0 %
Local Cheese (1 lb) 6.78 €
(6.32 Fr.)
10.88 €
(10.14 Fr.)
     +60.4 %
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 3.50 €
(3.26 Fr.)
11.58 €
(10.80 Fr.)
     +231.2 %
Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) 6.96 €
(6.49 Fr.)
20.81 €
(19.40 Fr.)
     +198.7 %
Apples (1 lb) 1.03 €
(0.96 Fr.)
1.52 €
(1.42 Fr.)
     +47.6 %
Bananas (1 lb) 0.92 €
(0.86 Fr.)
1.06 €
(0.99 Fr.)
     +15.7 %
Oranges (1 lb) 1.03 €
(0.96 Fr.)
1.20 €
(1.12 Fr.)
     +17.3 %
Tomatoes (1 lb) 1.11 €
(1.04 Fr.)
1.95 €
(1.82 Fr.)
     +75.0 %
Potatoes (1 lb) 0.81 €
(0.75 Fr.)
0.89 €
(0.83 Fr.)
     +9.9 %
Onions (1 lb) 0.87 €
(0.81 Fr.)
0.88 €
(0.82 Fr.)
     +0.4 %
Lettuce (1 Head) 1.17 €
(1.09 Fr.)
2.16 €
(2.02 Fr.)
     +85.2 %
Bottled Water (50 oz) 0.79 €
(0.73 Fr.)
1.36 €
(1.27 Fr.)
     +73.1 %
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 7.00 €
(6.53 Fr.)
12.33 €
(11.50 Fr.)
     +76.2 %
Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) 1.22 €
(1.13 Fr.)
2.47 €
(2.31 Fr.)
     +103.2 %
Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) 2.04 €
(1.90 Fr.)
2.78 €
(2.60 Fr.)
     +36.5 %
Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) 6.00 €
(5.59 Fr.)
9.65 €
(9.00 Fr.)
     +60.9 %
Transportation
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) 1.50 €
(1.40 Fr.)
4.83 €
(4.50 Fr.)
     +221.7 %
Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) 39.25 €
(36.60 Fr.)
93.30 €
(87.00 Fr.)
     +137.7 %
Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) 3.50 €
(3.26 Fr.)
7.24 €
(6.75 Fr.)
     +106.8 %
Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) 2.09 €
(1.95 Fr.)
6.56 €
(6.12 Fr.)
     +213.5 %
Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) 25.00 €
(23.31 Fr.)
79.14 €
(73.80 Fr.)
     +216.6 %
Gasoline (1 Liter) 1.57 €
(1.47 Fr.)
1.95 €
(1.82 Fr.)
     +23.8 %
Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) 31,500.00 €
(29,373.10 Fr.)
35,175.04 €
(32,800.00 Fr.)
     +11.7 %
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) 28,596.25 €
(26,665.42 Fr.)
34,679.05 €
(32,337.50 Fr.)
     +21.3 %
Utilities (Monthly)
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) 176.87 €
(164.92 Fr.)
216.49 €
(201.87 Fr.)
     +22.4 %
Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) 16.96 €
(15.81 Fr.)
29.30 €
(27.32 Fr.)
     +72.8 %
Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) 28.95 €
(27.00 Fr.)
49.17 €
(45.85 Fr.)
     +69.8 %
Sports And Leisure
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Monthly Fitness Club Membership 45.06 €
(42.02 Fr.)
74.73 €
(69.69 Fr.)
     +65.8 %
Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) 13.79 €
(12.86 Fr.)
47.84 €
(44.61 Fr.)
     +247.0 %
Cinema Ticket (International Release) 10.00 €
(9.32 Fr.)
21.45 €
(20.00 Fr.)
     +114.5 %
Childcare
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child 587.14 €
(547.50 Fr.)
3,007.57 €
(2,804.50 Fr.)
     +412.2 %
International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child 15,318.00 €
(14,283.72 Fr.)
35,198.87 €
(32,822.22 Fr.)
     +129.8 %
Clothing And Shoes
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) 85.06 €
(79.31 Fr.)
119.44 €
(111.38 Fr.)
     +40.4 %
Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) 34.06 €
(31.76 Fr.)
53.08 €
(49.50 Fr.)
     +55.9 %
Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 91.43 €
(85.26 Fr.)
141.87 €
(132.29 Fr.)
     +55.2 %
Men's Leather Business Shoes 105.88 €
(98.73 Fr.)
191.82 €
(178.87 Fr.)
     +81.2 %
Rent Per Month
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 1,339.26 €
(1,248.83 Fr.)
2,327.60 €
(2,170.43 Fr.)
     +73.8 %
1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 980.60 €
(914.39 Fr.)
1,893.43 €
(1,765.59 Fr.)
     +93.1 %
3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre 2,361.78 €
(2,202.31 Fr.)
4,700.73 €
(4,383.33 Fr.)
     +99.0 %
3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre 1,551.08 €
(1,446.35 Fr.)
3,393.86 €
(3,164.71 Fr.)
     +118.8 %
Buy Apartment Price
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 688.55 €
(642.06 Fr.)
2,018.12 €
(1,881.85 Fr.)
     +193.1 %
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 373.74 €
(348.51 Fr.)
1,286.46 €
(1,199.60 Fr.)
     +244.2 %
Salaries And Financing
Madrid Edit Zurich Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 2,244.29 €
(2,092.75 Fr.)
7,062.32 €
(6,585.47 Fr.)
     +214.7 %
Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) 3.13 2.21      -29.3 %
Last update: 15 January 202615 January 2026
Contributors in the past 12 months:236166