San Sebastián vs Bilbao — Digital Nomad Comparison 2026
⚖️ San Sebastián vs Bilbao
📊 AT A GLANCE
| Metric |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| Nomad Score |
6.7 /10 |
7.1 /10 |
| Cost of Living |
$4,558/mo |
$3,917/mo |
| Internet Speed |
Data unavailable |
Data unavailable |
| Weather Now |
🌧️ 22°/ 20°C |
🌧️ 22°/ 19°C |
| Air Quality (AQI) |
43 Good
|
35 Good
|
| Community |
👍 0 👎 0 |
👍 0 👎 0 |
🌡️ CLIMATE AVERAGES
| Metric |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| Avg High |
19°C |
19.8°C |
| Avg Low |
11.9°C |
11.1°C |
| Precipitation |
133 mm/mo |
97 mm/mo |
| Sunshine |
251 h/mo |
243 h/mo |
| Humidity |
79% |
79% |
| Rain Days |
14.2 /mo |
12.7 /mo |
| Wind Speed |
17.3 km/h |
15.9 km/h |
💨 AIR QUALITY
| Pollutant |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| US AQI |
43 |
35 |
| PM2.5 |
4.3 µg/m³ |
5.1 µg/m³ |
| PM10 |
10.6 µg/m³ |
12.5 µg/m³ |
| Ozone |
82.0 µg/m³ |
64.0 µg/m³ |
| UV Index |
0.0 |
0.0 |
📋 BUSINESS & ECONOMY
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption |
4.8
|
5.1
|
| 💳 Local Payment Services |
8.4
|
8.1
|
| 🚀 Startup Scene |
6.1
|
6.6
|
📋 CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENT
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| ❄️ Air Conditioning |
5.4
|
5.5
|
| 🏞️ Green Spaces |
8.0
|
7.7
|
| 🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk |
8.5
|
7.7
|
| 🔊 Noise Pollution |
5.8
|
5.9
|
| 🍂 Seasonal Variety |
7.3
|
6.5
|
| ☀️ Weather |
7.3
|
6.3
|
📋 CONNECTIVITY
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 📱 Mobile Network Coverage |
8.8
|
8.8
|
| ⚡ Power Grid Reliability |
9.1
|
9.1
|
| 📶 Public WiFi Availability |
6.9
|
7.3
|
| 🔒 VPN Reliability |
8.5
|
8.9
|
📋 COST & AFFORDABILITY
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🏠 Accommodation Cost |
2.2
|
4.9
|
| 💸 Cost of Living |
3.0
|
5.9
|
| 💱 Currency Stability |
9.3
|
9.2
|
| 🎟️ Entertainment Cost |
3.9
|
6.4
|
| 🍎 Food & Groceries |
3.7
|
6.6
|
| 🏋️ Gym Membership Cost |
4.7
|
6.0
|
| 🚌 Transportation Cost |
5.8
|
7.3
|
📋 CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🎭 Culture |
8.7
|
8.7
|
| 🎳 Indoors Fun |
7.0
|
7.3
|
| 🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities |
6.2
|
7.0
|
| 🧭 Local Experiences & Tours |
8.4
|
8.2
|
| 🌃 Nightlife |
7.5
|
7.5
|
| 🏞️ Outdoors & Nature |
9.1
|
8.5
|
📋 DIGITAL NOMAD COMMUNITY
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups |
6.2
|
5.6
|
| 🌍 Nomad Friendly |
7.6
|
7.0
|
| 🌐👥 Online Community Presence |
5.8
|
5.1
|
📋 DIGITAL NOMAD ESSENTIALS
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| ☕ Cafes with WiFi |
7.1
|
7.5
|
| 👥 Coworking Spaces Availability |
6.0
|
7.3
|
| 💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes |
6.2
|
6.6
|
| 🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity |
5.2
|
5.6
|
| 🚀 Internet Speed |
8.6
|
8.6
|
| 📱 Local SIM Card Availability |
8.8
|
8.4
|
📋 FOOD & FITNESS
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🏋️ Fitness Facilities |
7.7
|
7.4
|
| 🍽️ Food Scene |
9.2
|
8.5
|
| 🥗 Healthy Food Options |
8.3
|
7.4
|
| 🧠 Yoga Studios |
6.9
|
6.6
|
📋 HEALTHCARE
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🏥 Healthcare |
8.1
|
8.1
|
| 💉 Healthcare Affordability |
6.8
|
7.5
|
| 🏥 Healthcare Quality |
8.6
|
8.5
|
📋 LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability |
7.8
|
8.0
|
| 📄 Ease of Business Registration |
4.4
|
5.1
|
| 🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account |
4.3
|
5.4
|
| 🗣️ Freedom of Speech |
8.8
|
8.7
|
| 🏛️ Political Stability |
7.9
|
8.0
|
| 📊 Tax Friendliness |
4.3
|
5.6
|
| 🛂 Visa Ease |
7.0
|
7.0
|
📋 QUALITY OF LIFE
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 💨 Air Quality |
8.2
|
7.2
|
| 🧼 Cleanliness |
8.2
|
8.1
|
| 🌳 Environmental Quality |
8.4
|
7.8
|
| 👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly |
8.2
|
8.1
|
| 🗨️ Language Barrier |
5.4
|
5.0
|
| ⚖️ Work-Life Balance |
8.2
|
8.3
|
