🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,704 in Scunthorpe versus $2,008 in Bilbao.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,672 in Scunthorpe versus $2,876 in Bilbao.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,640 in Scunthorpe versus $3,743 in Bilbao.
🙂Living in Scunthorpe costs roughly 15% less than in Bilbao, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Scunthorpe27% above, Bilbao50% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.28£10.62
$17.06€14.68
-16.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8£60.1
$70.6€60.8
14.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.07£7.49
$11.36€9.77
-11.36%
Cappuccino
$4.02£2.99
$2.30€1.98
74.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91£1.42
$3.01€2.59
-36.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24£0.92
$1.98€1.70
-37.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.66£3.47
$3.67€3.16
26.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.48£4.07
$3.75€3.23
46.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42£1.05
$1.29€1.11
10.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66£1.24
$1.49€1.28
11.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62£1.21
$1.71€1.47
-5.26%
Eggs
$3.94£2.93
$2.92€2.51
34.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.52£4.11
$15.66€13.47
-64.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.32£3.95
$8.66€7.45
-38.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43£5.52
$13.63€11.72
-45.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34£1.74
$2.69€2.32
-13.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93£1.43
$2.33€2.01
-17.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.22£2.39
$2.43€2.09
32.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.69£2.74
$2.45€2.11
50.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78£0.58
$1.69€1.45
-53.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93£0.69
$2.24€1.92
-58.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05£0.78
$1.45€1.25
-27.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94£1.44
$1.14€0.98
70.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.92£13.32
$6.99€6.02
156.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.86£5.84
$8.34€7.17
-5.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81£2.09
$1.35€1.16
108.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95£1.45
$2.68€2.30
-27.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.21£3.87
$1.94€1.67
168.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.2£50.7
$48.89€42.06
39.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.26£4.66
$5.46€4.70
14.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39£1.04
$0.91€0.79
52.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.28£6.15
$33.74€29.03
-75.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90£1.41
$1.82€1.56
4.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K£28.3K
$39.0K€33.6K
-2.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.6K£31.6K
$32.4K€27.9K
31.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$291£216
$155€133
87.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.12£12.73
$21.95€18.88
-22.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.72£32.50
$34.79€29.93
25.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$94.7£70.4
$56.3€48.43
68.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.19€8.76
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.79£6.53
$10.19€8.76
-13.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,562£1,161
$542€466
188.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,679£4,964
$9,116€7,842
-26.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.10£30.55
$85.5€73.5
-51.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.36£15.14
$34.97€30.08
-41.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8£63.0
$82.7€71.2
2.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3£54.5
$112€96.7
-34.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$828£616
$1,107€952
-25.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$559£415
$944€812
-40.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,310£974
$1,795€1,544
-27.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,113£827
$1,353€1,164
-17.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,185£3,854
$5,928€5,100
-12.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$3,727€3,206
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Scunthorpe
Bilbao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,945£1,445
$2,453€2,110
-20.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
3.38
65.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Scunthorpe: June 1, 2026
Last update for Bilbao: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $828 in Scunthorpe and $1,107 in Bilbao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bilbao pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Scunthorpe vs $71.0 in Bilbao. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $285, with Scunthorpe 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
Scunthorpe vs Bilbao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Scunthorpe and Bilbao?
Scunthorpe and Bilbao differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,704 vs $2,008 including rent). Scunthorpe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Bilbao earns 26% less. 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 Scunthorpe and Bilbao?
Rent for a central apartment: $828 in Scunthorpe 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 Scunthorpe and Bilbao?
Childcare runs $1,562 in Scunthorpe 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?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Bilbao. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,704 in Scunthorpe versus $2,008 in Bilbao, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Scunthorpe but tight or insufficient in Bilbao. The gap between the two cities makes Scunthorpe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Scunthorpe 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 Scunthorpe or Bilbao safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Scunthorpe 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.
Where should expats move: Scunthorpe or Bilbao?
Expats usually find Scunthorpe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Bilbao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Scunthorpe vs other spots: cost of living compared