Rent price in Bilbao
Vizcaya · País Vasco
Estimated rent · IPVA 2024
Net income
19.5k€
per capita/yr
Unemployment
11.8%
SEPE
Population
351k
residents
According to INE IPVA data, estimated rent in Bilbao is €872.3/month in 2024 — +2.4% year-on-year. Back in 2016 it was €706/month, a 23.6% increase over 9 years. Provincial average (Vizcaya): €747/month.
Full guide: living in Bilbao
Monthly budget, required salary and mortgage estimate
Idealista
Rental flats in Bilbao →
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National market context
National rank
#103
out of 748 municipalities
vs País Vasco
+143.29999999999995€
region avg: €729
Trend vs Spain
+0.1%
avg: 2.3%
Trend vs region
+0.1%
region avg: €2.3
Bilbao ranks 103 out of 748 municipalities in the INE rent price index. It is 20% above the País Vasco average (€729/month).
Rent price evolution
Estimated monthly rent in Bilbao (€/month). Source: INE IPVA.
Income and housing effort
Net income per capita
19.478€
per year · INE Atlas
Average household income
44.813€
per year
Rent-to-income ratio
53.7%
of per capita income
Average gross salary
35.170€
per year · País Vasco
Rent-to-salary ratio
29.8%
of annual gross salary
The national average effort is 55.4% of per capita income. Bilbao is 2 points below that average.
Source: INE Atlas of Household Income Distribution · INE Survey of Wage Structure (op.140). Gross salary is the País Vasco average.
Registered unemployment
Estimated unemployment rate
11.8%
of estimated active population
Registered unemployed
20,431
people
Annual change
-2.4%
vs same month previous year
Source: SEPE (Spanish Public Employment Service)
How much do you need to earn to live in Bilbao?
With rent at €872.3/month, the recommended salary (30% rule) is €54,000 gross/year.
Recommended salary
54,000€
gross / year
Rent
872.3€
/ month
Real avg income
19,478€
net / year
Enter your gross annual salary to see what rent in Bilbao means for your budget.
What would a mortgage cost in Bilbao?
For a €175,000 property (estimated from current rent), the monthly payment would be €701 over 25 years at 3.5%. You need €52,500 for the down payment and costs (20% + 10%). Based on average incomes in Bilbao, saving that amount would take around 3.9 years.
What does it cost to live in Bilbao?
Rent is €872.3/month. With average food, transport and utilities, the estimated cost of living is €1,642.3/month. Adjust each category to your situation.
Estimated expenses based on national averages. Adjust to your lifestyle.
Climate
Monthly max & min temperature (°C) · 2015–2024 normals
Source: Open-Meteo · ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF)
Rent index evolution
| Year | INE IPVA Index | Estimated rent |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 911.080 | 911€ |
| 2023 | 852.030 | 852€ |
| 2022 | 810.430 | 810€ |
| 2021 | 779.010 | 779€ |
| 2020 | 782.820 | 783€ |
| 2019 | 768.920 | 769€ |
| 2018 | 744.900 | 745€ |
| 2017 | 711.780 | 712€ |
| 2016 | 705.680 | 706€ |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent in Bilbao?
The estimated rent in Bilbao is €872.3/month in 2024, according to the INE Housing Rental Price Index (IPVA).
Have rents gone up or down in Bilbao?
Rent in Bilbao has risen by 2.4% compared to the previous year, per the INE IPVA index.
Is Bilbao expensive to rent compared to the national average?
Yes, rent in Bilbao (€872.3/month) is 35% above the national average (€648/month).
How much do you need to earn to live in Bilbao?
Applying the 30% rule (rent should not exceed 30% of net income), you need approximately €35000 net per year to live in Bilbao with a rent of €872.3/month.
What would a mortgage cost in Bilbao?
For an estimated property price of €175,000 in Bilbao (based on current rent of €872.3/month), the monthly mortgage payment would be €701 over 25 years at 3.5% APR. Down payment and purchase costs amount to approximately €52,500 (20% down + ~10% costs).
Vizcaya province
View all municipalities and compare prices
Other municipalities in Vizcaya
Municipalities with similar rent
Municipalities in Spain with a similar rent to Bilbao (±10%)
More affordable options in País Vasco
Municipalities in País Vasco with lower rent than Bilbao
Want to compare Bilbao with another municipality?
Rent, income, population and more, side by side.
Official source
Instituto Nacional de Estadística
Organismo estadístico oficial del Estado español
www.ine.es View source →Methodology
Data comes from the Housing Rental Price Index (IPVA) published by Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE), with base 100 in 2015. The estimated rent is calculated by applying the index to the median reference price for the province in 2015.
Source: EMAL - Estadística del Mercado de Alquiler (Gobierno Vasco) · INE code: 48020