The cost of living in Ibiza and Formentera places the Pitiusas well above what most workers in the Balearic Islands earn in terms of income needed to maintain decent living conditions. According to a recent study by Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), a working person needs around 42,000 euros per year in these islands to cover usual expenses, a figure far removed from the salaries received by the majority of the population.
The report, which updates the so-called reference salary, shows a clear territorial difference within the archipelago. While in Ibiza and Formentera the threshold exceeds 41,000 euros per year, the average Balearic salary is 27,046 euros gross per month, according to the INE.
Housing, in the spotlight
The main reason for this gap is the rising cost of housing. In just one year, annual spending on housing has increased by more than 7,000 euros in Ibiza, to more than 27,000 euros, an evolution that conditions the rest of the family budget and reduces the ability to save or consume in other areas.
In statements made on Radio Ibiza, the head of Economic Model and Occupation of CCOO in the Balearic Islands, Maria Àngels Aguiló, explained that this scenario causes that many workers, even with stable employment, do not reach sufficient income levels to support themselves autonomously. According to the union, only a minority with salaries located in the upper part of the wage distribution manages to approach these figures.
The analysis includes other expenditure items such as transport, food or basic services, although it stresses that the weight of housing is decisive. In the Balearic Islands, workers spend on average more than 60% of their gross salary on housing, a proportion that increases even more in Ibiza and Formentera.
CCOO warns that this mismatch between wages and prices consolidates precarious situations and makes it difficult for workers to stay on the islands. Therefore, the union raises the need to combine wage improvements with public policies that act on the real estate market, especially in areas with greater residential pressure.
