Barcelona vs Madrid
💰
Madrid saves you $300/month
🌡️
Temperate vs Mediterranean climate
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Barcelona
Madrid
Total Budget
$2,500/mo
$2,200/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$1,100/mo ✓
$1,300/mo
Coworking
$250/mo
$200/mo ✓
Meal Out
$15
$12 ✓
Coffee
$2 ✓
$3
Madrid is $300/mo cheaper (14% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇪🇸 Barcelona
📶 Internet200 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+0
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West3h
🇺🇸 US East6h
🇬🇧 London8h
🇩🇪 Berlin8h
🇪🇸 Madrid
📶 Internet200 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+0
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West3h
🇺🇸 US East6h
🇬🇧 London8h
🇩🇪 Berlin8h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Barcelona
ClimateTemperate
Avg Temp17°C
Rainy Days88/year
Best months: June, July, August, September
Madrid
ClimateMediterranean
Avg Temp16°C
Rainy Days74/year
Best months: July, August, September, June
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
9°6°
Apr
15°15°
Jul
25°28°
Oct
19°17°
BarcelonaMadrid
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇪🇸Barcelona
🇪🇸Madrid
💰
Monthly Budget
$2,500
$2,200
Winner📶
Internet Speed
200 Mbps
200 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
3.8/5
4/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.5/10
4.3/10
🍽️
Food Scene
9/10
9/10
🎉
Nightlife
9/10
10/10
🚶
Walkability
9/10
9/10
👥
Community
very large
large
0
Barcelona wins
vs
1
Madrid wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Madrid
$300/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇪🇸Barcelona
Pros
- +Beach and city lifestyle combined
- +Excellent public transport (Metro/Bus)
- +World-class food, art, and nightlife
- +Strong startup ecosystem
Cons
- −High cost of living (€2,500+/mo)
- −Very difficult to find apartments
- −Severe tourist overcrowding
- −Pickpocketing in tourist areas
🇪🇸Madrid
Pros
- +World-class museums and cultural scene
- +Excellent public transportation (metro)
- +Vibrant nightlife - more bars per capita than any city
- +Very walkable city center
Cons
- −Summer heat can be extreme (38-40°C)
- −Many older buildings lack AC
- −Higher cost of living than other Spanish cities
- −Spanish bureaucracy can be frustrating