It comes as no surprise that the cost of living in Ibiza is extremely high. Several headlines addressing this issue have emerged over the summer, and now the national media has also begun to cover the topic more extensively.
One problem affecting Ibizans is retirement. According to Telecinco news reports, high prices are forcing them to look for alternatives to enjoy their retirement because they cannot afford to stay; many have settled in the Valencian Community.
Rosa is one of those affected. She has worked as a civil servant for Ibiza Town Council all her life and used to live in rented accommodation. Since April, however, she has been living in this community in a flat that she has bought. «You can't live in Ibiza anymore. Everything is designed for tourists, especially the prices,» says Rosa, adding that «your pension isn't enough to live on in Ibiza.»
She is not alone in this situation. Many have had to find an alternative due to the island's constant tourist growth. According to Telecinco news, one of the options that pensioners are choosing is to buy houses on the coast of Valencia or Alicante ‘because of the proximity’. Estate agents in the area have noticed an increasing number of clients of this type, going from about three to about a dozen.