Where to live in Palma and the Balearic Islands

Key rules

• Cost: Palma, Ibiza and Formentera are typically the most expensive, and inland Mallorca towns are cheaper than prime coastal ones.
• Winter lets: Many rentals only run from about September or October to May or June, so expect to move out before summer.
• Car: Outside Palma and the main towns, plan on a car, or a scooter on Ibiza.
• Families: Bonanova, Son Armadams and Génova are the usual family choices in Palma.

The short answer

Housing in the Balearics is among the most expensive in Spain, and long-term rentals are scarce. Pick your area by budget, by whether you need a car, and by whether you can find a year-round contract.

Palma districts

Santa Catalina is trendy, with cafes, markets and many remote workers and expats. It is pricey.

Casco Antiguo (old town) is historic and central. Prices are high and there is tourist pressure.

Portixol and Es Molinar are by the sea, with a laid-back feel and high prices.

El Terreno and Cala Major are residential and international. Parts have a nightlife edge.

Son Armadams and Bonanova are upscale and quiet, with international schools nearby. Génova is close by and also suits families.

La Lonja and Paseo Marítimo have a harbour feel.

Pere Garau, Son Gotleu and Nou Llevant are cheaper, working-class and multicultural. They have fewer amenities if you want quiet.

Who goes where:

• Families usually choose Bonanova, Son Armadams or Génova.
• Singles and remote workers usually choose Santa Catalina, the old town or Portixol.

Prices and availability change each year, so look at current listings before you decide.

Island towns and cost

Palma, Ibiza and Formentera are typically the most expensive. Menorca is somewhat lower.

• Mallorca: inland towns such as Inca, Manacor or Llucmajor are cheaper than prime coastal places like Andratx, Port d'Andratx, Pollença or Deià.
• Ibiza: Ibiza town and Santa Eulària are among the most expensive.
• Menorca: Maó and Ciutadella are cheaper than Mallorca's prime areas.

Rents have risen faster than many local wages. Many workers live far from their jobs or in shared housing. Check current figures in listings and in the official rent index of the Ministry of Housing.

Winter lets

Many owners prefer tourist lets in summer because they earn far more. So you will often be offered an alquiler de temporada, a winter let that runs from about September or October to May or June. You must leave before high season.

Expect a short horizon, higher monthly rent and a move every year. These contracts do not give the protection of a normal main-home lease, including the five-year minimum term. Annual contracts exist but are rare and in demand, so start early.

Mallorca and Ibiza have restricted new tourist-let licences and cracked down on illegal lets. The rules on seasonal and tourist lets changed recently, so ask the Govern balear or the consell insular what applies now.

Getting around

• Mallorca: buses (TIB) cover most towns. Palma has a metro with two lines, to the university and the Parc Bit. Trains (SFM) run to Inca, Sa Pobla and Manacor. Outside Palma and the main towns, buses are infrequent. In rural areas and the north or west, you will usually need a car.
• Ibiza: buses link Ibiza town, Sant Antoni, Santa Eulària and the airport. Service is limited at night and in winter. In most areas you practically need a car or scooter. Summer traffic is heavy.
• Menorca: one bus line links Maó and Ciutadella. Elsewhere a car is useful.
• Formentera: reached by ferry from Ibiza. Bike or scooter works best.

Ferries and flights link the islands. Ferries to the mainland run from Palma, Alcúdia and Ibiza to Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia. Residents get a subsidised discount on flights and ferries to the mainland.

The questions below cover cars, winter lets, inland prices and travel discounts.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a car if I live outside Palma in Mallorca?

Yes, outside Palma and the main towns you usually need a car, because bus frequencies are low. This is most true in rural areas and in the north or west. Towns on the train line to Inca, Sa Pobla or Manacor are easier without one.

What is a winter let and why is it common in the Balearics?

A winter let (alquiler de temporada) is a let that usually runs from about September or October to May or June, and you must leave before high season. Many owners prefer summer tourist lets because they earn far more, so year-round contracts are scarce.

Are inland towns cheaper than coastal ones in Mallorca?

Yes, inland towns such as Inca, Manacor or Llucmajor are cheaper than coastal prime areas like Andratx, Port d'Andratx, Pollença or Deià. In Menorca, Maó and Ciutadella cost less than Mallorca's prime areas.