Living in Mallorca: 13 Real Life Pros & Cons for Expats
February 21, 2023
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Living in Mallorca is very different from coming to spend your holidays to disconnect and enjoy.
Mallorca is a popular holiday destination frequented by Spaniards and other tourists from all over the world. Its good weather, fabulous beaches, delicious food, and incredible island atmosphere make it the perfect destination. But does that mean that Mallorca is suitable as a permanent living destination?
In this post, we will share all the crucial facts you should consider before making a decision. To know if Mallorca can become your permanent home or at least for a season, you should know the benefits and disadvantages of living here.
So I won’t keep you any longer; scroll down and discover these 13 pros and cons of living on this spectacular island!
Pros of living in Mallorca 👍🏼
1. Privileged Climate 🌞
Mallorca is a Mediterranean city with a Mediterranean climate with average temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius.
On the island, you can enjoy almost 300 sunny days a year, an absolute madness! So with a panorama like this, you will surely feel like swimming in its crystal clear water beaches at any time of the year.
Many expatriates choose Mallorca for its incredible climate, as it is not too hot and in the winter it is not too cold. However, there is some rain, which is always good for keeping nature beautiful.
2. Calm and healthy environment 🧘🏽
Mallorca is generally a quiet place to live. The island has a different way of life, it has a more relaxed pace, and people are less stressed.
The favorite hobbies of people living in Mallorca are practicing yoga, meditation, photography, sports, or simply enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the Balearic island.
This calm and relaxed atmosphere is generally felt throughout the year except for July and August, which is the high season, coinciding with the European summer. This time of the year, the island becomes very crowded, which is very good for some businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, and businesses offering tourist activities. So the calm atmosphere experienced the rest of the year is lost a little in this specific season.
3. Diverse nature ⛰️🏖️
The nature of Mallorca is incredibly diverse. Beach and mountain scenery alternates throughout the island, so you will find white sandy beaches and coves, cliffs, pine forests typical of Mallorca, and a great diversity of native fauna and flora.
You can go swimming and picnic on the beach today, hike to a spectacular lake tomorrow, and dine in the mountains the next day. And best of all, the distances are short!
In Mallorca, you will find a paradise of indescribable beauty full of parks and natural monuments, crystal clear coasts, and unique biodiversity. So if you love nature and outdoor activities, Mallorca will be your destination!
4. Amazing food 🤤
The food in Mallorca is delicious and varied.
Whether you eat out or cook at home, you can enjoy rich and tasty local produce.
This is, for me, one of the incredible advantages of living in Mallorca, as Spanish cuisine is one of my favorites, and I love the benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
There are 3 typical Mallorcan dishes that you have to try: Coca de Trampó, Tumbet, and Arrós Brut.
You also have to try the “sobrasada,” one of the star products of Mallorcan gastronomy. It is a pork sausage that is normally used to spread on bread. It is delicious! I recommend putting a little bit of brie cheese on top and baking it in the oven for a few minutes. Don’t worry, you can thank me later!
Ohh! And remember to taste some “ensamaidas”! This is another typical Mallorcan product that you will find in every bakery you enter. This delicious product is made with water, sugar, dough, and butter. My favorite is the traditional version (without filling), although you can find them filled with chocolate, cream, etc.
In Mallorca, there are a lot of restaurants to choose from and many markets that offer local products for those who prefer to cook at home. So I leave you two posts that we have created with all the info you need for you to choose:
5. Awesome international community 🫶🏼
Mallorca has an incredible international community! Expats in Mallorca tend to come from North America, South America, and Europe.
People come to Mallorca with open minds with the intention of meeting new people and socializing.
Each section of the island has different expatriate communities that vary in size, age, and country of origin.
Mallorca is tremendously popular with German and British nationals who come to the island to adopt the Spanish lifestyle.
The good thing about having this large expatriate community is that you feel in touch with your roots. You feel connected with other people who have gone through or are going through the same thing as you, and you can help each other in this new stage.
To start your new life in Mallorca and make new contacts, I recommend you join the Facebook group “Mallorca Expats.” If you need practical advice or recommendations, just ask. Everyone in that group has been or is in the same situation, so you will feel very welcome and understood.
People are from all over the world, so speaking several languages is the norm. Being an extremely international community creates tolerance and normalizes multilingual communication and cultural differences.
6. Very well connected ✈️ 🚢
Mallorca is a destination that is very well communicated. The airport of Palma is located only 20 minutes from the city center.
Being such a tourist place, it has good international connections, offering flights to a large part of continental Europe.