📋 SAFETY & TOLERANCE
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| ♀️ Female Friendly |
8.7
|
8.5
|
| ✊ Racial Tolerance |
7.8
|
7.7
|
| 🛡️ Safety |
9.0
|
8.6
|
📋 TRANSPORTATION
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| ✈️ Airport Connectivity |
6.2
|
7.5
|
| 🚲 Cycling |
6.2
|
6.1
|
| 🚄 Intercity Travel Options |
7.3
|
7.8
|
| 🚇 Public Transit |
7.5
|
8.5
|
| 🚗 Ride-sharing Services |
5.6
|
6.8
|
| 🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability |
6.1
|
5.9
|
| 🚶 Walkability |
8.8
|
8.4
|
📋 WORK ENVIRONMENT
| Factor |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🏢 Coworking Quality |
7.0
|
7.1
|
| 🆓 Freelance Ecosystem |
5.5
|
5.4
|
| 🤝 Networking Opportunities |
5.8
|
5.4
|
| 💻 Remote Job Opportunities |
5.6
|
4.9
|
| 🕰️ Time Zone Favorability |
8.3
|
8.2
|
💰 CLOTHING
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 👖 Jeans |
$98
per pair
|
$92
per pair
|
| 👗 Summer Dress |
$40
per dress
|
$40
per dress
|
| 👟 Running Shoes |
$110
per pair
|
$104
per pair
|
💰 DINING OUT
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🍽️ Dining Out |
$139
per month
|
$162
per month
|
💰 ENTERTAINMENT
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🎟️ Cinema Ticket |
$11
per ticket
|
$10
per ticket
|
💰 FOOD & DINING
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| ☕ Coffee |
$2.20
per cup
|
$2.20
per cup
|
| 🍺 Beer |
$4.04
per pint
|
$4.04
per pint
|
| 🍽️ Meal (Inexpensive) |
$17
per meal
|
$16
per meal
|
| 🍷 Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) |
$87
per meal
|
$69
per meal
|
| 🍔 Fast Food Combo |
$12
per meal
|
$11
per meal
|
| 🍎 Apples |
$2.43
per kg
|
$2.48
per kg
|
| 🍞 Bread |
$1.56
per loaf
|
$1.44
per loaf
|
| 💧 Water (1.5L bottle) |
$0.98
per bottle
|
$0.87
per bottle
|
| 🥛 Milk |
$1.33
per liter
|
$1.27
per liter
|
| 🍚 Rice |
$1.68
per kg
|
$1.68
per kg
|
| 🥩 Chicken Fillets |
$9.47
per kg
|
$9.01
per kg
|
| 🍖 Beef |
$19
per kg
|
$16
per kg
|
| 🥂 Wine (Mid-range) |
$10
per bottle
|
$9.24
per bottle
|
💰 GROCERIES
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🛒 Groceries |
$324
per month
|
$370
per month
|
💰 HEALTHCARE
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🩺 Doctor Visit (GP) |
$81
per visit
|
$75
per visit
|
| 💊 Pharmacy (basic meds) |
$8.67
per purchase
|
$8.67
per purchase
|
💰 HOUSING
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🏠 Housing |
$867
per month
|
$867
per month
|
| 🏢 Apartment (1 bedroom) |
$1,444
per month
|
$1,011
per month
|
| 🏠 Airbnb (1 month) |
$3,697
per month
|
$2,253
per month
|
| 💻 Coworking Space |
$266
per month
|
$243
per month
|
| 🏘️ Coliving Space |
$1,098
per month
|
$867
per month
|
💰 INTERNET & MOBILE
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 📶 Internet & Mobile |
$40
per month
|
$52
per month
|
💰 LEISURE ACTIVITIES
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🎟️ Leisure Activities |
$69
per month
|
$92
per month
|
💰 PERSONAL CARE
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 💈 Haircut |
$25
per visit
|
$25
per visit
|
| 👕 Laundry |
$10
per kg
|
$7.51
per kg
|
💰 SERVICES
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🧴 Mobile Plan |
$23
per month
|
$23
per month
|
| 💻 Internet (60 Mbps+) |
$44
per month
|
$44
per month
|
| 📶 SIM Card (Tourist, prepaid) |
$17
one-time
|
$17
one-time
|
| 🏋️ Gym Membership |
$52
per month
|
$52
per month
|
| 🎾 Tennis Court (Weekend) |
$21
per hour
|
$14
per hour
|
💰 TRANSPORTATION
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🚗 Transportation |
$37
per month
|
$49
per month
|
| 🚕 Taxi Start |
$5.95
per trip
|
$6.01
per trip
|
| 🚕 Taxi per km |
$1.21
per km
|
$1.10
per km
|
| 🚌 Monthly Transport Pass |
$37
per month
|
$37
per month
|
| 📱 Ride-hailing (5km) |
$14
per trip
|
$13
per trip
|
| 🚘 Gasoline |
$2.06
per liter
|
$1.99
per liter
|
| 🛵 Scooter Rental |
$17
per month
|
$0.32
per month
|
💰 UTILITIES
| Item |
San Sebastián |
Bilbao |
| 🔌 Utilities |
$127
per month
|
$150
per month
|