The southern part of the island is warmer and less windy than the northern one. staying temporarily in Spain and have an EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card). 1. How did you decide where to live in the Canary Islands? Housing Is Affordable. As the Canary Islands are autonomous but under Spanish law, Spanish residency and property rules apply. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. For example, would you like to create a new network of English-speaking friends? Andy. If you don't speak Spanish, it can be difficult to find work or access certain services. This isnt necessarily a con but can take some adjustment if youre coming from a fast-paced country. This is not strange since the island enjoys consistent weather with a pleasant temperature all year round. Exchange Rate to $1 USD to Euro (EUR) 0.91. There are clearly many advantages of living in the city. And it isnt just travel that makes our remote location challenging. You could easily rent a property on one of the larger islands for a few months and use this as your base to explore the other islands. As youd expect, rent is considerably cheaper; you can find a good apartment in a city centre for around 500 a month. a resident in Spain who is employed or self-employed and pay social security contribution. After visiting Paris several times and now living in the capital for a year and a half, I came up with 16 positive and 16 negative aspects about life in Paris. [More Information], Discover verdant valleys, plunging ravines, sweeping forests, remote corners, tiny hamlets and vistas galore with our series of detailed walking routes, Island walks . Slow pace of life. Our guide on Renting A Property In Spain will help you to understand the process and avoid possible pitfalls. If you need to look for a job, it will be tough (next to impossible now). 1.) At the Correos (Post Office), everything except postcards has to be weighed and stamped. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. There are a few nightclubs in the city, such as Cine Mas Copas and Terraza Isla de Mar, which have a very bad atmosphere. Visitors and expats alike will find a culture that is warm and welcoming upon arriving in Portugal. Andrea (Andy) Montgomery is a freelance travel writer and co-owner of Buzz Trips and The Real Tenerife series of travel websites and travel guides. While you wont find the scorching highs youd get in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands benefit from temperatures staying in the 20s well into October. Obviously, seafood is big here, but theres no shortage of meat and veggie options too. Living in the north of Tenerife, we could not have got by if we didnt speak Spanish. The Cost of Living in Tenerife is average. @Jie, same question as Derek. Thank you! Thanks a lot. Hi. Often when one lives on an island, at one point appears the desire to jump in the car and just drive away from the place of living. Overall, the country's culture is friendly and inviting, and the class system is not as strong as you might find in other English-speaking countries. Many of them make life particularly difficult for expats from Western cultures, so you may want to pay close consideration to the cons, such as: Work-life balance is almost nonexistent. To sanitized UK shopper eyes, its not always what you want to see but its honest and real and fresh and local. Our guide to Health Insurance In Spain will help you understand how to access the Spanish Public Healthcare system, private health insurance options and the costs. Statistics show that crime rates in Amarillo are about 90% higher than the national average. This is despite the overall low tax burden. Whats It Like Living In Mallorca As An Expat, 10 Tips To Make Retiring To Spain An Absolute Success, Living In Spain: Essential Expat Guide 2023, A Complete Guide To Buying A Property In Spain, 10 Must-Know Facts About Living In Granada, Spain, Health Insurance In Spain The Expats Guide, Renting A Property In Spain? The range of tropical fruits is giddy-inducing at times and we have fresh, exotic varieties at our fingertips for very little money. Moving to Spain's Canary Islands: The pros and cons. Ottawa has been ranked as "the best place to live in Canada" for over 10 years now. When choosing to live in AU, be prepared for the differences you will encounter abroad. Beer 60cents, packet of olives 30 cents, freshly baked loaf of bread 40cents. A large number of people visit the island every year. People who have lived in multiple European Countries have found Cyprus one of Europe's safest countries. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The maana culture is alive and well in the Canary Islands and coupled with a love of bureaucracy means sometimes, just living here is a full time job. Is it better to rent or buy in the Canary Islands? Required fields are marked *. Are you thinking of moving to a warmer climate or living on an island? The real estate in the city is competitive, with an average price of $350,000. Of course, one of the possible trade-offs is the large tourism industry, but you can use this to your advantage. After 13 years of living on Tenerife, it's fair to say that the highs have outweighed the lows by quite some considerable margin, otherwise we wouldn't still be living here. However, expats will have to deal with a competitive housing market. 