🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,999 in Macon, GA versus $2,008 in Bilbao.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,995 in Macon, GA versus $2,876 in Bilbao.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,992 in Macon, GA versus $3,743 in Bilbao.
🙂Monthly costs are close between Macon, GA and Bilbao; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Macon, GA49% above, Bilbao50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.52$13.52
$17.06€14.68
-20.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0$59.0
$70.6€60.8
-16.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.77$8.77
$11.36€9.77
-22.80%
Cappuccino
$5.45$5.45
$2.30€1.98
136.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08$2.08
$3.01€2.59
-30.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00$2.00
$1.98€1.70
1.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.98$4.98
$3.67€3.16
35.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85$5.85
$3.75€3.23
56.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$1.29€1.11
-31.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.94$2.94
$1.49€1.28
97.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29$2.29
$1.71€1.47
33.92%
Eggs
$2.64$2.64
$2.92€2.51
-9.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.89$5.89
$15.66€13.47
-62.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.98$8.98
$8.66€7.45
3.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.38$15.38
$13.63€11.72
12.84%
Apples(1kg)
$4.29$4.29
$2.69€2.32
59.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$2.33€2.01
-33.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.52$3.52
$2.43€2.09
44.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.11$4.11
$2.45€2.11
67.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$1.69€1.45
45.56%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06$3.06
$2.24€1.92
36.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62$1.62
$1.45€1.25
11.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81$0.81
$1.14€0.98
-28.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.20$8.20
$6.99€6.02
17.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.10$12.10
$8.34€7.17
45.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72$1.72
$1.35€1.16
27.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77$2.77
$2.68€2.30
3.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.98$1.98
$1.94€1.67
2.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$48.89€42.06
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40$3.40
$5.46€4.70
-37.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$0.91€0.79
74.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.70$28.70
$33.74€29.03
-14.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87$0.87
$1.82€1.56
-52.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K$27.3K
$39.0K€33.6K
-29.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K$25.3K
$32.4K€27.9K
-21.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107$107
$155€133
-30.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.82$44.82
$21.95€18.88
104.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7$64.7
$34.79€29.93
85.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.92$42.92
$56.3€48.43
-23.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.19€8.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.89$15.89
$10.19€8.76
55.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$937$937
$542€466
73.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$9,116€7,842
156.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3$58.3
$85.5€73.5
-31.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.08$35.08
$34.97€30.08
0.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.29$49.29
$82.7€71.2
-40.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.0$93.0
$112€96.7
-17.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$912$912
$1,107€952
-17.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$988$988
$944€812
4.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,462$1,462
$1,795€1,544
-18.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,818$1,818
$1,353€1,164
34.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,310$1,310
$5,928€5,100
-77.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,324$1,324
$3,727€3,206
-64.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Macon, GA
Bilbao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,360$3,360
$2,453€2,110
36.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.57
3.38
94.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Macon, GA: June 2, 2026
Last update for Bilbao: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $912 in Macon, GA and $1,107 in Bilbao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Macon, GA pays 37% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Macon, GA vs $71.0 in Bilbao. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $285, 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
Macon, GA vs Bilbao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Macon, GA or Bilbao?
Macon, GA pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Macon, GA and Bilbao?
Rent for a central apartment: $912 in Macon, GA versus $1,107 in Bilbao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Macon, GA and Bilbao?
Childcare runs $937 in Macon, GA versus $542 in Bilbao. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Bilbao pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,999 in Macon, GA versus $2,008 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 Macon, GA and Bilbao?
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 Macon, GA or Bilbao safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Macon, GA and Bilbao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Macon, GA and Bilbao?
It comes down to priorities – Macon, GA wins on affordability, Bilbao on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.