Lagos (Algarve) vs Mahón (Menorca)
for digital nomads
Under balanced weights Lagos (Algarve) edges it, 72 to 70, winning 5 of the 9 factors. Neither leads on any factor by 10 points or more. Change the weights in the ranker to see which one wins for you.
Western Algarve town of cliffs, coves and sailing
Full Lagos (Algarve) profile →Plan a trip to Lagos (Algarve) →Menorca's harbour capital with a quiet Mediterranean life
Full Mahón (Menorca) profile →Plan a trip to Mahón (Menorca) →Where they differ
- Internet. Mahón (Menorca) leads on internet, 82 to 75, against Lagos (Algarve). Measured download: 47.6 Mbps vs 61 Mbps.
- Safety. Lagos (Algarve) leads on safety, 83 to 76, against Mahón (Menorca). Homicides per 100,000: 0.71 vs 0.73.
- Quality of life. Lagos (Algarve) leads on quality of life, 88 to 81, against Mahón (Menorca).
Where they are close. Within five points on visa ease, cost of living, air quality, getting there & around, healthcare, climate.
Pick Lagos (Algarve) if you want
- to spend about $200 less a month
- the safer country figures
Pick Mahón (Menorca) if you want
- faster internet (61 Mbps measured)
Factor scores (0–100, balanced weights)
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | 40 ✓ | 36 |
| Safety | 83 ✓ | 76 |
| Healthcare | 87 | 90 ✓ |
| Internet | 75 | 82 ✓ |
| Visa ease | 75 | 80 ✓ |
| Getting there & around | 33 ✓ | 30 |
| Climate | 67 | 67 |
| Air quality | 98 ✓ | 93 |
| Quality of life | 88 ✓ | 81 |
Cost
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost, one personcountry-level estimate for at least one city | $2,000 ✓ | $2,200 |
| Central one-bedroom rent | no data | no data |
Safety and health (country-level)
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Homicides per 100k | 0.71 ✓ | 0.73 |
| Political stability (0–100) | 77.9 ✓ | 68.7 |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 83 | 84 ✓ |
| Life expectancy | 81.9 yrs | 83.3 yrs ✓ |
Internet (M-Lab measured medians)
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Download | 47.6 Mbps | 61 Mbps ✓ |
| Upload | 23.4 Mbps | 59.1 Mbps ✓ |
Visa
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad residence visa (D8) | International teleworking visa (digital nomad visa) |
| Minimum income for the visa | $4,131/mo | $2,741/mo ✓ |
| Entry, US passport | 90 days | 90 days |
| Entry, EU passport | unlimited | unlimited |
| Entry, UK passport | 90 days | 90 days |
Getting there and around
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-stop airport destinations | 90 ✓ | 71 |
| Walkability (1–5, editorial) | 4 | 4 |
| Transit (1–5, editorial) | 2 | 2 |
Climate and air
| Metric | Lagos (Algarve) | Mahón (Menorca) |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable months per year | 8 | 8 |
| Annual mean PM2.5 | 6.1 µg/m³ ✓ | 8.1 µg/m³ |
✓ marks the better value in each row; ties and missing data are left unmarked.
Frequently asked
- Which is cheaper, Lagos (Algarve) or Mahón (Menorca)?
- Lagos (Algarve) is cheaper: about $2,000 per month versus $2,200 for one person.
- Is Lagos (Algarve) or Mahón (Menorca) safer?
- Lagos (Algarve) scores higher on safety (83 vs 76), based on national homicide rates and World Bank political-stability scores.
- Where is the internet faster, Lagos (Algarve) or Mahón (Menorca)?
- Mahón (Menorca): a measured median of 61 Mbps versus 47.6 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024).
More comparisons
- Lagos (Algarve) vs Portimão
- Lagos (Algarve) vs Albufeira
- Mahón (Menorca) vs Cádiz
- Mahón (Menorca) vs Ibiza Town
- All comparisons
Sources: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows); 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level); Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100); Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year); UHC service coverage index; Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes; M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024); Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables); NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means); SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04); Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023); EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band); Walkability and transit ratings (editorial); Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations); OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API); Nostos long-stay visa guides; Starlink availability map. Dataset 2026.11.2. See each city page for per-metric footnotes and the methodology.