Moving to Minorca? 2025 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Minorca is the second-largest of the four Balearic Islands of Spain, and is thought to be quieter than the area of Mallorca. If you are considering moving to Minorca, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved when moving and living in this jewel in the Mediterranean.

Quick Minorca Facts:

Population: 96,620 (2019)
Official Language: Spanish and Catàlan, with many other languages being spoken by expat residents, including English, French, German and Portuguese.
GDP Per Capita: $25,730 USD (2020)
Mahón: Minorca’s capital city is home to the largest natural harbour in the Mediterranean, and the second-largest in the world.
Currency: Euro (EUR). As of 2024, £1 = €1.20, $1 USD = €0.89, $1 CAD = €0.66, $1 AUD = €0.61

Sections

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Minorca

The table below shows the estimated cost of hiring a 20- or 40-foot container from a few of the largest metropolises in the world, and shipping it to Minorca:

Origin City	20FT	40FT
Beijing	$2,450 - $2,550	$4,400 - $4,600
Berlin	$1,950 - $2,050	$3,600 - $3,800
Chicago	$2,250 - $2,350	$4,100 - $4,300
Chongqing	$2,650 - $2,750	$4,800 - $5,000
Delhi	$2,600 - $2,700	$4,700 - $4,900
Dubai	$2,750 - $2,850	$5,000 - $5,200
Houston	$2,350 - $2,450	$4,200 - $4,400
Los Angeles	$2,250 - $2,350	$4,100 - $4,300
Madrid	$1,800 - $1,900	$3,300 - $3,500
New York City	$2,150 - $2,250	$4,000 - $4,200
Paris	$1,900 - $2,000	$3,500 - $3,700
Phoenix	$2,300 - $2,400	$4,200 - $4,400
Rome	$1,900 - $2,000	$3,500 - $3,700
Shanghai	$2,550 - $2,650	$4,600 - $4,800
Sydney	$2,950 - $3,050	$5,200 - $5,400
Toronto	$2,300 - $2,400	$4,200 - $4,400
Vancouver	$2,350 - $2,450	$4,300 - $4,500
Vienna	$2,000 - $2,100	$3,600 - $3,800

All figures are in USD;
The rates above are estimates only and may have changed since the time this article was updated (September 2024). They are based on the lowest estimated rate from either Freightos, Flexport, or Maersk;
To get a more accurate idea of the cost for you, please use the quote form at the top of this page;
Please also see our guide to international container shipping.

2. Minorca Housing Costs

Housing prices are very affordable compared with major cities around the world and there’s a large selection of different housing types, from small studios to comfortable villas. Prices obviously vary from area to area but the figures below will indicate what’s available at what price.

Monthly Rental Prices in Minorca:

1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: €400+
1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: €300+
3 bedroomed flat in City Centre: €700+
3 bedroomed flat outside the City Centre: €600+

Minorca Home Purchase Prices:

Average price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy on Minorca: €1,857+

Minorca Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Minorca compare with other cities around the globe, given the fact that rents are generally 10% cheaper than Mallorca.

London is 265.69% more expensive
New York is 399.02% more expensive
Los Angeles is 232.78% more expensive
Toronto is 106.02% more expensive
Vancouver is 138.05% more expensive
Sydney is 228.68% more expensive
Melbourne is 114.85% more expensive
Dubai is 253.03% more expensive
Paris is 124.51% more expensive

Source: House price, Numbeo, Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

Share a Flat or House: House and flat shares are a possibility for those who don’t need their own space. With a house/apartment share you will have your own room, or, for a cheaper option, you can share a room. The bathroom/s will be shared with other people in the house. There are many flats available for shared rental as well. Have a look at Gabino and Room LaLa to find someone you can get on with to share the costs with you.
Different Areas – Different Prices: Minorca is a small island and the price of buying and renting doesn’t vary very much from town to town. The two largest towns on the island are Mahón, today’s capital, and Ciutadella, the island’s old capital. Ciutadella is a magnificent old town with Spanish palaces and a Moorish influence. It has a range of apartments in the centre and more spacious houses on the outskirts. Mahón echoes its Georgian past, with a contrast of Georgian and modern buildings. It has a good selection of apartments and houses. All the smaller towns on the island have their own character and have apartments, houses and villas to suit most tastes.

3. Minorca Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

Minorca’s selection of restaurants is nowhere near as large as Mallorca’s, but it does have some first-class fine-dining restaurants. The only drawback is that most good restaurants are expensive and aimed at the tourists’ wallets. The other point to remember is that many restaurants and food stores close their doors over the winter months.