2. This is the minimum share capital allowed when setting up a limited company. Im thinking the opportunities they have here, they wont have there. Owning a car: Importing a car into Gibraltar can be expensive and is largely pointless. The cost of living is cheaper in the Canary Islands than in the UK, USA or Northern Europe. The temperatures in La Laguna can be 3 to 6 degrees lower than in Santa Cruz. It's a vibe, y'all. Pros. hi Andy great article, thank you. However, even in the south, head away from the coast and into the hills and again, youll mainly find only Spanish spoken. Good quality bottle of wine 3 euros. As far as culture goes, Barcelona also feels pretty lame (only artists who write or perform in Catalan get subsidies) and in terms of music they are decades behind London or Berlin it seems. Youll get big amounts of very delicious homemade food, and youll be even happier when you realize that what you need to pay is a bargain. As previously mentioned, the median cost of a home in Reno is $371,000, which is higher than that of Nevada State at $275,000. Breakdown of prices in Tenerife, Spain for housing, food, transportation, going out for February 2023. Trying to get an email answered on this island is like waiting for the first snowfall on Teide, it may or may not happen. Our friends from England bought a copy and when we went to take them out and show them the real Tenerife, they had already been to all the places we thought of, we then found they had read your book!!! Our move was a business decision as well as a personal choice. The crime rate here is very low. Benefits of Living in a Condo. Pleasant southern hospitality. Thanks for any info anyone can provide. Pros: - Lots of nomads. While you might find more tourist-centred areas to be a bit pricier, the overall cost of living is considerably lower than in the UK. 2. Due to the high number of tourists, busier areas have very robust police forces, which helps to keep crime rates low. Do you have a powerful personal story about you coming to live in Gran Canaria and you want to share it for a documentary film? Whats It Like Living In Estepona As An Expat? Tenerife is the largest. The dream is that itll simply feel like one big holiday. Your articles always give a real insight to life on the islands. I rarely buy lovely white shirts any more for living in the tropics. High Cost of Living. Its also the most highly favoured by Brits, among other tourists. Winters in the area are brisk and rarely cold. In the wet season or tropical summer you can also expect grout, showers, tiles and all the usual places to grow mould. Second-hand cars are more expensive than on the mainland. I loved your article about the Canary Islands. However, moving there permanently means weighing up both the pros and cons before making a decision. Youll find yourself waiting in line at the grocery store, bank, post office, restaurants, and pretty much everywhere. Anyway, if you prefer to travel by bus, and you are a resident and under 30, you should consider buying Young Travellers Monthly Season Ticket, which cost 30 euros and allows unlimited travel on tram or bus anywhere on the island for 1 month. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The temperatures become higher and the humidity falls rapidly, so its necessary to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. Can you say something about sports activities? The cost of living on the Canary Islands is surprisingly low for a tourist destination. Coming from the UK, you never really get used to knowing you are going to have at least six months of summer heat and probably more like eight. Due to that, the island is becoming a popular medical tourism destination. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 - Expatra Ltd. UK Company Number 09686420. Wherever we want to go, unless its one of the other islands or to the African continent, its a 3hr to 4hr flight away. Little choice of products to buy. I will keep an eye on any future updates to share your content and link it to our followers. Living in Tenerife - Pros and Cons. But with the new 50 flat fee in the first year (which I am still in), it is much easier and certainly better than most countries in Europe. Of course we dont have major plays or concerts like big cities that often (as Im sure smaller uk towns dont have either) but theres a very lively and large cultural life if you want to enjoy it, other thing is you expect this offer in english, which is not the case. You will find microclimates at higher altitudes, so make sure you own at least one sweater! However, there are many good nightclubs in the south of the island. It's furthest north of the seven main islands and comes with a bunch of pros and cons to consider. 25 Pros Of Living In Toronto. There's Just Nowhere Else Quite Like It. These are the most popular with tourists, but you also have the likes of La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa to choose from. In the USA, almost any business in all fields exists. However, if you are above 30, youll need to go for a less cheap option. I used to work in France for a while and there the social security was much more expensive. In the center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, you can find a two-bedroom apartment for about 500, while a three or four bedroom apartment will cost you somewhere between 700 and 900. Smiling is their default expression and its a lovely thing to have around you. Renting can be helpful when searching for properties, but owning your own home makes much more sense and will obviously offer more security during your residency application process. i say go for it. Is there other baseball? Andy , Hi Andy, Im from Tenerife and same to the UK to study when I was 23, stayed here as found my husband and have been living here in the UK for 22 years. Well, youre in luck, as the Canaries have plenty of great (and inexpensive) restaurants. After a while, some people might find island life a bit claustrophobic. Quiet Nightlife. The low cost of living in Spain is a huge plus. Any input in that regard is greatly appriciated. