Formentera Has the Balearic Islands’ Highest Estimated Food and Transport Costs

October 11, 2026

Formentera has the highest estimated annual budgets for food and transport among the four Balearic Islands, according to the 2025 Reference Salary study prepared by CCOO and included in the Balearic Islands Economic and Social Council’s annual report.

The study estimates that a person living in Formentera would need €3,724.79 per year for food and non-alcoholic drinks, alongside €5,260.64 for transport. However, the figures tell two different stories: food costs have increased, while the estimated transport budget has fallen compared with 2024.

Food Budget Rises by More Than 12%

The estimated annual food budget for Formentera increased from €3,310.72 in 2024 to €3,724.79 in 2025. That represents a rise of €414.07, or 12.51%.

By comparison, the estimated annual food budget for Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca stands at €3,204.73 per island. Formentera’s figure is therefore €520.06 higher, equivalent to approximately 16.23%.

The study estimates food costs by comparing the same basket of products through Eroski’s online shopping service for each island, including home delivery. The price differences are then applied to household expenditure quantities from Spain’s National Statistics Institute.

This means the figures are based on a defined shopping basket and calculation method, rather than a survey of how much every household actually spends.

Transport Costs Remain the Highest, Despite a Fall

Formentera’s estimated annual transport budget reached €5,260.64 in 2025, down from €5,448.14 in 2024. The reduction amounts to €187.50, or 3.44%.

Despite the decrease, Formentera remains the island with the highest estimated transport costs in the study.

The comparison places Ibiza at €4,030.41 per year, Mallorca at €2,820.68 and Menorca at €2,328.59. Formentera’s estimate is €1,230.23 higher than Ibiza’s and approximately 86.5% above Mallorca’s.

The transport calculation uses an index based on the share of motorised travel on each island, drawing on the Balearic Islands’ 2018 Sectoral Mobility Plan. This index is applied to the transport expenditure category in the National Statistics Institute’s Household Budget Survey.

As a result, the transport figures should be understood as estimates produced using the study’s methodology, rather than direct measurements of every resident’s annual travel spending.

Formentera’s Estimated Annual Living Budget Exceeds €41,600

The study estimates that a person living in Formentera would need €41,672.94 per year in 2025 to cover the eight categories included in the Reference Salary calculation. This is an increase of €4,822.15, or 13.09%, compared with 2024.

Housing and running costs account for the largest share, at an estimated €25,370.49 annually. Transport and food are the next major categories.

Formentera’s overall position has also changed. While it had the highest estimated total budget in 2024, Ibiza moved into first place in 2025, with an estimated annual requirement of €41,944.89.

The findings highlight differences in the estimated cost of meeting basic needs across the Balearic Islands. They also underline the importance of looking at individual spending categories and the methodology behind the figures when comparing the cost of living from one island to another.

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