Living in Bilbao, San Sebastián or the Basque Country

Key rules

• Language: Spanish is enough for daily life, and private-sector jobs rarely require Basque.
• Public jobs: Public-sector posts require a Basque language profile, so check the call for each post.
• Tax: Personal tax rules and rates differ from the rest of Spain and change every year.
• Housing: San Sebastián is the most expensive city in the region, so budget carefully before choosing it.

The short version

The Basque Country offers a high quality of life and some of the highest incomes in Spain. It also has its own tax system, expensive housing (especially in San Sebastián), a wet climate, and Basque spoken alongside Spanish. Spanish is enough for daily life.

Jobs and pay

Pay is high and unemployment is low. Average gross earnings are roughly €2,900-€3,000 a month, and unemployment is about 6-8%, against roughly 10-11% nationally. These are approximate 2024-2025 figures.

Industry is a bigger part of the economy here than in most of Spain. Look for work in:

• advanced manufacturing: metal, machinery, steel, automotive, aerospace and energy equipment
• finance, health and bioscience
• logistics and port activity in Bilbao
• tourism and gastronomy, mainly in San Sebastián
• cooperatives, such as Mondragon

Private-sector jobs rarely require Basque. Public-sector jobs often do (see below).

Taxes

You may pay different personal tax than in the rest of Spain. The three provincial councils (Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) collect almost all taxes under their own rules, through a system called the Concierto Económico. Personal tax rules and rates differ from the rest of Spain, and the provincial rates and thresholds change every year. Ask a local tax adviser what applies to your province. Navarre has a similar system, but it is a separate region.

Police, health and schools

The region runs much of its own public services:

• Police: the Ertzaintza, the Basque police, handles most public order, traffic and crime. The National Police and Guardia Civil keep functions such as borders and immigration.
• Health: the regional health service is Osakidetza.
• Education: the region runs its own school system.

Housing

Housing is expensive, and San Sebastián is the most expensive city in the region. Approximate 2025 figures:

The regional average is about €3,300-€3,600 per m² to buy and €14-€16 per m² a month to rent. Rental supply is tight and prices have risen every year. Some municipalities have rent-cap measures (zona tensionada). Prices vary a lot by neighbourhood, so check the current market for the area you want.

Climate

Expect a wet climate, with mild temperatures and frequent rain. Pack waterproofs.

Language

Spanish and Basque (Euskara) are both official, and signs are bilingual. Basque is stronger in Gipuzkoa and rural Bizkaia, and weaker in Bilbao and Vitoria.

• Schools: there are three language models. A teaches in Spanish with Basque as a subject. B is bilingual. D teaches in Basque with Spanish as a subject. D is now the most common choice, with over 60% of pupils. Newcomer children can get Basque support classes, but Basque is a required subject.
• Public-sector jobs: posts in Osakidetza, the Basque government, councils, teaching and the Ertzaintza require a perfil lingüístico, rated PL1 to PL4. Each profile has a fecha de preceptividad, the date from which the level is mandatory. Exams are usually at levels B1 to C1, and many posts ask for EGA/C1. The call for each post sets the exact requirement.

The questions below cover tax, police, health care and school language in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Will I pay different income tax if I live in the Basque Country?

Yes. The three provincial councils (Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa) collect almost all taxes under their own rules, so personal tax rules and rates differ from the rest of Spain. Rates and thresholds change every year, so check the current rules for your province.

Who do I deal with for police and health care?

The Basque government runs its own police, the Ertzaintza, which handles most public order, traffic and crime. Borders and immigration stay with the National Police and Guardia Civil. Health care comes from the regional service, Osakidetza.

Do I need Basque to work there?

Usually not in private-sector jobs. Public-sector posts, such as Osakidetza, councils, teaching and the Ertzaintza, require a language profile (perfil lingüístico), normally shown by an exam at B1 to C1 level. Requirements depend on the specific call, so read it closely.

What school language model should I pick for my child?

There are three models: A (Spanish with Basque as a subject), B (bilingual) and D (Basque with Spanish as a subject). Model D is now the most common choice.