Lower cost of living in Madrid? You must be joking!!!!!!
Just back from Madrid (where I am from), and I am still in shock to see how much prices have risen each time I go there (last time was Easter, and before that Christmas). Terminal 4 is a nightmare, more than 30 mins from checking desk to boarding gate (my flight last week didn't have a gate assigned until 20 mins before closing time!!!)
Does your friend knows about all the road works happening in Madrid at the moment. My family lives next to the M-30, one of the ring road, having a major re-development at the moment, and the works won't finish for another year and a half (at least) Trying to drive through it now, it's like being in a war battle field!!!
Metro is supposed to get there next summer, so he would have transportation in and out at reasonable price ( I am lucky enough to have loving family or friends picking me up all the time, but still a nightmare!)
If anyone here thinks that property in Madrid (or Spain in general) is cheaper than here, think again. My parents live in a 3 bedroom apartment (standard way of living in Spain) and nowadays they will be able to sell it for around 450k or rent it for more than 1200 a month.
As much as I would love to move back home, I know that it won't happen in the near future.
Edit: Prices with ryan air for next year: Dublin Madrid: €89 each way plus taxes. Not cheap