Inexpensive Restaurant: €10.00 – €12.00
Takeout Coffee: €1.30 – €1.50
Bottle of Coke: €1.25 – €1.75
1L of Milk: €0.60 – €1.00
Loaf of Bread: €0.94 – €1.50
12 Eggs: €1.35 – €1.80
1kg Chicken: €5.00 – €6.00
1kg Beef: €12.00 – €16.00
1kg Apples: €1.50 – €2.00
1kg White Rice: €0.50 – €1.35

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world. Restaurant and food prices in Minorca are on par with those of Mallorca.

New York restaurants are 49.08% more expensive and groceries are 59.29% more expensive than Minorca.
Los Angeles restaurants are 25.41% more expensive and groceries are 30.76% more expensive than Minorca.
London restaurants are 44.49% more expensive and groceries are 8.44% more expensive than Minorca.
Paris restaurants are 32.33% more expensive and groceries are 39.83% more expensive than Minorca.
Toronto restaurants are 3.68% more expensive and groceries are 10.38% more expensive than Minorca.
Vancouver restaurants are 2.45% more expensive and groceries are 28.54% more expensive than Minorca.
Sydney restaurants are 13.79% more expensive and groceries are 42.32% more expensive than Minorca.
Melbourne restaurants are 14.89% more expensive and groceries are 39.79% more expensive than Minorca.
Dubai restaurants are 1.69% cheaper and groceries are 3.78% more expensive than Minorca.

Source: Cost of Travel, Numbeo and Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

Know Your Supermarkets: Eroski is a well-stocked supermarket chain which has a good selection of both British and German imported foods. For a cheap supermarket option, go to Lidl’s. Top Markets is another good food store on the island. There are some excellent farmer’s markets on Minorca which usually operate between April and November. All the major towns have regular markets where you can buy freshly caught fish and good quality fruit and veg and excellent locally produced cheese and sausages.
Find Cheap Eats: It’s not easy to find good, cheap places to eat in Minorca, especially during the peak holiday season. That said, have a look at the following sites to see which restaurants tantalise your taste buds – Trip Advisor and Culture Trip.

4. Minorca Alcohol Costs

Minorca has a good selection of bars, clubs and nightclubs which open during the spring, summer and autumn. Most close during the winter. The following is a list of basic prices of beer and wine from the supermarket and restaurants.

Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: €2.00 – €3.00
Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: €2.00 – €3.00
Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: €0.50 – €0.90
Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: €0.80 – €1.10
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: €4.00 – €6.00

How To Drink For Less in Minorca:

Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
Minorca does have bars and clubs which offer Happy Hour. Have a look at the following sites to find where your favourite tipple is on special – My Menorca and Trip Advisor.

5. Minorca Transportation Fares

Minorca public transport system consists of a bus service run by three different bus companies – Torres, TMSA and Autos Fornells. The services provided by these companies is adequate in the summer, although long waits are usual. During winter, many of the routes don’t run. Most people use their own car.

Here are some example ticket costs.

Adult single – €1.60
One day ticket for the bus – €5.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

Buy a bike. Cycling is definitely an option in Minorca
Walk. Depending on where you live and work, walking can be an absolute pleasure.

6. Cost of Internet in Minorca

Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

Ono: €33.40 a month (fiber broadband up to 600mb)
Orange: €30.95 a month (fiber broadband up to 500mb)

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

Minorca enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The hottest month is August with an average high of 29.2°C. February is the coldest month with an average low of 7.4°C. Minorca’s wettest month is November where an average of 88mm of rain falls.

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices. Prices in Minorca are similar to those in Mallorca.

Pair of Jeans: €30 – €94
Summer Dress: €20 – €30
Running Shoes (Trainers): €50 – €90
Business Shoes: €65 – €100
Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): €80
Deodorant: €4
Shampoo: €3
Toilet Paper (4 rolls): €2
Gym Membership: €40 – €50 per month
Movie (cinema) Ticket: €9

Source: Numbeo and Expatistan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Minorca

Everyone in Minorca drives on the right. Driving in Minorca isn’t a problem, although there can be some congestion in the major towns during peak season.

If you’re moving to Minorca from within Spain, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address with your new Minorcan one at your nearest traffic office.

If you live outside the EU, then you can drive on that licence for six months. If your foreign licence is not in Spanish, then you must obtain a Spanish translation or get an International Driving Licence. After this six-month period, you must obtain a Spanish driving licence.

If you are from an EU country then you will need to get a Spanish licence after being in the country for two years. However, you must register your details with the Central Register of Drivers and Minor Offenders after six months. Note that persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to drive in Minorca.

Residents of certain countries can exchange their licence, other people will need to take a Spanish driving test – both written and practical. This is done in Minorca. Expatica.com has useful information in English for expats wanting to drive in Spain.

If you are taking a car with you to Minorca, you can drive it for 6 months without registering it. After the 6 months period, you have 30 days to register it.