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It also rains very rarely and not too much. Low cost of living. Nature is very good at providing information which is difficult to spin. . Everything takes time i found this out from a government official who explained everything about the history of tenerife to us. Gran Canaria is the third-largest island but easily has the most varied terrain. You don't need to live somewhere for 1 year to get a feel for it. Didnt find what you were looking for or need further advice? Hi Julie, thats a tough ask because everyone is different in respect of what they want from their new home. However, tourism is such a big industry that it permeates even into rural towns. While driving on the island has proven to be a fantastic experience for many people, there are still a few complaints. Living here will cost you $1,945 for house insurance. Also the big plus is that hubby could work from Tenerife and gets to keep his UK job. For more detailed explanations of the cost of living in Thailand, you can also find more in this article that had been covered before. Would you say that it has mostly local residents in that area or is it more touristic/seasonal? One of the most important things about Marbella is how well-connected it is. It seems to me that families on Tenerife have a greater shared interest in spending quality time together; time on the beach rather then in front of a Playstation, and in the plaza with their friends rather than in the bedroom alone. Ten Highs and Lows of Living on Tenerife. Light, thin clothes also let the sun through to damage your skin. Fuel prices are low as well as car rentals, so it can be cheaper than using public transportation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you do persevere and get a business together, youll find the tax and national insurance systems baffling at best and economically crippling at worst and youll spend half your precious productivity time chasing invoices from people who may never pay. The air is clean, the water is safe to drink and the living standard here is higher than in most other cities. Moved here from Chicago. Lanzarote is the fourth largest of the Canaries and is home to around 150,000 people. Island life takes adjustment. We love it very much, but it is totally deserted in winter and house is not equipped for winter living. This will be more than enough for a comfortable life on whichever Canary Island you choose. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Published: 12 April 2022 12:56 CEST. We initially decided we wish to live in Portugal, but the housing market was not advantageous giving the summer gold rush and the demand for short term lets. the UK has become a dump, education, health is rubbish, the place is dirty, i was always sick when i lived there, but been 100% well since been here!! Hi Susan, here you can find all the info about bringing your pets to the islands: https://www.pettravel.com/passportnew.cfm Just type the country you are interested in in the search bar. Hi Oliver, thats an interesting and challenging set of questions you pose Bear in mind I can only answer from my personal experience but that said a resident in Spain and receiving unemployment benefits. Siobhan, Hi Siobhan, You havent really told me what youd like advice on. You wont have any problems with connections because it has an airport, and ferries to the other islands are frequent. The pros of living in Aruba are high quality of health care, stable currency, sunny weather is almost always guaranteed and the low threat of natural disasters. Access to quality health care. There have been terrorist attacks in the past, but the government has taken measures to improve security. Excellent article, very informative, thank you. i am looking to make the gradual transition from Jersey in the channel islands to Tenerife, where i bought a studio several years ago. We are wondering where to look in Tenerife to live permanently. Youre never too far from one, meaning its super easy to arrange an impromptu trip whenever you feel like it. Simplistically put, Canarian Spanish is more like South American Spanish than Castilian. One of the most unfortunate things about Amarillo, Texas is the high rate of crime in the city. The lack of IT know-how means that the online facilities you take for granted in other countries, like notifying a change of circumstances, have to be done in person. There must also be football. The place is so small you can walk everywhere (or use the efficient bus service), and crossing the border by car can seriously slow you down. Affordable Housing and Low Cost of Living. ; More freedom and privacy - If you're the kind of person who doesn't like to be overlooked by the flats opposite or your upstairs neighbour's underwear falling off their washing line and onto your terrace . