Cost of Living Comparison Between Bilbao and Macon, GA Cost of Living Comparison Between Bilbao and Macon, GA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,010 in Bilbao versus $1,959 in Macon, GA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,865 in Bilbao versus $2,989 in Macon, GA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,720 in Bilbao versus $4,019 in Macon, GA.

Living in Bilbao is roughly 3% more expensive than in Macon, GA, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bilbao 50% above, Macon, GA 47% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.56 €15.38
$13.63 $13.63
28.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 €60.5
$60.2 $60.2
14.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.58 €10.14
$8.86 $8.86
30.70%
Cappuccino
$2.27 €1.99
$5.48 $5.48
-58.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 €2.55
$2.09 $2.09
39.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.80
$1.99 $1.99
3.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.81 €3.34
$5.05 $5.05
-24.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 €3.27
$6.01 $6.01
-37.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.08
$0.83 $0.83
48.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 €1.30
$2.92 $2.92
-49.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.69 €1.48
$2.35 $2.35
-28.09%
Eggs
$2.88 €2.52
$2.76 $2.76
4.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.26 €13.37
$6.19 $6.19
146.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.01 €7.89
$8.57 $8.57
5.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.62 €11.93
$15.55 $15.55
-12.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 €2.43
$4.40 $4.40
-37.05%
Banana (1kg)
$2.34 €2.05
$1.51 $1.51
54.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 €2.15
$3.51 $3.51
-29.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.38 €2.08
$4.09 $4.09
-41.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.72 €1.51
$2.47 $2.47
-30.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 €1.97
$3.15 $3.15
-28.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.29
$1.63 $1.63
-9.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 €0.97
$0.86 $0.86
29.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.78 €5.94
$8.14 $8.14
-16.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 €7.07
$12.20 $12.20
-33.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 €1.17
$1.72 $1.72
-22.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 €2.28
$2.69 $2.69
-3.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.92 €1.68
$1.96 $1.96
-2.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.79 €43.61
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.57 €4.87
$3.58 $3.58
55.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.97 €0.85
$1.50 $1.50
-35.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.92 €28.83
$29.09 $29.09
13.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.79 $0.79
122.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K €33.2K
$27.4K $27.4K
38.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K €28.2K
$25.0K $25.0K
29.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 €136
$108 $108
43.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.02 €19.28
$44.44 $44.44
-50.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35 €30.09
$64.7 $64.7
-46.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.7 €50.5
$43.11 $43.11
33.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.20 €8.93
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.06 €8.81
$15.73 $15.73
-36.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$549 €481
$957 $957
-42.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,097 €7,967
$23.9K $23.9K
-61.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2 €72.0
$56.4 $56.4
45.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.78 €30.46
$35.62 $35.62
-2.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.5 €72.2
$50.8 $50.8
62.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €98.9
$95.9 $95.9
17.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,087 €952
$916 $916
18.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$958 €839
$1,017 $1,017
-5.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,808 €1,583
$1,465 $1,465
23.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 €1,189
$1,819 $1,819
-25.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,777 €5,059
$1,315 $1,315
339.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,699 €3,239
$1,328 $1,328
178.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bilbao
Macon, GA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,391 €2,094
$3,311 $3,311
-27.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.38
6.57
-48.55%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bilbao: July 13, 2026

Last update for Macon, GA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,087 in Bilbao and $916 in Macon, GA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Macon, GA pays 38% 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 $60.0 in Macon, GA. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $301, with Bilbao cheaper for home cooking.

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 Macon, GA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bilbao and in Macon, GA?
Bilbao and Macon, GA differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($2,010 vs $1,959 including rent). Macon, GA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Macon, GA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Bilbao and in Macon, GA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,087 in Bilbao versus $916 in Macon, GA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Bilbao pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bilbao or Macon, GA?
All in, you'll spend $2,010 per month in Bilbao versus $1,959 in Macon, GA – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,959 in Macon, GA versus $2,010 in Bilbao, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Macon, GA but tight or insufficient in Bilbao. The gap between the two cities makes Macon, GA the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bilbao and Macon, GA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bilbao or Macon, GA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bilbao and Macon, GA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bilbao or Macon, GA?
Expats usually find Macon, GA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bilbao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bilbao vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities