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Side by side

Bilbao or Córdoba?

Each place uses its own local data. National rules (economy, geopolitical stability, governance, tax & finance) are the same for both, so they cannot separate them. Neither wins everywhere; the tradeoffs below are what matter.

All about BilbaoAll about CórdobaChange a place

Data as of

City · País Vasco

Bilbao

A food city that reinvented itself around the Guggenheim, with green hills, cool summers and serious pintxos.

Quality of life66above average
Momentum68above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Regional capitalFormer industrial portGreen and rainyFood cityCo-official BasqueFast internetPricey rentLive without a car

5th of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

City · Andalucía

Córdoba

A compact, hot, deeply historic city of patios and a mosque-cathedral, with low prices and a thin job market.

Quality of life46average
Momentum33below average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Historic cityProvincial capitalUniversity townVery hot summersMild wintersScorching summers

142nd of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Bilbao

  • Stronger on prosperity (93 vs 39)
  • Stronger on transport (76 vs 46)
  • Stronger on healthcare (74 vs 27)
  • Stronger on jobs (70 vs 4)
  • Stronger on climate (67 vs 43)
  • Stronger on digital (58 vs 30)
  • Stronger on connectivity (56 vs 0)
  • Commute by public transport: 37% of commuters vs 13% of commuters

Watch out: Rain on many days of the year; Hills that shape where and how the city can grow.

Why Córdoba

  • Stronger on safety (45 vs 27)
  • Robberies with violence: 84 per 100k people vs 217 per 100k people
  • Rainy days (≥1 mm): 62 a year vs 153 a year
  • Thefts without violence: 1,362 per 100k people vs 2,993 per 100k people
  • Buying price per m²: €1,784 vs €3,529
  • A very low cost of living in a World Heritage old town
  • Small enough to cross on foot with a slow family rhythm

Watch out: Extreme summer heat among the worst in Spain; Unemployment among the highest in the country and a very thin job market.

Of 38 figures both publish in the same unit, Bilbao is better on 15 and Córdoba on 13; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

93 · strongProsperity39 · below average
76 · strongTransport46 · average
74 · above averageHealthcare27 · below average
70 · above averageJobs4 · weak
67 · above averageClimate43 · average
58 · averageDigital30 · below average
56 · averageConnectivity0 · weak
27 · below averageSafety45 · average
–Housing76 · strong

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureBilbaoCórdobaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€11.5 a month2024€7.1 a month2024Bilbao 61% higher
Rent for a 70 m² flat€806 a month2024€500 a month2024Bilbao 61% higher
Typical rent, existing lease€800 a month2024€540 a month2024Bilbao 48% higher
Buying price per m²€3,529Q2 2026€1,784Q2 2026Bilbao 2.0×
Price of an 80 m² flat€282,344Q2 2026€142,704Q2 2026Bilbao 2.0×
House prices, change in a year8.0%Q2 202613.0%Q2 2026Bilbao 5.0 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€20,598 a year2024€14,947 a year2024Bilbao 38% higher
Net income per household€47,550 a year2024€37,825 a year2024Bilbao 26% higher
Unemployment9.0%202520.9%2025Bilbao 11.8 pts lower
Safety
Recorded crime68.1 per 1,000 people202450.8 per 1,000 people2024Bilbao 34% higher
Sexual offences0.57 per 1,000 people20240.42 per 1,000 people2024Bilbao 36% higher
Homicides0.85 per 100k people20250.62 per 100k people2025Bilbao 38% higher
Robberies with violence217 per 100k people202584 per 100k people2025Bilbao 2.6×
Home burglaries122 per 100k people2025108 per 100k people2025Bilbao 13% higher
Thefts without violence2,993 per 100k people20251,362 per 100k people2025Bilbao 2.2×
Vehicle thefts24 per 100k people202550 per 100k people2025Córdoba 2.1×
Health
Life expectancy83.9 years202382.7 years2023about the same
Hospital beds4.0 per 1,000 people20255.2 per 1,000 people2025Bilbao 24% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C0 a year2015–202465 a year2015–2024Córdoba 649.0×
Days above 30 °C4 a year2015–2024119 a year2015–2024Córdoba 33.9×
Nights above 20 °C23 a year2015–202447 a year2015–2024Córdoba 2.0×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)107 a year2015–2024100 a year2015–2024Bilbao 7% higher
Rainfall1,146 mm a year2015–2024412 mm a year2015–2024Bilbao 2.8×
Rainy days (≥1 mm)153 a year2015–202462 a year2015–2024Bilbao 2.5×
Frost days0 a year2015–202411 a year2015–2024Córdoba Infinity×
Getting around
Average commute (one way)40 min202140 min2021about the same
Commute by public transport37% of commuters202113% of commuters2021Bilbao 24.3 pts higher
Commute by car30% of commuters202159% of commuters2021Bilbao 29.3 pts lower
Distance to the main airport5 km2026111 km2026Córdoba 23.6×
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet99%202598%2025Bilbao 1.4 pts higher
Homes with fibre to the door99%202598%2025Bilbao 1.4 pts higher
Education
Adults with a university degree58%202448%2024Bilbao 9.8 pts higher
People
Population351,1242025323,2622025Bilbao 9% higher
Median age50.5 years202547.9 years2025Bilbao 5% higher
Residents aged 65+25.3%202521.3%2025Bilbao 4.0 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad17.6%20256.2%2025Bilbao 11.4 pts higher
Residents with a foreign nationality11.7%20243.8%2024Bilbao 7.9 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years2.0 points20240.9 points2024Bilbao 1.1 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

69Beach, mountains and the outdoors37
66Retirees41
63Founders and self-employed40
63High earners and investors48
60Remote workers38
56Young professionals37
54Culture, food and nightlife52
51Students60
48Families with children43
33Budget-conscious movers45

Weather through the year

0°20°40°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Bilbao

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Basque is co-official here
  • You can live without a car
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • An older, quieter population

Córdoba

  • Plan on Spanish from day one
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Ready for remote work
  • Public waiting lists are long

Data through Dec 2025 (Bilbao) and Jun 2026 (Córdoba). Figures are compared only when both places publish them in the same unit; a dot marks the better value where better is clear.

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