Side-by-side city decision # Chengdu vs Madrid. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link ChengduChina2/6 VS MadridSpain4/6 $842Chengdu monthly budget $2,335Madrid monthly budget 215 MbpsChengdu internet 245 MbpsMadrid internet Decision summary Madrid Madrid leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Chengdu Speed Fastest internet Madrid Vibe Best nomad vibe Madrid Safety Highest safety Chengdu Air Cleanest air Madrid Walk Most walkable Madrid Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Chengdu](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/chengdu.md) China 2/6 Budget$842 Internet215 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Madrid](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/madrid.md) Spain 4/6 Budget$2,335 Internet245 Mbps Vibe9/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricChengduMadrid Total estimated budget $842 $2,335 1-bed center rent $430 $1,550 Coworking desk $165 $280 Local meal $3.5 $16.5 Cappuccino $3.8 $2.4 Gym membership $42 $45 Transport budget $32 $35 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricChengduMadrid Internet speed 215 Mbps 245 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 9/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricChengduMadrid Safety index 76/100 72/100 Air quality 52/100 74/100 Walkability 7/10 9/10 Female safety 8/10 8/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 5/10 10/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricChengduMadrid Healthcare quality Good Excellent English proficiency Basic Good Climate type Humid subtropical Continental Mediterranean Best time to visit Mar - May Apr - Jun Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Chengdu](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/chengdu.md) China → ### Strengths * Very affordable food, transit, and apartment rents for a major Chinese city * Excellent metro network and extensive ride-hailing coverage * Outstanding Sichuan cuisine and a deep tea-house culture * Fast, inexpensive fiber internet and widespread 5G * Relaxed lifestyle compared with Beijing and Shanghai * Strong access to nature, pandas, and western Sichuan trips ### Trade-offs * Mandarin is essential for many daily tasks and service interactions * Internet access requires a reliable VPN for many international platforms * Winter haze and humid grey weather can feel persistent * Tap water is not safe to drink without boiling or filtering * Visa options do not provide a straightforward digital-nomad route * International community and English-language services are smaller than in Shanghai ### Common visa routes * Tourist (L) visa * Business (M) visa * Work (Z) visa [Madrid](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/madrid.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Excellent public transit and highly walkable central neighborhoods * Fast, reliable fiber internet and abundant coworking spaces * Large international remote-worker and startup community * Outstanding museums, parks, dining, and nightlife * Safe tap water and high-quality public and private healthcare * Very LGBTQ+ friendly with an open social culture ### Trade-offs * Long-term rents have risen sharply and competition is intense * Summer heat can be severe, especially in July and August * Spanish bureaucracy can be slow and paperwork-heavy * Central apartments may be noisy and lack insulation * English is less common in daily administration outside international areas * Restaurant meal times and late nightlife may not suit early schedules ### Common visa routes * Spain Digital Nomad Visa * Non-Lucrative Visa * Schengen short-stay visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.