😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,945 in Bilbao versus $1,636 in Angouleme.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,794 in Bilbao versus $2,568 in Angouleme.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,643 in Bilbao versus $3,500 in Angouleme.
😐Living in Bilbao is roughly 19% more expensive than Angouleme, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bilbao45% above, Angouleme22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.03€14.58
$14.85€12.71
14.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€59.5
$68.6€58.7
1.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.45€9.80
$11.39€9.75
0.53%
Cappuccino
$2.41€2.06
$3.01€2.58
-19.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.58
$2.47€2.11
22.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03€1.74
$1.43€1.23
41.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.69€3.16
$7.59€6.50
-51.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87€3.32
$4.03€3.45
-3.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.06
$1.00€0.85
24.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47€1.26
$1.48€1.26
-0.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65€1.41
$1.24€1.06
33.06%
Eggs
$2.93€2.51
$3.56€3.04
-17.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.76€13.49
$11.78€10.08
33.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.77€7.51
$13.69€11.72
-35.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.57€11.62
$21.07€18.04
-35.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.26
$1.70€1.46
55.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.37€2.03
$2.07€1.77
14.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46€2.10
$2.87€2.45
-14.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.35€2.01
$3.02€2.58
-22.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.79€1.53
-3.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30€1.97
$1.41€1.21
63.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.27
$1.56€1.34
-5.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$0.60€0.51
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.00€5.99
$11.39€9.75
-38.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.44€7.23
$7.05€6.04
19.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.14
$1.71€1.46
-21.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60€2.23
$3.27€2.80
-20.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98€1.70
$2.02€1.73
-1.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.12€42.05
$48.07€41.14
2.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.56€4.76
$5.75€4.92
-3.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96€0.82
$2.60€2.23
-63.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.26€28.47
$36.66€31.38
-9.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74€1.49
$2.09€1.79
-16.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.4K
$36.8K€31.5K
5.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K€27.8K
$38.8K€33.2K
-16.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153€131
$186€159
-17.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.52€18.42
$23.11€19.78
-6.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.05€29.15
$23.59€20.19
44.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€49.47
$38.09€32.60
51.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.94€8.51
$18.10€15.50
-45.08%
Cinema Ticket
$10.00€8.56
$10.07€8.62
-0.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$543€464
$795€681
-31.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,023€7,724
$8,805€7,537
2.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.5€72.3
$58.2€49.80
45.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.67€30.53
$36.34€31.10
-1.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2€70.4
$93.6€80.2
-12.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113€96.5
$80.9€69.2
39.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071€917
$757€648
41.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$962€824
$623€533
54.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,793€1,535
$1,376€1,178
30.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,358€1,162
$1,089€933
24.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,973€5,113
$2,097€1,795
184.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,752€3,212
$1,903€1,629
97.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bilbao
Angouleme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,413€2,066
$2,978€2,549
-18.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.38
3.62
-6.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bilbao: April 26, 2026
Last update for Angouleme: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Bilbao and $757 in Angouleme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Angouleme pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $69.0 in Bilbao vs $69.0 in Angouleme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $309 per month, with Bilbao cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bilbao vs Angouleme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bilbao or Angouleme?
Angouleme wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Bilbao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Angouleme the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bilbao or Angouleme?
On paper, Angouleme earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bilbao vs Angouleme?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Bilbao versus $757 in Angouleme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bilbao vs Angouleme?
A monthly transit pass in Angouleme runs roughly 2% less than in Bilbao. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bilbao and Angouleme?
Childcare runs $543 in Bilbao versus $795 in Angouleme. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bilbao or Angouleme?
At $1,636 in Angouleme versus $1,945 in Bilbao, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Angouleme but tight or insufficient in Bilbao. The gap between the two cities makes Angouleme the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bilbao or Angouleme?
Both work as nomad bases, but Angouleme delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,636 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Angouleme hard to pass up.
How safe is Bilbao compared to Angouleme?
Safety-wise, Bilbao and Angouleme are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Angouleme gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Bilbao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.