Side by side
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 Illes BalearsAll about PalmaChange a place
Data as of
Region
Four sunlit islands, a tourism economy that runs on summer and a housing market that has outrun local wages.
21st of 35 European metro regions
City · Illes Balears
Island life in a real city: a Gothic cathedral on the sea, a year-round centre and mountains behind.
92nd of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000
Illes Balears is a region and Palma a city. Each figure is that place’s own; scores compare each with its own peers (regions with regions, cities with cities), so read them side by side rather than as a contest.
Watch out: Some of the highest housing costs in Spain against ordinary local wages; A season-driven job market with many places shut from November to March.
Watch out: A housing market shared with visitors and second-home buyers; Quiet winters in the coastal resorts where many places close.
Of 13 figures both publish in the same unit, Illes Balears is better on 4 and Palma on 3; the rest are close or have no better direction.
| Figure | Illes Balears | Palma | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Rent per m² | €9.6 a month2024 | €9.8 a month2024 | about the same |
| Rent for a 70 m² flat | €673 a month2024 | €689 a month2024 | about the same |
| Typical rent, existing lease | €750 a month2024 | €800 a month2024 | Illes Balears 6% lower |
| Rents, change in a year | 4.0%2024 | 4.2%2024 | about the same |
| Buying price per m² | €3,981Q2 2026 | €3,814Q2 2026 | Illes Balears 4% higher |
| Price of an 80 m² flat | €318,464Q2 2026 | €305,160Q2 2026 | Illes Balears 4% higher |
| House prices, change in a year | 13.7%Q2 2026 | 14.3%Q2 2026 | Illes Balears 0.6 pts lower |
| Money & work | |||
| Unemployment | 8.8%2025 | 11.3%2025 | Illes Balears 2.5 pts lower |
| Safety | |||
| Recorded crime | 67.9 per 1,000 people2025 | 80.6 per 1,000 people2024 | Illes Balears 16% lower |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 83.5 years2024 | 83.2 years2023 | about the same |
| Education | |||
| Adults with a university degree | 35%2025 | 38%2024 | Illes Balears 2.9 pts lower |
| People | |||
| Population | 1,249,8442025 | 434,7862025 | Illes Balears 2.9× |
| Who lives here | |||
| Residents born abroad | 28.7%2025 | 30.3%2025 | Illes Balears 1.6 pts lower |
Data through Jun 2026 (Illes Balears) and Jun 2026 (Palma). 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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