Bilbao · EUR · moderate cost city

Cost of living in Bilbao is your salary enough?

Bilbao rents average €900/month; the Basque Country's strong industrial base supports above-average Spanish incomes. Bilbao earners benefit from Spain's highest regional wages alongside moderate costs — a good environment for hitting savings benchmarks.

Rent in Bilbao

Budget€700 – €800/mo
Typical€900 – €1,050/mo
Premium€1,200+/mo

Other monthly costs

Food, transport, bills, going out~€950/mo
Total typical monthly spend~€1,850/mo

How different incomes stack up

At typical Bilbao costs (€900 rent)

€18,000 – €27,000→ saving -29.8%
Critical
€27,000 – €38,000→ saving 10.1%
On Track
€38,000 – €55,000→ saving 31.8%
Ahead

See your personal verdict for Bilbao

Country
€32,500
€8,000€124,000€240,000+
€900/mo
€0€4,000€8,000+

Food, transport, subscriptions, going out — everything except rent

€1,200/mo
€0€2,650€5,300+

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Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from INE Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares 2022. Figures in EUR.

Frequently asked questions — Living in Bilbao

How much does it cost to live in Bilbao?+

Core monthly costs in Bilbao run about €1,850 — roughly €900 for rent and €950 for other living expenses (food, transport, utilities, basics). Bilbao rents average €900/month; the Basque Country's strong industrial base supports above-average Spanish incomes.

What is the median rent in Bilbao?+

The median rent in Bilbao is around €900 per month. Bilbao is classified as a moderate cost cost-of-living city in Spain.

What salary do you need to live comfortably in Bilbao?+

Using the 70%-rule (core costs ≤ 70% of gross), you need roughly €31,714 per year before tax to live comfortably in Bilbao. That leaves room to hit the 10% savings benchmark for Spain.

Is Bilbao expensive compared to the rest of Spain?+

Bilbao sits in the moderate cost tier within Spain. Bilbao earners benefit from Spain's highest regional wages alongside moderate costs — a good environment for hitting savings benchmarks.

How much of your income should rent take in Bilbao?+

The standard rule is no more than 30% of gross income on rent. At €900/month in Bilbao, that means a gross income of at least €36,000 per year to stay under the 30% threshold.

Can you still save money living in Bilbao?+

Yes — the Spain benchmark for mid-income earners is 10% of gross income. In a moderate cost city like Bilbao, hitting that rate is comfortably achievable for most mid-income households.