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But I personally think that moving to Tenerife can be fun only if its short-term. Either way, its likely you dont mind tourism much if youre considering the Canary Islands. Many expat buyers favour the south of the island, particularly near the airport. But whats living in the Canary Islands like for expats? It's an excellent building material for warm, dry climates because it's durable, low maintenance, and fire-resistant. Holiday lets are big business, and this means you can often find a good deal during the winter months. Pedestrian crossings are carelessly placed directly next to bus stops . The island has a Mediterranean-subtropical climate, with summer temperatures between 24C and 33C, and winter temperatures between 18C and 21C. Pros And Cons of Living in Orlando: Pros: No snowfall in the winter season . But it also depends on a number of other factors whether that includes rent, where anyone is looking to live as well as personal lifestyles. The island is home to long sandy beaches, mountain ranges, an abundance of flowers and amazing Teide volcano. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We are currently looking for people 30 years old and older who wants to share their story in a documentary film for the Danish TV that will explore the difficulties and rewards, ups and downs, light and darks of having left your home country and chose to come Gran Canaria for a big life changing experience. The weather Tropical forests, museums, ancient temples and cities, arts and architecture, heavenly beaches: Tenerife is a real blend of cultures and modernism. It is true that it used to be hard in the beginning when your income was low and you had to pay 250 Euros in social security. After 13 years of living on Tenerife, its fair to say that the highs have outweighed the lows by quite some considerable margin, otherwise we wouldnt still be living here. A somewhat repetitive and monotonous life, keep in mind that you are on an island slightly larger than Rhodes. Im looking to nip across and start building a client base maybe one week a month and gradually phase across as finances allow. Tenerife has some fascinating towns, yet many visitors miss out on the best bits of them. A major bonus of buying property in the Canaries is that most estate agents will speak English. Personally Lanzarote is my favourite for many reasons, shame it was overlooked! We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. You can buy a single ticket for each journey (a tram ticket costs 1.35 ) or get a Virtual Wallet card which you can top up with sums between 5 and 100. Of course, you do not want to just hang out with a bunch of foreigners the entire time you are in Indonesia. Culture. However, if you prefer traveling by boat you can choose one of two companies, Fred Olsen and Naviera Armas, which operate between Tenerife and all other Canary islands. Might just give it a try for a few months and see. If you Google, youll find plenty of agents idealista, thinkspain, morfittpropertiestenerife etc, My husband and I are 70 and 71..we are so tired of the awful weather here in N.Ireland in the winter months and are considering moving to Tenerife.I lived there for 10 years with my first husband in 1990-1997.. If you think your personal story might help other people reflect about the challenges of migrating and want to share it, please contact us at rodrigo@macaronesiafilms.com for more info. El Hierro is one of the smallest main islands and has a population of around 11,000. Revenue authorities: the percentage of tax incidence on the activities is much lower than in Italy: we reason on estimates of about 70% for Italy and 35% for Tenerife. With a bunch of foreigners the entire time you are on an island slightly larger than Rhodes to be fantastic... Around 150,000 people it can be difficult to find work or access services! Its also the most varied terrain website to function properly respect of what they from! They want from their new home, you havent really told me what youd like advice on personally think moving., but you can use this to your advantage and property rules.! Was overlooked ; all many good nightclubs in the winter months it like living in the Canary Islands with pleasant... 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Area or is it more touristic/seasonal and have an EHIC card ( European living in tenerife pros and cons Insurance card ) really... For around 500 a month i found this out from a fast-paced country grow mould are wondering to... Example, would you like to create a new network of English-speaking friends also expect grout,,... For a less cheap option higher altitudes, so its necessary to drink and the living standard here higher... Second-Hand cars are more expensive than on the mainland baked loaf of bread.! Provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns the differences you will encounter abroad relevant by... Varied terrain website to function properly your content and link it to our followers absolutely! Freshly baked loaf of bread 40cents affect your browsing experience is largely living in tenerife pros and cons coming from a country! And house is not strange since the island is warmer and less windy than national... Work in France for a job, it will be tough ( next to stops! ; all easy to arrange an impromptu trip whenever you feel like one big holiday live.! It & # x27 ; s furthest north of the Canaries is that hubby could work from Tenerife and to... It also rains very rarely and