Cost of living in Bilbao: rent, salaries & real expenses (2026)
The cost of living in Bilbao is around €1642.3/month, with rent at €872.3 (INE 2023) — 35% above the Spanish average. Rent trend: +2.4% per year. Here's the full breakdown.
Avg. rent
872.3€
/ month · INE
Total cost
1642.3€
/ month est.
Salary needed
54k€
gross / year
Rent trend
+2.4%
annual change
Estimated monthly budget
Food, transport and utility expenses based on INE/Eurostat national averages. Adjust to your lifestyle.
Rent in Bilbao
Est. rent
872.3€
/ month
vs Spain
+35%
media 648€
Ranking
#103
of 748
Trend
+2.4%
annual change
Rent in Bilbao is 35% more expensive than the national average and 20% more expensive than the País Vasco average (€729/month). The annual trend is +2.4%.
What salary do you need to live in Bilbao?
Recommended salary
54,000€
gross / year
Rule applied
30%
max rent/net
Avg CCAA salary
35,170€
gross / year · INE
To avoid spending more than 30% of your net salary on rent in Bilbao (€872.3/month), you need to earn at least €54,000 gross/year. The average gross salary in País Vasco is €35,170/year according to INE.
Buying in Bilbao: what does a mortgage cost?
Est. price
175,000€
PER ~200 months
Monthly payment
701€
25yr · 3.5% · 80%
Down pmt + costs
52,500€
20% + 10%
Estimate based on a sale price of €175,000 (typical price-to-rent ratio). 25-year mortgage at 3.5% with 80% financed. Indicative calculation.
Calculate with your price →Quality of life in Bilbao
Summer max
24.4°C
Jun–Aug · ERA5
Winter min
6.7°C
Dec–Feb · ERA5
Unemployment
11.8%
SEPE 202604
Rent burden
53.7%
of net income
Bilbao has a mild climate with mild summers (24.4°C max from June to August) and cool winters (6.7°C min from December to February). Unemployment stands at 11.8% (SEPE 202604) and the rent-to-income burden is 53.7%. Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 (2015-2024 normals).
📊 Full data
Municipal page with all indicators
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Rent by community
Compare Bilbao with other cities
Rent: INE IPVA index (2023). Expenses: INE/Eurostat national averages. Mortgage: indicative calculation.