Angelinos are increasingly being drawn to Madrid. This post explains why, and runs you through the pros and cons of living in Madrid vs. Los Angeles.
Economics
Many people, especially Americans, move to Madrid for the lifestyle it offers. Madrid has everything people want in a European capital city: history, beautiful architecture, a unique culture and an easy, walkable lifestyle. Moreover, Spain offers a number of residency options that provide easy access to living and traveling in the Schengen Area, the world’s largest visa-free zone.
In addition to the lifestyle benefits, there are clear economic benefits of moving to Madrid, particularly if you are coming from an expensive city such as Los Angeles.
Real estate prices
Although real estate prices in Madrid have trended up strongly in recent years, on average prices in the city are still almost half of what they are in Los Angeles. In December 2025, the average price of real estate in Madrid was 4,562€ per square meter. Pricing in premium neighborhoods, such as Chamberí, is much higher. For example, the average price per square meter of real estate in Trafalgar, one of the most desired neighborhoods in Chamberí, was 9,130€ per square meter in December 2025.
According to Engel & Volkers, the average price of real estate in Los Angeles is $8,933 per square meter, which translates to 7,553€ according to the January 2026 euro/dollar exchange rate. Even given the very weak dollar, you can see average real estate prices in Madrid are much cheaper than those in Los Angeles. Again, these are aggregate numbers. If you start looking in premium neighborhoods, such as Beverly Hills, the median price of a home is around $10 million, according to Zillow. This is top of the market pricing in Madrid’s premium neighborhoods.
Rental prices
Although Madrid real estate prices are still some of the lowest among European capital cities, it’s relatively expensive to rent. According to the 2025 Deloitte Property Index, the average monthly rent in Madrid was the sixth most expensive of the European cities they track, clocking in at an average of 27.1€ per square meter. If you own a property this is excellent news because these low prices and high rents translate to high rental yields.
Rental prices in Madrid may be relatively high, but rents in Los Angeles are still more expensive. According to IFA Magazine, the average price per square meter to rent an apartment in Los Angeles is $35.58 per square meter, which translates to 30.09€ per square meter. Thus renting an apartment in Madrid is still on average cheaper than in Los Angeles, but not the relative bargain that property purchase is.
Job market
Although the Spanish unemployment rate has dropped considerably in recent years, it is still one of the most challenging job markets in Europe. In contrast, Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.6% in December 2025.
Our suggestion is that it’s best to plan a relocation to Spain if you have a job lined up either in a Spanish company, or with an international company that has a branch in Madrid. A sweetener to working in Spain is the Beckham Law, which allows qualifying expats to have their Spanish income taxed at a flat 24%
Alternatively, Spain has a low threshold level of passive income (28,800€ per annum) required for a non-lucrative visa. This, combined with the Mbappe Law, which gives residents in Madrid tax breaks on assets, makes Madrid a very attractive place for those that don’t need a 9 to 5 job.
Ready to model your move? Book a private consultation with Fabiana Greci to discuss your specific investment and residency roadmap. You can contact her directly at fabiana@madrid-estate.com or WhatsApp +34 680 306 337.
Cost of living
According to the websites Numbeo and Expatistan, prices in Los Angeles are 42-43% (respectively) higher in Los Angeles than in Madrid. Aside from housing, food and utilities account for large parts of this difference. Childcare and private schools are also much more expensive in Los Angeles. Pre-school and kindergartens are 170% more expensive in Los Angeles than in Madrid.
Healthcare
Almost everyone knows of the very high healthcare costs in the US. Spain, on the other hand, has universal healthcare. Everyone that has Spanish residency is able to use the country’s public clinics and hospitals at little to no cost. There is also private health insurance available for roughly 60€ per month. Many Americans move to Spain specifically for the healthcare. To learn more, we invite you to read: Everything you need to know about Spanish healthcare.
Lifestyle: Madrid vs. Los Angeles
When discussing Madrid vs. Los Angeles, arguably the biggest difference is a walking culture vs. a driving culture. If you choose to live in the suburbs of Madrid you will need to drive, or at least hire a car and driver. But most people that relocate to Madrid, particularly Americans, choose to live in the city center. If you live in the center of Madrid, you not only do not need a car, but sometimes a car proves to be a liability. You need to park it, and many places in the center do not have parking. Finding a spot on the street can be stressful and time consuming.
The flip side to this is that you can walk most places you want to go; Madrid neighborhoods are like those in NYC. They have grocery stores, restaurants, playgrounds, schools and most things you need on a daily basis. If you want to go elsewhere, Madrid has arguably the best public transport system in Europe. It is clean, efficient and goes almost everywhere you want to go. If not, taxis are reasonably priced and readily available.
As almost everyone knows, this is not the case in Los Angeles. Angelinos live in their cars and traffic is a huge factor in their lives. Some people like this, especially those with sensory issues that find it more comfortable to move about in a controlled space without other people.
Whether you prefer to walk most places or drive comes down to personal preference. It is one of the biggest factors you should consider when deciding between living in Madrid vs. Los Angeles.
Spanish language
Spanish is the official language of Spain, and virtually everyone in Madrid speaks it. Although the accent and words are different than the Spanish spoken in Los Angeles, Angelinos will not experience culture shock at hearing the language everywhere, since almost 50% of people in Los Angeles speak Spanish.
If you don’t speak Spanish, we recommend learning at least the basics if you move to Madrid. Although people in neighborhoods with large international populations, such as Salamanca, do speak English, your life will be easier if you learn some Spanish. Moreover, learning the language will help you integrate into Spanish culture.
Safety
Madrid is an extremely safe city. There is a large police presence and a significant undercover police presence. Yes, there are pickpockets in the Center and other spots frequented by tourists, but there is no violent crime. For example, if you live in Madrid you won’t have to cross the street to avoid erratic and potentially unstable meth addicts as can happen in Los Angeles.
Culture
Both Madrid and Los Angeles have ample opportunities to enjoy culture. Both cities have excellent restaurants and museums. Los Angeles has more museums; there are 841 museums and art galleries in Los Angeles County. In fact, Los Angeles has more museums per capita than any other city in the world. Madrid has a little over a hundred museums, but it lacks the vibrant gallery scene of Los Angeles. On the other hand, Madrid has twice as many Michelin star restaurants as Los Angeles. Madrid has 31 restaurants with Michelin stars, including the three star DiverXO. Los Angeles has 15 restaurants with Michelin stars.
Although Madrid obviously lacks the bling of Hollywood, Spain is increasingly become a major player in movie making. Spain is Netflix’s largest European production facility. They are based in Tres Cantos, a suburb in the north of Madrid. Here the company has a strategic center for its growing Spanish-language content. Netflix, which has operated in Spain for over a decade, has pledged significant, long-term investment to boost local production and talent, with over 1 billion euros committed through 2028. This hub includes multiple sound stages and post-production facilities, serving as a base for both Netflix Originals and its partner productions.
Weather
Both Madrid and Los Angeles are famous for their sunny weather. As Madrid is surrounded on three sides by mountains, it can get a bit chilly in the winter. But it rarely snows and if it does, it typically is just a quick dusting.
Beach
Madrid is in the center of Spain so it does not have a beach. However, Valencia is less than two hours away on Spain’s excellent high speed rail system.