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Minorca, based on the costs in Mallorca:

Volkswagen Golf: €24,000+
1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): €1.50
Registration Fee (if any): the cost depends on the size of the vehicle and its CO2 emissions.

Source: Expatistan

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Minorca:

Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. There are no official carpooling sites for Minorca but word of mouth would surely produce some results.
Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. At present, there is no Uber in Minorca.

9. Taxes in Minorca

No matter where you live in Spain or Minorca, you will pay the same rate of tax. Sales Tax, or VAT (Value Added Tax) is 21% in Spain and is included in the price that is advertised.

If you own a property in Minorca you will need to pay IBI tax. The amount varies depending on the size of the property, the services you receive and the area it’s in. Note if you rent a property, it is the owner who pays IBI, not the tenant.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in Minorca, you must pay various taxes and fees. There is a property transfer tax of between 5% and 10%, VAT is payable at 10% on new properties, notary costs, title deed tax and land registration fees are between 1% and 2.5% of the purchase price and legal fees will cost between 1% and 2%.

10. Flight Costs from Minorca

If you do make the move to Minorca, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023.

New York: €320
Los Angeles: €667
London: €20
Paris: €20
Toronto: €380
Vancouver: €1,590
Dubai: €306
Sydney: €1,144
Melbourne: €1,472
Cape Town: €660
Hong Kong: €624

Other Tips on Moving to Minorca:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Minorca but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Minorca Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be rather daunting. Here are a few tips about settling into Minorca.

Meetups: Minorca has free meetup groups you can find on Meetup.com. Join the Cycling Meetup, Weekend Adventures Meetup, the Google Developers Group and many more.
Attend Local Events: Minorca has a lot to offer residents and tourists alike. Find out what’s going on from Trip Advisor and Menorca Live.

12. Moving to Minorca with a Family

Minorca is a lovely place for a young family, however, there are no international schools on the island so children will be taught in Spanish and Catalan. There are very few expat families on the island with teenage children, in fact, the island tends to attract people whose kids have flown the nest. Here’s some extra food for thought:

New Parents (or parents to be): Mum Abroad is an excellent site which will give you information on antenatal classes, postnatal classes and general parenting. It’s an interactive site so you can ask for information directly.
Live in a Family-friendly Area: Minorca is a family-friendly island. Every town or village welcomes families with open arms. The main centres of Mahón and Ciutadella have a range of housing options and also have a number of schools. The smaller towns, such as Alaior, with its children’s playground in the pretty town square; traditional Es Castell, the fishing village of Es Grau, the inland town of Es Mercadal, the hillside village of Ferreries, all offer families a good quality of life.
Find Things To Do With The Kids: The Telegraph and Trip Advisor have great ideas for activities and events your kids will love.

13. Moving to Minorca for Work

Most people move to Minorca to semi-retire or retire. However, if you are thinking of moving to Minorca to work and want to guarantee getting a job, you really need to speak Spanish as there are very few permanent jobs available for those who don’t speak the language. Most jobs are in the tourism and hospitality industry, but of course, those are seasonal. While it is possible to move without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

Salary: The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make the move worthwhile. Contact employment agencies or companies directly to find out what sort of salary you can expect.
How to Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Minorca, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Think Spain, Indeed and Just Landed. As there appear to be very few jobs advertised on the internet, you may actually have to pay a visit to the island, armed with your CV and knock on a few doors. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Minorca from Australia

You’ll find a handful of Australians living in Minorca. If you’d like to join them, here’s more food for thought:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Minorca with the population of a town in Australia, you’d be looking at Bendigo.
Join Expat Groups: Both Expats Blog and InterNations offer ways of meeting up with other Australians in Minorca.

15. Moving to Minorca from Canada

There are a couple of Canadians living in Minorca. Here are a few extra points to consider:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Minorca with the population of a town in Canada, you’d be looking at Red Deer, Alberta.
Join Expat Groups: InterNations offers ways of meeting up with other Canadians in Minorca.

16. Moving to Minorca from the United States

There’s a very small American contingent living and working in Minorca, usually on a seasonal basis. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: Minorca’s population is roughly the same as Santa Barbara, CA.
Expat Groups: Getting together with Americans who are living in Spain and/or the Balearics, is a good way to quickly integrate into your new life. InterNations will enable you to meet other expats from the States and other countries.

17. Moving to Minorca from the United Kingdom

They are a lot of Brits living in Minorca. If you’re considering it, here are a few bonus tips:

Size Comparison: If you compare the population size of Minorca with a city in the UK, you’d be looking at Bath, Somerset.
Expat Groups: Meeting Brits who are already living and working in Minorca is an excellent way to make friends and learn all about living on the island. Have a look at the following site to find people from home and other countries around the globe, who are living in Minorca – InterNations.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Minorca you can start by comparing moving quotes here.