Living in the Canary Islands >> The 2024 Expat Insider Guide

I’ve spent the last 20 years living in the Canary Islands, and I love it as much as I did when we first moved. I’ve spent time on all eight islands, with most of my life living in Tenerife. As someone who has lived here, I can confirm that there are challenges and hassles. However, they are far outweighed by the natural beauty of the islands and quality of life.

7 Canary Island Facts

1. Did you know there are eight main Canary Islands? Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, La Palma, El Hierro, and La Graciosa. There’s a handful of extra isles, but they’re more like impressive floating rock formations than inhabited islands.
2. Around 2.2 million people are living in the Canary Islands right now. Most people live in Tenerife (43% of the population) or Gran Canaria (40% of the population).
3. The Canary Islands aren’t named after birds. They’re named after the Latin word for dog — Canaria. The Canaries even have two dogs on their coat of arms.
4. The distance between London and the Canary Islands is approximately 1,800 miles, which can be covered in a 4.5-hour flight. New York is 3,315 miles away, Los Angeles is 5,745 miles away, and Chicago is 4,005 miles away. There are seasonal flights between New York and the Canary Islands, and it takes around 6.5 hours to cross. I recommend stopping in mainland Spain if you want to fly between the US and the Canary Islands. It’s a great way to break up your trip, and you’ll find more flights available.
5. Although the Canary Islands are part of Spain, they’re actually closer to Africa. They sit 1,056 miles from mainland Spain but just 62 miles from Morocco.
6. The Canary Islands boast the highest peak in Spain. Mount Teide in Tenerife is 12,198 feet tall, making it taller than any of the mountains in mainland Spain, including the Pyrenees.
7. Each island in the Canary Islands has its own microclimate. You can experience sunny beaches, rocky mountains, fabulous cities, and lush forests within a few miles.

Living In Tenerife

Tenerife is the biggest of the Canary Islands, with the largest population. It’s home to some of Spain’s best attractions and an outstanding balance of purpose-built tourist resorts and laid-back local villages. El Médano, Adeje, and Los Gigantes are some of the most popular places to live in in the south.

My recommendation: If you’re looking for a more local vibe, choose Santa Cruz, Puerto de La Cruz, or La Laguna in the north. Few people speak a high level of English, so it’s a good idea to learn Spanish if you’re planning on living in this area.

Tenerife is your island if you want the best of both worlds. Here you can spend your weekdays living in the city like a local before heading to the resorts and enjoying a fun-filled weekend. Try the water parks, beaches, and cocktail lounges.

My advice: If you want to surround yourself with people of all nationalities, check out Tenerife. This island has a thriving Expat community of people worldwide who chose to settle in paradise on Earth.

Living in Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria is the second biggest Canary Island in terms of population. It’s known for its impressive sand dunes and excellent championship golf courses. Las Palmas, Telde, and Maspalomas are some of the most popular places to live here.

This island has one of the most diverse Canary Islands landscapes. It has everything from historic cities and sun-kissed beaches to shimmering lakes and tree-lined mountains. There are many excellent outdoor sports opportunities like hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, canyoning, rock climbing, and fishing, to name just a few.

And thanks to Gran Canaria’s superb climate, you can enjoy outdoor sports almost every day of the year. Temperatures in the Canary Islands rarely rise above 90℉ (32°C) or drop below 60℉ (15°C). Rain only occurs during the winter months, and light showers often last 30 minutes at the most. After this, the sun shines through, and you can get back to enjoying the Canarian way of life.

Tip: Consider living in the south or the east of Gran Canaria. You’ll find the biggest resorts, cities, and towns with the most facilities here. The island’s north and western sides are mainly home to small, sleepy villages.

Living In Lanzarote

Lanzarote is one of the more laid-back Canary Islands. While there are plenty of tourist resorts, Lanzarote has an older, more rugged feel with gorgeous white-washed villages and sandy beaches. When searching for a new home, I suggest you look in Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen, and Playa Blanca.

