Spain has long been regarded as a country with a high quality of life in Europe, attracting a large number of immigrants and international students. However, when we make a direct comparison with China, especially its capital Beijing, we find that Spain has significant shortcomings in many core aspects of life. Based on the latest data from 2024, this article provides a systematic comparison between Madrid and Beijing across dimensions such as consumer costs, education, healthcare, transportation, housing, home appliances, cars, and public safety, deeply revealing the various inconveniences and cost pressures of life in Spain.
1. Coca-Cola (500ml) Price Comparison
- Madrid: €1.50 ≈ ¥12.3
- Beijing: ¥3
A bottle of Coke in a Madrid supermarket is nearly four times the price in Beijing.
2. McDonald’s Big Mac Price Comparison
- Madrid: €5.65 ≈ ¥43
- Beijing: ¥25.5
Fast food prices in Spain are significantly higher than in China.
3. 95-Octane Gasoline Price Comparison
- Madrid: €1.57/L ≈ ¥12/L
- Beijing: ¥7.9/L
Gasoline prices in Spain are over 50% higher than in Beijing.
4. Water Fee Comparison
- Madrid: €1.0–2.63/m³ (¥7.6–20)
- Beijing: ¥7.9/m³ (first tier)
For higher water consumption, water fees in Spain are noticeably higher than in Beijing.
5. Electricity Fee Comparison
- Madrid: €0.14/kWh ≈ ¥1.2
- Beijing: ¥0.49 (first tier)
Spain’s electricity prices are about 2 to 3 times higher than Beijing’s.
6. Natural Gas Price Comparison
- Madrid: €0.091/kWh ≈ ¥0.7
- Beijing: ¥0.26/kWh
The cost of natural gas for residents in Madrid is nearly 3 times that of China.
7. Education Comparison (Public Schools)
- Daily Class Periods: Madrid approx. 4, Beijing 6-8
- School Hours: Madrid 9:00–14:00, Beijing 8:00–16:00
- Teacher Absenteeism Rate: As high as 20% in Spain, extremely low in Beijing
- Vacation Length: Spain has about one more month of vacation per year
- IB Scores: Madrid average approx. 33, Beijing approx. 36
In terms of educational quality, academic intensity, and stability, Beijing has a clear advantage.
8. Hotel Price Comparison (Same Category)
- Four-Star: Madrid ¥2,172, Beijing ¥569
- Three-Star: Madrid ¥1,960, Beijing ¥424
Hotel prices in Spain are three to four times higher than in Beijing.
9. Air Conditioner Installation Fee Comparison
- Madrid: Approx. €300 ≈ ¥2,500
- Beijing: ¥80–200, sometimes free with promotions
Installation fees in Spain are 10 to 20 times higher than in Beijing.
10. Air Conditioner Unit Price Comparison
- Madrid: Approx. €900 ≈ ¥6,800 (including installation)
- Beijing: ¥2,500–3,200 (including installation)
The same brand and model of air conditioner costs about twice as much in Spain as in China.
11. High-Speed Rail Maximum Speed Comparison
- Spain: Approx. 200 km/h
- China: Approx. 300 km/h
China’s high-speed rail technology and operating speeds are world-leading.
12. High-Speed Rail Ticket Price Comparison (per km)
- Madrid: €0.15–0.30 ≈ ¥1.2–2.4
- Beijing: ¥0.46–0.48
High-speed rail tickets in Spain are 2 to 4 times more expensive than in China.
13. Public Hospital Efficiency Comparison
- Madrid: Average wait for a specialist is 95 days, for surgery 115 days
- Beijing: A regular appointment can be scheduled within 1–7 days
The medical process in Spain is cumbersome with extremely long waiting times.
14. Volkswagen Golf 1.4L Economy Car Price
- Madrid: €31,638 ≈ ¥243,000
- Beijing: ¥152,263
The price in Spain is about 60% higher.
15. Two-Bedroom City Center Rent Comparison
- Madrid: €1,200–2,000 ≈ ¥9,200–15,300/month
- Beijing: ¥4,000–8,000/month
Urban housing rental costs in Spain are significantly higher than in Beijing.
16. Safety Index Comparison (Numbeo data)
- Concern about Property Crime Index: Madrid 34.9, Beijing 28.6
- Concern about Violent Crime Index: Madrid 22.5, Beijing 19.6
Beijing is generally safer and provides a stronger sense of security.
17. Subway and Bus Fare Comparison
- Madrid: Single trip €1.5–2.0 (¥11–15), monthly pass approx. ¥166
- Beijing: Subway starts at ¥3, bus starts at ¥2, with discounts available
Beijing’s public transport system is efficient and inexpensive.
