Savings rate in Bilbao — are you on track?
Bilbao is a moderate cost city. 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.
Median rent
€900/mo
Bilbao 2022
Typical other costs
€950/mo
excl. housing
Savings benchmark
6–14%
mid-income EUR
Monthly budget snapshot — Bilbao
Pre-set for Bilbao — adjust to your situation
What a good savings rate looks like in Bilbao
Using data from INE Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares 2022, people at mid-range incomes in Spain typically save between 6–14% of gross income. In a moderate cost city like Bilbao, housing costs can compress that meaningfully — especially for renters.
Source: INE Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares 2022. Benchmarks shown for mid-income earners in Spain.
Frequently asked questions — Bilbao
What savings rate is considered good in Bilbao?+
In Bilbao, a savings rate of 10% of gross income is the expected benchmark for mid-income earners in Spain. A rate below 6% is considered a minimum floor — anything less means you are not building meaningful financial resilience. Reaching 20% or above puts you in a strong position relative to others at your income level.
How much does rent cost in Bilbao?+
The median rent in Bilbao is around €900 per month. Bilbao rents average €900/month; the Basque Country's strong industrial base supports above-average Spanish incomes. This makes rent one of the biggest factors in your ability to save — especially for renters, who typically face higher housing cost burdens than homeowners with fixed mortgages.
What does a typical monthly budget look like in Bilbao?+
A typical budget in Bilbao includes approximately €900/month for rent and €950/month for other living expenses, for a combined €1,850/month in core costs. Bilbao earners benefit from Spain's highest regional wages alongside moderate costs — a good environment for hitting savings benchmarks. Any income above this baseline is what is available for saving or investing.
Can you build wealth while living in Bilbao?+
Yes — but it requires a savings rate in the 6–14% range to match the benchmark for Spain. Bilbao is a moderate cost city, so housing and living costs are moderate, giving more room to hit the savings benchmark. Bilbao earners benefit from Spain's highest regional wages alongside moderate costs — a good environment for hitting savings benchmarks.
How is the savings benchmark in Bilbao calculated?+
The benchmark is derived from INE Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares 2022, the official national household expenditure survey for Spain. Savings rates are calculated by income band — so the expected rate adjusts based on what you earn, not a single national average. This makes the benchmark more relevant to your actual financial position in Bilbao.
Also in the Verdict suite