Fukuoka vs Madrid

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

Madrid, Spain
🇪🇸Spain

Madrid

83Freedom Score#12Global rank$2,525Per month

Spain's capital blends world-class dining, a huge expat scene, and a 2023 Digital Nomad visa — inland, walkable, and endlessly social.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseFukuokaMadrid
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,600✓$2,525
Rent, 1BR city centre$500✓$1,136
Meal, mid-range$10✓$18
Coworking deskper month$180✓$227
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper64.056.1✓

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureFukuokaMadrid
Safety
85
71
Healthcare
90
85
Walkability
85
85
English spoken
42
65
Food & dining
90
90
Nightlife
65
90
Outdoors
58
62
Nomad community
58
80
Climate quality
60
85
Public transit
95
90

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFukuokaMadrid
Freedom Score73/10083/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#37#12✓
Internet100 Mbps170 Mbps✓
Average temperature63°F60°F
Air quality30/10030/100
Airport connectivity78/10088/100✓
Nomad visa90 days freeNomad/long-stay visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Fukuoka if runs $925/mo cheaper, rent is $636/mo lower, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 71) and the headline tax rate is lower.

Choose Madrid if internet is faster at 170 Mbps, English is more widely spoken, the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

Madrid

  • Spain Digital Nomad visa + Beckham Law 24% flat tax for new residents
  • One of Europe's most walkable capitals with a world-class metro
  • Massive nomad & expat community across Malasaña and Chamberí
  • Barajas hub airport — nonstop to the Americas, Europe, and Asia

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Fukuoka or Madrid?
Madrid scores higher on the Freedom Score (83/100 against 73/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Fukuoka or Madrid?
Fukuoka is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,600 against $2,525, a difference of $925 a month or about $11,100 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $500/mo in Fukuoka versus $1,136/mo in Madrid.
Which is safer: Fukuoka or Madrid?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 against 71/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Fukuoka and Madrid?
Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps and Madrid averages 170 Mbps, so Madrid has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Fukuoka or Madrid?
Fukuoka sits in Japan (90 days free) and Madrid in Spain (Nomad/long-stay visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.