How expensive is Bilbao compared to the rest of Spain?

Bilbao ranks #271 out of 577 cities globally. It is 4.3% more expensive than the Spain average, based on 15 cities. The rent index is 29.9 and local purchasing power is 107.4.

What is the average rent in Bilbao?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Bilbao city centre costs approximately EUR 1,117 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to EUR 925 (saving 17%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around EUR 2,155.

Is Bilbao affordable to live in?

Bilbao is mid-priced by global standards. Groceries are average, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is strong. Workers in Spain earning EUR 50,000 gross take home approximately EUR 2,962 per month after tax.

🇪🇸 Spain · 2026

Coste de Vida en Bilbao

4.3% por encima del promedio de Spain

Posición #271 de 577 ciudades · Más cara que el 53% de las ciudades del mundo

+4.3%

Coste de Vida

+23.0%

Alquiler

-7.0%

Supermercado

+10.3%

Poder Adquisitivo

Comparado con el promedio de Spain · Ver ranking de Spain →

Precios de Alquiler en Bilbao

Apartamento	Centro	Fuera del Centro	Ahorras
1 Dormitorio	EUR 1,117/mo ≈ $1,256	EUR 925/mo ≈ $1,039	17%
3 Dormitorios	EUR 2,155/mo ≈ $2,422	EUR 1,516/mo ≈ $1,704	30%

Numbeo · 2026-10-02

Prices of Goods & Services in Bilbao

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	EUR 2.00	1 source
Bread (500g)	EUR 1.20	1 source
Chicken (1kg)	EUR 6.50	1 source
Eggs (12)	EUR 2.10	1 source
Milk (1L)	EUR 0.95	1 source
Rice (1kg)	EUR 1.40	1 source
Water (1.5L)	EUR 0.50	1 source

Apples (1kg)

EUR 2.00

Bread (500g)

EUR 1.20

Chicken (1kg)

EUR 6.50

Eggs (12)

EUR 2.10

Milk (1L)

EUR 0.95

Rice (1kg)

EUR 1.40

Water (1.5L)

EUR 0.50

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	EUR 2.30	1 source
Cappuccino	EUR 1.90	1 source
McMeal	EUR 9.50	1 source
Cheap meal	EUR 15.80	1 source
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	EUR 65.00	1 source

Draft beer (0.5L)

EUR 2.30

Cappuccino

EUR 1.90

McMeal

EUR 9.50

Cheap meal

EUR 15.80

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

EUR 65.00

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	EUR 10.40	1 source
Gym membership	EUR 45.00	1 source

Cinema ticket

EUR 10.40

Gym membership

EUR 45.00

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Electricity (85m² apt)	EUR 76.00	1 source
Garbage collection	EUR 11.00	1 source
Natural gas (85m² apt)	EUR 30.00	1 source
Internet (60 Mbps)	EUR 28.00	1 source
Water (85m² apt)	EUR 22.00	1 source

Electricity (85m² apt)

EUR 76.00

Garbage collection

EUR 11.00

Natural gas (85m² apt)

EUR 30.00

Internet (60 Mbps)

EUR 28.00

Water (85m² apt)

EUR 22.00

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	EUR 1.46	1 source
Taxi per km	EUR 1.25	1 source
Taxi start	EUR 2.60	1 source
Monthly pass	EUR 32.00	1 source
Single ticket	EUR 1.50	1 source

Gasoline (1L)

EUR 1.46

Taxi per km

EUR 1.25

Taxi start

EUR 2.60

Monthly pass

EUR 32.00

Single ticket

EUR 1.50

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. October 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★★ High Confidence

Bilbao has a cost of living index of 40.8 (New York = 100, rent included), the average of 4 of 4 data sources.

40.8

Index

Sources

4.2

Gap between sources

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

43.5

Expatistan

41.0

LivingCost

39.5

ShouldIMove price index

39.3

ShouldIMove price index: our own basket of real item prices plus rent.

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

99.6

Based on 93 country PLI x 1.071 city factor

View all 577 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Índices de Coste

Coste de Vida

+4.3% Average

Alquiler

+23.0% Very expensive

Supermercado

-7.0% Average

Restaurantes

+9.4% Expensive

Poder Adquisitivo

+10.3% Strong

Vivir en Bilbao: Qué Esperar

Bilbao es mid-priced según estándares globales (puesto #271 de 577 ciudades). Está 4.3% más caro que el promedio de Spain, basado en 15 ciudades.

Los comestibles son average, mientras que comer fuera es expensive. Groceries ofrece el mejor valor, mientras que Rent es lo más caro.

Los trabajadores en Spain con EUR 50,000 brutos se llevan EUR 2,962/mes neto después de impuestos (28.9%% tipo efectivo). Ver calculadora fiscal completa de Spain →