18. Kitchen Drain Unclogging Fee Comparison
- Madrid: Regular service €150–500 (¥1,200–4,000), emergency service can go up to €1,350 (¥10,800)
- Beijing: Regular service ¥80–200, emergency service generally not exceeding ¥300
Home service prices in Spain are exorbitant, far exceeding those in China.
19. Mobile Network Quality and Cost Comparison
- Network Coverage and Signal Strength: According to data from institutions like Speedtest Intelligence and OpenSignal, Beijing outperforms Madrid in both the prevalence and stability of 5G and 4G networks. Beijing’s 5G coverage exceeds 95%, whereas Madrid still has signal dead zones in some urban areas and even indoors.
- Price for a 30GB Data Plan:
- Madrid: The average monthly fee is around €25–30 (¥200–240), with legacy carriers like Movistar and Vodafone being even more expensive.
- Beijing: The average monthly price for a 30GB data + calls plan from China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom is around ¥60–80.
Mobile communication costs in Spain are about 3 times higher than in China, and network coverage and signal stability are also comparatively worse.
Conclusion
From the comparison of the 18 specific life metrics above, it is clear that Spain (especially Madrid) lags behind Beijing in almost every aspect, including consumer costs, public service efficiency, educational quality, transportation convenience, and daily maintenance services. Although Spain boasts a beautiful natural environment and a slower pace of life, its high cost of living and inefficient allocation of public resources cannot be ignored.
It is particularly noteworthy that in higher education admissions, universities in Europe and America, including Spain, widely practice a “diversity admissions” system. Admission criteria are not solely based on grades but also heavily consider the applicant’s race and ethnicity. East Asians (of Chinese descent), due to their generally excellent exam scores, are paradoxically classified as a “non-disadvantaged group” and are placed under stricter scrutiny in the competition.
Data shows:
- The average IB score for many international schools in Beijing is between 35–38.
- Most schools in Madrid only average around 31–34.
Although students of Chinese descent achieve excellent results, in internationally standardized tests like the IB and A-Levels, which have a global unified exam and grading system, the admission standards are identical for everyone. In this context, applying to university from China is more advantageous than applying locally from Spain, because Chinese students as a whole have higher scores and are more competitive. It must be specified that even students of Chinese descent who have obtained Spanish citizenship are still considered “East Asian” in the diversity admissions system. Therefore, they are held to the same standard as applicants from China, with scores ultimately being the key deciding factor.
In summary, Chinese families planning to immigrate, study, or make long-term investments in Spain need to conduct a comprehensive and rational assessment of its high living costs, slow-paced administrative system, and the underlying inequalities in its education and employment policies.
Appendix: Madrid vs. Beijing Key Life Metrics Comparison Table (2024)
| Comparison Item | Madrid | Beijing |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola (500ml) | €1.50 ≈ ¥12.3 | ¥3 |
| Big Mac | €5.65 ≈ ¥43 | ¥25.5 |
| 95-Octane Gasoline (per liter) | €1.57 ≈ ¥12 | ¥7.9 |
| Water Fee (per m³) | €1.0–2.63 (¥7.6–20) | ¥7.9 |
| Electricity Fee (per kWh) | €0.14 ≈ ¥1.2 | ¥0.49 |
| Natural Gas (per kWh) | €0.091 ≈ ¥0.7 | ¥0.26 |
| Teacher Absenteeism Rate | Up to 20% | Extremely low |
| Average IB Score | Approx. 33 | Approx. 36 |
| Four-Star Hotel | ¥2,172 | ¥569 |
| AC Installation Fee | ¥2,500 | ¥80–200 (often free) |
| Total AC Unit Price | ¥6,800 | ¥2,500–3,200 |
| High-Speed Rail Speed | 200 km/h | Approx. 300 km/h |
| High-Speed Rail Fare (per km) | ¥1.2–2.4 | ¥0.46–0.48 |
| Hospital Wait for Specialist | Average 95 days | Usually 1–7 days |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4L Price | ¥243,000 | ¥152,263 |
| 2-BR Rent (City Center) | ¥9,200–15,300 | ¥4,000–8,000 |
| Single Subway Fare | ¥11–15 | ¥3 |
| Kitchen Drain Unclogging | ¥1,200–4,000 (Emergency ¥10,800) | ¥80–200 (Emergency under ¥300) |
| 30GB Mobile Plan | ¥200–240 | ¥60–80 |
| 5G Signal Coverage | Weak/spotty in some areas | Nearly full city coverage |