The increase in rental prices in Ibiza has led to many residents preferring to live in vehicles and tents because their salary is not enough to cover these costs.
The rise of foreign tourism that has characterized this Spanish holiday island has had a strong socio-economic impact on its residents.
Many of the local workers have had to live in precarious conditions because the cost of renting apartments in Ibiza has increased as rent has become more profitable day by day.
Because of this, some have resorted to living in tents, shared apartments and even vehicles to survive in these conditions.
Tourism has a gentrifying effect on Ibiza. Photo: EFE
The effects of gentrification on Ibiza
The BBC reported on this gentrification phenomenon observed on this Mediterranean island and interviewed chef César Nebrera, who shared his experiences amid this reality.
“Accommodation in Ibiza is very expensive and it’s getting more and more expensive. And the cost of rent has nothing to do with what you earn. So living like this is an alternative. It’s less comfortable, but it allows me to continue living on the island,” he said.
For example, renting a room in Ibiza can cost between 700 and 1,000 euros ($760 and $1,086) per month; while an apartment without many amenities reaches 1,500 euros.
Tourism has fueled increases and rents are believed to have increased by 40 to 50% in the last year.
Last year alone, Ibiza received almost 4 million tourists, compared to a local population of just 160,000.
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