Madrid vs New York: tax, residence and cost 2026

Madrid vs New York.

🇪🇸 Spain against 🇺🇸 United States, on tax, residence, cost, and the life. Same model, same year, no brochure.

In short, current to September 2026

On $1,000,000 of income, Madrid takes an effective 43% and New York takes 43%, so New York leaves about $1K more in hand each year on the Patrician.ch 2026 model.
On a capital gain realized after residence begins, Madrid charges 28% and New York charges 38%. On a $5,000,000 event that is a difference of about $505K.
Spain operates a special regime for arriving foreigners: Beckham law: 24% flat on Spanish employment income up to €600K for 6 years for inbound hires and remote workers, and Madrid waives the regional wealth tax, though the national solidarity tax applies above €3M. The United States operates none.
Inheritance, what a child pays: 99% relief in Madrid, 40% above $15M, plus New York in New York.
Route in: Madrid by Remote work visa, Founder & talent. New York by Residence by investment, Founder & talent.
Cost of the life is 70 in Madrid against 108 in New York on the Patrician.ch index where Zurich is 100, and safety 8 against 6 of 10. Both are Patrician.ch editorial indices scored by us, not published statistics.

Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 47 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated 27 September 2026. Cite as: Patrician.ch, Madrid vs New York: tax, residence and cost 2026, patrician.ch/compare/mad-vs-nyc/, September 2026.

	Madrid	New York
Effective tax at $300K	40%	35%
Effective tax at $1M	43%	43%
Effective tax at $3M	44%	49%
Kept at $1M	$566K	$567K
Capital gains	28%	38%
Inheritance tax, children	99% relief	40% above $15M, plus New York
Cost index (Zurich 100)	70	108
Safety	8/10	6/10
Schools	8/10	9/10
Sun hours	2,770	2,530
Supercar street index	#35	#32
Routes in	Remote work visa, Founder & talent	Residence by investment, Founder & talent
Net millionaire flow, 2025 forecast (country, Henley)	−500	+7,500
Flight London	2.6	7.8
Flight New York	8	Home

Simplified marginal model, indicative 2026 brackets, non-US single filer, no social contributions, deductions, wealth taxes, or treaties. Inheritance is shown as it falls on a child, current to September 2026.

By profile

How each profile reads.

For an executive on salary

New York keeps more of a $1M salary, $1K a year on this model. Madrid answers with safety.

For a founder with an exit

Capital gains: Madrid 28%, New York 38%. Neither city taxes wealth as such.

For a family

New York leads on schools, Madrid on safety, a lower cost and sun.

Madrid The full page New York The full page Rank both on my numbers The engine, 90 seconds

Questions

Which keeps more of a $1M income, Madrid or New York?

New York, by about $1K a year on Patrician.ch's 2026 model.

Madrid takes an effective 43% of $1,000,000 and New York takes 43%. At $3,000,000 the rates are 44% and 49%.

Which taxes capital gains less, Madrid or New York?

Madrid, at 28% against 38% in New York.

On a $5,000,000 liquidity event realized after residence begins, the difference is about $505K.

Which is better for inheritance, Madrid or New York?

Madrid. What a child pays: 99% relief in Madrid, 40% above $15M, plus New York in New York.

Madrid gives a spouse and children 99% relief on the tax, with no cap. Federal estate tax at 40% above $15M per person, plus New York estate tax up to 16%. A US citizen spouse inherits free.

Which is cheaper to live in, Madrid or New York?

Madrid, at 70 on the Patrician.ch cost index against 108 for New York, where Zurich is 100.

Safety scores 8 of 10 in Madrid and 6 of 10 in New York, schools 8 and 9. These are Patrician.ch editorial indices, not published statistics.

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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States · Americans moving abroad · Tax calculator · Keep Index 2026

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Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.