Lanzarote is an excellent island to choose if you’re seeking a much slower pace of life than you’re used to. The island has a dazzling coastline with plenty of golden beaches, top-notch snorkeling, and tempting seafood restaurants. And it is famous for its fantastic weather all year round.

Living in Lanzarote will save you a small fortune whether you prefer to eat out or cook your own food. While Spain has been affected by inflation, like everywhere else in the world, everyday items and activities are still great value for money.

I recommend: Stick to local Canarian restaurants and buy your produce at the amazing farmers’ markets. You’ll find the best quality and value-for-money dishes and ingredients here. Choose seasonal, locally produced items to avoid higher prices associated with import duties and taxes.

Work in the Canary Islands

Getting a job and working in the Canary Islands is the best way to take advantage of the islands’ many benefits for residents. The minimum wage in Spain is €1,080 per month. All legal workers benefit from at least 30 days per year of paid vacation and medical cover.

Avoid: Any shady employers who try to pay you with cash or won’t offer you a full contract, as you won’t qualify for any benefits. So, you need to keep your wits about you to avoid being taken advantage of. While most employers are legit and want to keep everything above board, some exceptions exist.

Tourism is enormous throughout the Canary Islands, and many jobs are available in the hospitality industry throughout the year. Bars, cafes, restaurants, beach clubs, and hotels often seek extra staff. This means you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a job if you’re happy to work in this industry.

Avoid: Looking for a job until you’re in the Canaries. While many places advertise available positions online, you’re highly unlikely to secure a job unless you’re on the island you’re applying for employment in.

If you already run your own business or work as a freelancer, you can be self-employed in the Canary Islands. There are many financial incentives for self-employed people setting up in the Canary Islands that you can take advantage of.

Whether you decide to find a job in the Canary Islands or register as self-employed, step 1 is paperwork. You need to have the proper paperwork and work permit sorted.

The Canary Islands have also become a firm favorite for people working remotely from Spain. The awesome lifestyle and low cost of living are a nice match with UK or US salaries. I’ve recently met people who have moved here with overseas employers and others who found foreign remote jobs from here. It is an exciting development that will attract a new group of Expats to the islands.

Cost of Living in The Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are one of the cheapest places to live in Spain. Living in the Canary Islands is around 74% cheaper than living in Washington, DC, and about 50% cheaper than living in London. You’ll definitely notice the difference. The biggest cost will be your accommodation.

Tip: Keep your accommodation costs to a minimum by avoiding tourist resorts. Instead, you can stay in more local villages where tourists rarely go. If you choose somewhere with a decent bus connection, you can still travel to bustling tourist resorts for work or fun without any hassle.

One of the best things about living in the Canary Islands is that residents get significant discounts. Many hotels will cut room rates by up to 50% for residents.

Tip: Instead of looking for hotels in the Canary Islands on third-party websites such as hotels.com and booking.com, go directly to the hotel’s website. This is where you’ll find the resident discount. You can always email the hotel and ask if you don’t see it advertised.

Traveling between islands and mainland Spain is also incredibly affordable. Residents benefit from a whopping 75% discount on all internal flights and ferry crossings.

Tax in the Canaries is also much lower than mainland Spain’s tax rates. The general tax rate in the Canary Islands is just 7%, compared to 21% in mainland Spain.

A single person can comfortably live on €1,200 per month in the Canary Islands. If you’re moving as a couple, you’ll need around €1,600 between you to live comfortably. This includes the cost of accommodation, utilities like electricity, gas, and water, food shopping, and eating out a couple of times each month.

My favorite surprise: Tipping culture is one thing that shocks people when they come to the Canary Islands for the first time — in a good way! Tipping is pretty much limited to restaurants — and only when you’ve had a meal, never if you’ve only had drinks. Locals only tip if the food and service have been exceptional, and they usually only leave around 10%.

Check out our Spain Cost of Living Guide, or use our Spain Cost of Living Calculator to create your own budget.