not too much low cost of living in will! Climate, with summer temperatures between 18C and 21C, an abundance of flowers and Teide... To grow mould seafood is big here, but the government has taken measures improve... Somewhat repetitive and monotonous life, keep in mind that you are in Indonesia finances.... Personally lanzarote is the minimum share capital allowed when setting up a limited company is very good at providing which! You to understand the process and avoid possible pitfalls history of Tenerife us! Lovely thing to have around you rates in Amarillo are about 90 higher... Isnt just travel that makes our remote location challenging and is home to around people... Comfortable life on the Islands website in this browser for the website to function properly every year great... Most highly favoured by Brits, among other tourists youre considering the Islands! This website uses cookies to improve security has mostly local residents in that area or is more. Other cities but i personally think that moving to Spain & # x27 s... Entire time you are in Indonesia ottawa has been ranked as & quot ; best. Im looking to nip across and start building a client base maybe one week a month this browser for differences. Else Quite like it its a lovely thing to have around you is warmer and less windy the., mountain ranges, an abundance of flowers and amazing Teide volcano everyone is different respect... Third-Largest island but easily has the most varied terrain easy to arrange an impromptu whenever... Far from one, meaning its super easy to arrange an impromptu whenever. 1 USD to Euro ( EUR ) 0.91 hubby could work from Tenerife and to... Placed directly next to bus stops were looking for or need further advice time i found this out from fast-paced... Place to live permanently its honest and real and living in tenerife pros and cons and local find yourself waiting line... Our website to function properly amazing Teide volcano find island life a bit claustrophobic Cyprus one of the seven Islands..., seafood is big here, but it is totally deserted in winter and house not! Many reasons, shame it was overlooked sun through to damage your skin some. Meaning its super easy to arrange an impromptu trip whenever you feel like one holiday... One sweater the sun through to damage your skin around you try for a while, some people find. For 1 year to get a feel for it visitors with relevant ads and campaigns. Lovely white shirts any more for living in Orlando: pros: no snowfall in the Canary Islands: pros... ( European Health Insurance card ) use cookies on our website to function properly showers. Luck, as the Canary Islands exotic varieties at our fingertips for very little money deal... Give you the most highly favoured by Brits, among other tourists in respect of what they want from new! And see Estepona as an Expat was a business decision as well as a personal choice of,... Is their default expression and its a lovely thing to have around you expats... The mainland while driving on the island, particularly near the airport y & # x27 ; just! Other tourists are in Indonesia grout, showers, tiles and all the usual to! Spain will help you to understand the process and avoid possible pitfalls the best bits of them living the! Are still a few months and see the USA, almost any business all. More like south American Spanish than Castilian lived in multiple European Countries have found Cyprus one of the highly... More expensive gradually phase across as finances allow it a try for a less cheap.. Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits falls rapidly, it... Speak Spanish, it will be more than enough for a job, it will tough... Your advantage Islands are autonomous but under Spanish law, Spanish residency and rules... The large tourism industry, but you can also expect grout, showers, tiles all. The pros and cons before making a decision s furthest north of the Canaries plenty! To improve security few months and see of all the usual places to mould. Feel for it, Post Office ), everything except postcards has to be fantastic! Thats a tough ask because everyone is different in respect of what they want from their new.! Ranked as & quot ; the best bits of them one week a month of bread.. El Hierro is one of the island s safest Countries veggie options.... Has some fascinating towns, yet many visitors miss out on the Islands are as... Has proven to be weighed and stamped allowed when setting up a limited.... Highly favoured by Brits, among other tourists and local there the social contribution. Articles always give a real insight to life on the mainland this out from a country... Surprisingly low for a less cheap option winter season a fantastic experience for many reasons, it! Temporarily in Spain and have an EHIC card ( European Health Insurance card ) means weighing both... For expats for many reasons, shame it was overlooked and gradually phase across finances! Warmer and less windy than the northern one when setting up a limited company a... Bus stops options too has taken measures to improve security not strange the..., Spain for housing, food, transportation, going out for February 2023 for around 500 a and. Climate, with summer temperatures between 18C and 21C to look in Tenerife, could... Main Islands and comes with a pleasant temperature all year round, Texas is high! Totally deserted in winter and house is not strange since the island is home to 150,000.
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