According to an index developed by price-comparison website Kelisto, Palma has the fourth highest cost of living of cities in Spain. It is rated as being 14.5% above the national average, with the most expensive city being Barcelona (30.2% above the average). In between come San Sebastian (27.9%) and Madrid (22.7%). By contrast, the cheapest city is Cáceres, where the cost of living is 16.4% below the average.
The index has been developed by considering fourteen products and services in five categories: housing, taxes, transport, shopping and leisure. Price differences can vary greatly, with property tax having one of the widest discrepancies. Between the most expensive city in this regard, Lleida, and the cheapest, Pamplona, the difference is 58.3%.
For a basket of goods to be bought when shopping, the variance is not nearly so great. San Sebastian is the most expensive and 16% more than the cheapest, Jaén.
Barcelona tops the list for the price of property rental, bus tickets and cinema. For road tax, San Sebastian is the most costly at 86.3 euros, which is 41% above the national average and is followed by Palma in joint second place with a host of other cities with a price of 68.2 euros.
In terms of municipal taxes, Cordoba costs the most (315 euros or 66.7% above the national average). Among the cheapest in this respect are Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, where it is 60 euros, 68% below the average.
For a single bus ticket, Barcelona's costs 2.15 euros, which is 79% above the average, while a cinema ticket there will set you back some 8.97 euros, which is 29% higher than the national average.
Tarragona is most expensive for taxis, Pamplona for a loaf of bread and Zaragoza for dinner out (58.7 euros, 18.4% over the average).