Canary Island Healthcare System Navigation

In my experience, the Canary Islands offer excellent healthcare, both public and private. You’re automatically entitled to public healthcare if you’re employed or self-employed in the Canary Islands or you’re retired and receiving a state pension in your home country. You must pay for private healthcare if you don’t meet these requirements.

Alternatively, you can sign up for Convenio Especial, which provides access to the public healthcare system. This access costs €60 per month if you’re under 65 and €157 per month if you’re 65+. You can access all the public doctors and specialists but won’t qualify for subsidized prescription costs.

See our guide to private health insurance in Spain.

How to register for public healthcare

Visit your nearest Centro de Salud and ask to register with a doctor at the reception desk. You’ll need to provide:

• Empadronamiento
• Proof of ID (Passport or TIE)
• Spanish National Insurance number
• Only for retired Expats: Form proving entitlement to healthcare issued by the INSS (Social Security office)

You’ll then be assigned a doctor and given a photocopy of your health card. The original physical card will arrive in the post in a few weeks.

The staff in private medical centers speak English and many other languages. If the doctor or specialist you’re visiting doesn’t speak your language, your insurer may provide an interpreter for you for free. This service definitely isn’t the case in public medical centers.

Doctors and staff in public health centers frequently only speak Spanish. If you don’t speak Spanish at all, you’ll need to bring your own interpreter. If you speak basic Spanish, many doctors are happy to work with you through a mix of your basic Spanish and an app like Google Translate.

See our guide to the Spanish Healthcare System for more information on public vs private.

Visas for Living in the Canary Islands

The paperwork you need to move to the Canary Islands is the same as the paperwork you need to move to Spain. This differs depending on where in the world you’re moving from and your personal situation. You’ll need a different kind of visa depending on your situation and lifestyle. It depends if you’re planning on retiring, finding a job, registering as self-employed, or working as a digital nomad in the Canary Islands.

Check out our Spain Visa guide or book a consultation with our Spain Immigration Lawyer.

My advice: Getting all your paperwork in order can be very confusing. I definitely recommend you seek professional advice before making any commitments.

Is Living in The Canary Islands Safe?

I’ve lived in the Canary Islands for over 20 years and never felt unsafe — even walking alone at night. It’s sensible to take the usual precautions that you would anywhere else in the world, such as being aware of your surroundings and not having valuables on display. But apart from that, you don’t need to take any special measures to stay safe in the Canaries. 

The biggest threat for most people on the island is falling victim to a scam. Because long-term accommodation is currently difficult to come by, some scammers are advertising properties online that don’t exist for very reasonable rates. They’ll ask for a deposit and some rent in advance before disappearing and leaving you out of pocket. To avoid becoming a victim, always visit the property in person and stick with reputable agencies/individuals.

If you need to buy an expensive electrical product, like a mobile phone, tablet, or computer, I recommend you go to a large store. Choose from stores like Worten, MediaMarkt, Carrefour, Alcampo, or El Corte Inglés. The police recently dismantled a crime ring in the Canaries that preyed on unsuspecting locals and tourists who purchased tablets, etc, from small stores, only to have their debit card information stolen and used fraudulently.

Report a crime

You can report a crime in 7 languages (including English) by calling 902 102 112. Note: this is not an emergency number. After giving details of the crime, the operator will provide you with your police report number. You then have 48 hours to visit your nearest police station with the report number to complete the process. 

Emergency services

You can reach all the emergency services at any time by calling 012. You’ll get to speak to a professional in your language who can help you contact the police, fire service, or ambulance service. 

Buying Property in The Canary Islands

Buying your own Spanish property in the Canary Islands is an excellent investment and a top way to save money compared to renting. A lot of paperwork is involved, and the taxes can get confusing. For me, the hassle is worth it for the chance to live somewhere that boasts more than 300 days of glorious sunshine every year.

The major tourist resorts, such as Costa Adeje in Tenerife and Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, are generally the most expensive places to purchase a property. To get the most bang for your buck, I recommend looking at homes inland or away from the tourist resorts while still close to the coast.

