Leasing or buying a car in Mykonos: what to count

Anyone who lives in Mykonos knows a car is not a luxury. Distances are short, but the roads, the season and the ferry make the cost different from Athens. Before choosing between buying and leasing, it pays to put the real numbers on the table.

The cost that is not in the price

Buying a car means capital tied up, road tax, insurance, service, tires and lost value every year. On the island you add the ferry every time something cannot be done locally, and the days you spend without a car.

Service and tires on the island

Salt, dust and dirt roads wear tires, brakes and suspension faster than in the city. When service and tires are handled in Mykonos, the car stays on the road and you stay at work.

When leasing fits

• You want a fixed monthly cost with no surprises.
• You do not want capital tied up in a car that loses value.
• You need a car for a set period, such as one season or a few years.
• You would rather not deal with workshops, tires and paperwork.

When buying fits

• You drive very few kilometres and keep the car for many years.
• You have your own space and time for maintenance.
• You want to resell it or move it off the island.

What to ask before you sign

Ask what the monthly price includes, how many kilometres per year are allowed, what happens in a breakdown or accident, where service is done and whether a replacement car is available on the island. The answer to that last question often makes the biggest difference.