$40K in Boise = $24,914 in Madrid

Your $40K salary in Boise (COL 105) has the same purchasing power as $24,914 in Madrid (COL 65). Madrid is cheaper — your money goes 38% further there.

$40K in Boise, ID
$2,535/mo take-home
Rent: $1,600/mo (63% of take-home)
Difficult
$24,914/yr in Madrid, ES
$1,263/mo take-home
Rent: $1,200/mo (95% of take-home)
Difficult

Budget breakdown — $40K in both cities

What $40K actually buys you in each city after taxes and core expenses.

Expense
Boise
$40K
Madrid
$40K (same salary)
Monthly take-home$2,535$2,028
1BR rent$1,600$1,200
Groceries$372$380
Transport$45$150
Utilities$145$95
Internet$60$35
Left after essentials$313/month$168/month
To match your Boise purchasing power in Madrid, you'd need to earn $24,914/year (38% less than $40K). At that salary, you'd have $-597/mo left after essentials — vs $313/mo in Boise.

Frequently asked questions

What is $40K in Boise equivalent to in Madrid?

$40K in Boise (COL index 105) has the same purchasing power as $24,914 in Madrid (COL index 65). That's 38% less than your current salary.

If I move from Boise to Madrid keeping my $40K salary, will I be better off?

Yes. If you keep earning $40K after moving to Madrid, you'd have $-145 more per month after core expenses — because Madrid is cheaper than Boise.

How is the salary equivalent calculated?

The equivalent salary is calculated by multiplying your current salary by the ratio of the two cities' overall cost of living indices: $40K × (65 ÷ 105) = $24,914. This adjusts for differences in housing, food, transport, and general cost of living.

Other salary amounts — Boise to Madrid

$50K → $31,143$60K → $37,371$75K → $46,714$80K → $49,829$100K → $62,286$120K → $74,743$150K → $93,429
$40K in Madrid → BoiseMoving from Boise to MadridBoise vs Madrid — full comparisonCan I afford Boise vs Madrid on $40K?

Equivalency uses overall COL index ratio. Take-home uses simplified federal/state brackets. Zillow · BLS · Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only