I suggest: Visiting a few different locations before deciding where you want to buy. Purchasing a property in an area you’re not keen on is a costly and complicated mistake that’s difficult to fix.

Cheapest Canary Island to buy property

Property prices are roughly the same across all of the Canary Islands. They tend to be cheaper than mainland Spain due to lower demand and tax rates.

My advice: Make your property purchase in Fuerteventura to stretch your money as far as possible. Fuerteventura is considered one of the lesser-developed main islands with more competitive property prices.

On this stunning island, you can snap up property for as little as €60,000-€70,000 all in. A 1-bedroom apartment will set you back around €77,000, while a 2-bedroom duplex is approximately €125,000. At €230,000, a 3-bedroom townhouse is even comparatively affordable.

Tip: If you’re not planning on living in the same place full-time, you can make extra cash. Try renting out your property when you’re not using it.

Navigating Transport in the Canary Islands

Over time, I’ve come to understand the ins and outs of the local transportation system. Here’s my take on getting around these beautiful islands as an expat.

Inter-Island Air Travel

While tourists often stick to one island, as an expat, I’ve found that inter-island flights are invaluable for both work and leisure. Islas Airways and Binter Canarias have become my go-to airlines for hopping between the islands. Their frequent flights and resident discounts make inter-island travel both convenient and affordable.

Taxis and Car Rentals

Initially, I relied heavily on taxis, especially when I was still getting my bearings. But be prepared; they can get expensive. I’ve since discovered local services like Taxi La Palma, which offer reasonable rates. Renting a car, especially from local companies like Cicar, has been a game-changer for weekend getaways and exploring off-the-beaten-path spots. Just remember to check if you can ferry the car between islands.

Local Buses

The “wa-wa” buses, as locals call them, are a staple for daily commuting if you are living in the Canary Islands. Each island has its distinct bus network, and while they’re efficient, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with their schedules. For instance, the Arrecife Bus in Lanzarote is a reliable service I often use.

Trains? Well, Sort of

While trains aren’t widespread in the Canary Islands, there’s a quaint line connecting Santa Cruz de Tenerife to San Cristobal de La Laguna. It’s not my daily commute, but it’s a pleasant ride when I visit Tenerife.

Island-Hopping by Ferry

Living here has ignited my love for the sea, and taking ferries between the islands has become one of my favorite activities. Companies like Naviera Armas and Fred Olsen offer resident discounts, making it economical for regular trips.

In essence, while the Canary Islands’ transport system might seem tailored for tourists at first glance, once you delve deeper as an Expat, you’ll find efficient and affordable options that cater to long-term residents. It’s all part of the adventure of calling this archipelago home. Check out our article on transportation in Spain for more details.

Sustainability and Environmental Awareness

Significant tourism growth over the last decade has had a major impact on the quality of life in the Canary Islands. Many people choose to live here because of the beautiful climate, the remarkable landscapes, and the laid-back way of life. As tourism continues to grow, many things that residents fall in love with are being threatened.

In some cases, huge tourist complexes are being constructed on islands that are practically already saturated. Privately owned apartments that were once used for long-term rentals for residents are being transformed into short-term rentals for tourists.

It can be simpler and more profitable for a property owner to rent their apartment short-term on Airbnb than as a long-term let — you really can’t blame property owners for these choices. But it makes finding somewhere to live more difficult and expensive.

These changes don’t mean the Canary Islands aren’t a fantastic place to live — they definitely are. These things are just worth keeping in mind before you commit and make the move. There are groups trying to help with this process and make sure that everyone, resident and tourist alike, gets to enjoy these wonders.

Does living in the Canary Islands excite you?

Based on my years of experience, Spanish Island life is unbeatable. The natural beauty and smiling people match the quality of life. And with one of the lowest cost of living levels in Spain, your money goes further, giving you more time to relax and enjoy living in the Canary Islands.

FAQ – Living in the Canary Islands