Suppose it is not possible to fly directly from any country. In that case, you can fly to Madrid or Barcelona, and in just one hour, you will be in Mallorca.
If you want to travel to other Spanish cities such as Ibiza, Menorca, Denia, Valencia, or Barcelona, you can do it easily and comfortably by ferry.
7. Wide cultural calendar 📆
In Mallorca, people live all year round, so a wide cultural calendar is available throughout the year.
You can enjoy local festivals, concerts, plays, and different sporting events.
Some groups organize tours around the island to learn more about Mallorcan culture and visit some of its museums, monuments, and points of interest.
8. Island full of activities 🚴♂️
Mallorca is a dream for anyone who likes to be outdoors. On this island, you can enjoy various activities such as hiking and biking trails, visits to the spectacular beaches and coves, kayaking excursions, exploring caves, fishing, swimming, sailing, etc.
If you want to know some of the best activities you can do in Mallorca, don’t miss the following article!
In this post, we tell you which are the best beaches and coves in Mallorca:
If you prefer to do these activities accompanied, I recommend you once again to use Facebook, as you will find great people with whom you can share your hobbies and fun moments.
Visiting the local markets in the villages is also a super interesting and exciting activity. It will be an excellent way to meet local people, get to see the most popular handicraft products, and discover hidden relics among the different stalls.
If you want to discover the best markets in Mallorca, take a look at this post!
Cons of living in Mallorca 👎🏼
9. Life on an island can be difficult 🏝️
Living in Mallorca can be difficult for some people. Despite being a well-communicated island, many people struggle to adapt to this lifestyle.
To leave Mallorca, you will have to do it by boat or plane; there is no other way! And perhaps, this type of restriction can produce a feeling of being overwhelmed for many people.
Try first to live in Mallorca for like 6 months and see how you feel. Mallorca is quite a big island, the biggest in the Balearic archipelago. Still, some people may find it a bit claustrophobic after a while.
10. Overrun by tourists 🫠
Some residents say that overcrowding is the biggest drawback of living in Mallorca.
In high season Mallorca is full of tourists, which increases the prices of things considerably. The prices of hotels and accommodation, in general, go through the roof! If you compare the prices of the same accommodation at different times of the year, you will be amazed…
Vacation rentals are widespread. There are enough properties, but the real problem here is there are not available because their owners prefer to rent them for weeks or fortnights, as they earn much more money that way than renting them for the whole year. This makes it very difficult and very expensive for people who want to live or work on the island to find available housing.
In addition to the high prices, you will find the beaches crowded, and it will be practically impossible to find a table for lunch or dinner in a restaurant if you have not booked in advance.
Also, the arrival of tourists in the high season makes some places on the island filled with young people who just want to party and have fun, which can lead to wild parties until the wee hours of the morning.
11. Many jobs are temporary 💸
Looking for a job in Mallorca can be complicated if you come during the low season months. This is due to the seasonal character of the island, so many jobs are only available for 6-8 months a year (in the mid and high seasons).
This is another of the negative points of living in Mallorca and is that it is very dependent on tourism for its economic activity.
So you have to learn to save money to be able to survive during the winter months!
The easiest and fastest way to find a job is to come in April and look for positions in the tourism, hospitality, health services, and business administration sectors.
12. Poor public transport connections 🚃
The public transport in Mallorca is not the best, so you will need a car or a bike to move around the island.
The buses and the metro connect with very few areas and only reach some places. So if you move around by public transport, you will likely have to take a cab or an uber to get to your destination.
We have a post in which we talk about the different options you have to move around Mallorca. Here it is, in case you need it:
13. Get ready for bureaucracy in Mallorca 🙈
This could be one of the most annoying things about living in Mallorca or in Spain in general.
Be prepared for a lot of paperwork and lengthy processes, from opening your bank account to dealing with taxes. It is really a nightmare!
Also, for most procedures, you must make an appointment in advance, and there may be times when you will not get the appointment for several months. The processes in Spain can be very slow, and you can get desperate.
If you feel stuck and need help, consult different agencies for advice. Or, if you have a friend who lives in Mallorca, ask him/her to guide you with the paperwork.
These are the 13 pros and cons to consider before moving to Mallorca! 🙃
Living on an island is an incredible experience and, in my opinion, has more benefits than disadvantages, but everyone is different. So you will have to balance all the things and see what weighs more to make the best decision according to your needs.
If you live or have lived in Mallorca, we would love to hear about your experience, as I’m sure it will greatly help others. It will be an amazing way to provide information and great value!
