How much do you need to earn to live here, after Spain takes its share?
Here's the gross monthly salary that covers rent, food, transport, and utilities once Spain's tax system has taken its cut. (2026)
The floor in Bilbao is roughly €1,641/month gross, on a lean budget.
For something that feels comfortable, think €2,184/month gross (€1,726 net after ~21% tax).
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €700 Cheapest neighborhood (Santutxu) | €1,000 Median neighborhood | €1,150 Premium neighborhood (Indautxu) |
| Groceries | €280 | €336 | €420 |
| Transport | €45 | €45 | €45 |
| Utilities | €129 | €129 | €129 |
| Dining & Entertainment | €180 | €216 | €270 |
| Total Monthly Expenses | €1,334 | €1,726 | €2,014 |
€1,641/month gross
€2,184/month gross
€2,604/month gross
Second-hand 1BR rents across 5 neighborhoods in Bilbao.
Santutxu
18 min by bus
€700 - €850
Deusto
15 min by metro
€800 - €1,000
Casco Viejo
5 min by walk
€900 - €1,100
Indautxu
8 min by metro
€1,050 - €1,250
Abando / Ensanche
5 min by walk
€1,000 - €1,200
Casco Viejo
5 min by walk
€900 - €1,100
All 5 neighborhoods, the full expense sheet, and what you could save.
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We add up monthly expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, dining out) for each lifestyle tier, then work backwards to find the gross salary that lands on that number after Spain's income tax and social contributions. Rent data reflects second-hand listings, which is what expats actually pay. All figures come from 2026 official government statistics. Full attribution lives on our data sources page.
On a budget lifestyle, you need at least €1,641/month gross salary to cover basic expenses in Bilbao. For a comfortable lifestyle, aim for €2,184/month gross. These figures include rent, food, transport, utilities, and dining out, with taxes calculated for Spain.
The average 1-bedroom rent across 5 neighborhoods in Bilbao is approximately €985/month. Rents range from €700 in Santutxu to €1,250 in Indautxu.
Monthly groceries for a single person in Bilbao cost approximately €280. This covers basic home cooking. Dining out and premium food will add to this budget.
Tax rates in Spain are progressive. At the budget salary level of €1,641/month, the effective tax rate is approximately 19%. At the comfortable level of €2,184/month, it rises to approximately 21%. This includes income tax and social contributions.