We knew this before coming to spend several weeks in the Balearic Islands. Unlike Mallorca, Menorca isn’t a popular destination among digital nomads. But does that mean it’s not worth considering? We’re not so sure…
Accommodation for digital nomads
Coliving
There are several coliving spaces in Palma de Mallorca, but in Menorca, there are only two: Coliving AdD LiVitum and The Small House. However, they aren’t really marketed as coliving in the traditional sense… So this little corner of paradise remains relatively unknown compared to its bigger sister.
The reality of tourist accommodation
Naively, we had assumed that since Menorca is a tourist destination, there would surely be plenty of vacation rentals. And traveling in low season, we were pretty sure we’d have plenty to choose from.
In and of itself, our calculation wasn’t wrong! There are hundreds of apartments out there. The catch? We’d failed to take into account the real estate law enacted in the Balearics. This law aims to protect locals from skyrocketing rents and therefore prohibits the short-term rental of apartments for tourists without a hotel license.
In principle, we think this is a good approach. But fundamentally, this law was enacted primarily to protect the residents of Mallorca and Ibiza, islands where tourism takes on an entirely different dimension.
Long story short, individuals cannot rent out their home to tourists for a period of less than 3 months. In fact, they can only rent it out for 60 days a year. Needless to say, they blow through their quota during peak season when prices are at their highest!
Apartments and houses
In the end, we had a much harder time than expected finding a place to stay! Our only option was to go knocking on the doors of hotels and aparthotels, crossing our fingers that they’d have something available. We finally found what we were looking for when we knocked on the door of Hostal Ciutadella. We’re not really sure how it works, but the apartments there seem to be rented out a bit under the table… We’ll just leave it at that ;).
Alternatively, you can also go to Booking. If you click this link, you’ll see only apartments on the island of Menorca (there are several hundred of them!).
So, how did it turn out? We were thrilled with our cute little apartment with a pool! Back then, we paid 800 euros for 35 nights; that’s 680 euros a month. But prices have gone up quite a bit since then ;). Today, monthly rents are typically in the range of 1,000–2,000 euros.
Coworking spaces and places to work
When it comes to working, it’s harder to find spaces specifically designed for that purpose in Menorca. Although there are a few, coworking spaces haven’t yet become as widespread as they are on other Spanish islands.
On the eastern side of the island, there’s really no dedicated space for remote workers.
On the western side, you’ve got a few options:
- ZeroEsTres, a coworking space located in Es Castell, next to Port Mahon. You can choose between a shared space (120 euros per month) and a private office (400 euros per month). More info on their website.
- EazyWork: Located west of Port Mahon, this coworking space offers several plans. A week costs 70 euros, a fixed desk runs 110 euros/month, and a private office ranges from 160 to 400 euros/month. More info on their website.
- Isla House is a coworking space designed specifically for digital nomads who are planning to spend part of the year in Menorca. The membership costs 139 euros per month, with a minimum commitment of 2 months. For more information, visit their website.
- Republikken Mao: In Port Mahon, this space (spanning over 800 m²) is divided into private and shared offices, classrooms, and areas dedicated to wellness… In short, no matter what you do for a living, you’ll find this to be the perfect place for you! The daily rate is 26.62 euros, and a 5-day pass costs 96.8 euros. For more information, visit their website.
And if none of those work out, there’s always the option of working from a café ;). Menorca has some really lovely ones scattered across the island!
Internet speed
Back then, the Internet wasn’t bad in Menorca, but at our apartment, our connection speed was less than 1 Mbps… I’ll let you imagine that it was sometimes a bit of a challenge for us, since we’re so connected! Since we couldn’t find any yoga classes on the island, at least we got plenty of practice staying zen while staring at our screens for long minutes, waiting for a single photo to load :). Don’t worry: today, internet speeds are much faster on the island: fiber-optic internet is now widely available!
Cost of living in Menorca
Although it is an island, prices in Menorca are roughly the same as on the Spanish mainland.
- Transportation: You don’t necessarily need a car; opt for public transportation and scooters instead. A bus ticket to travel across Menorca costs about 6 euros, and a day’s scooter rental costs around 20 euros. Budget around 100 euros per person per month.
- Food: Expect to spend 200–300 euros per person per month.
- Housing: Expect to pay at least 800 euros in monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside of Ciutadella and Mao. In the city center, rents can go as high as 2,000 euros!
In total, budget around 1,500 euros a month for one person, or 2,000–2,500 euros a month for a couple. We break down the various expense categories in the article on budgeting for a trip to Menorca.
Visas for non-EU citizens
If you live outside the EU, we strongly recommend that you obtain the special digital nomad visa, which is valid throughout Spain. Apply for it as soon as you arrive in Spain as a tourist; it will then be valid for 3 years if you apply at least 30 days before your tourist visa expires. You can renew it to stay in Spain for a total of 5 years. If you apply through the Spanish consulate in your home country instead, your digital nomad visa will be valid for only 1 year (with the option to extend it). Budget-wise, plan on around 80 euros per visa. To find out the eligibility requirements, visit the government website.
Conclusion: Is Menorca the ideal place for a digital nomad?
We’ve tried out the digital nomad lifestyle here in Menorca and in Chiang Mai, Thailand, staying in apartments, and explored quite a few coliving spaces (before opening our own!). So, after all these experiences, is the island of Menorca ideal for digital nomads?
As you’ve probably gathered from our posts, we absolutely loved Menorca! The stunning, untamed coastline, the beautiful hikes, the fantastic Spanish cuisine, and the dreamy climate completely charmed us. However, if we look at Menorca purely from a nomadic perspective rather than as a vacation destination, our overall impression is somewhat mixed. We made good progress on our projects, but we also lived like hermits. Let’s just say that Menorca isn’t really a hub for startups or entrepreneurs. We knew before coming that the community aspect isn’t very developed, right…? The range of activities is also pretty limited. Here, I’m not talking about tourist activities, but everyday activities, like fitness classes or photography groups… None of that, or at least not for people who are only staying here for one or two months.
In hindsight, we would choose a place where we could occasionally meet other people who work and where there are more activities for everyday life.
That’s all we had to say about Menorca as a destination for digital nomads :). We’re wrapping up this series of articles with a detailed breakdown of our travel expenses and a practical guide to visiting Menorca.
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