I currently live in Barcelona and things are not much different here (in terms of getting replies to emails or bank/postal queues). Living here will cost you $1,945 for house insurance. High Crime Rate. I currently live in Canada and I own a successful Lebanese fast food restaurants. We haven't been paid to write them or to advertise any hotel and we don't earn anything if anyone books a hotel after reading one. As for the fast food industry, its very popular, but mostly in a localised way i.e. 1. There are clearly many advantages of living in the city. 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. 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. 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!!! which Canary island is warmest in winter. The crime rate is low, and the police are efficient and responsive. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). Pros and Cons of Living in Australia. There must also be football. My place is in Costa adeje down south. Given the statistics, that approximately 200,000 people have chosen one or the other of the Canary Islands as their retirement home, it is obvious that there must be quite a few pros. The islands have long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Thanks a lot. If you like the idea of the Canaries but want a quieter life, one of the smaller islands would be a better option. There have been terrorist attacks in the past, but the government has taken measures to improve security. This extends to the Canaries too, particularly places like Tenerife. Although its not easy to reach Guachinches, its definitely worth the effort. Very . Nearly 50.4% of residents in the city are homeowners, while the rest are renters. There are two airlines flying between the islands:BinterandCanaryFly. As you can see, there are more PROS than CONS of moving to Tenerife. It would be a good choice for those who want an outdoor lifestyle that isnt too influenced by tourism. As an expat you are entitled to free state healthcare if you are: Life in Tenerife can be boring, especially if you are used to a hectic lifestyle. 2. Beer 60cents, packet of olives 30 cents, freshly baked loaf of bread 40cents. watch our Youtube channel CodnerTwins like subscribe and comment. Pros and Cons of Living in Amarillo TX - Our Top 4 Cons. Good luck! Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Living in Lanzarote pros and cons. Yes, for all the reasons I outlined above but with the strong proviso of the negatives for self-employed. Is this better on Tenerife? Keep in mind around 20% of Spain is unemployed, so prices of essentials are kept low. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Perhaps the most obvious advantage of living on an island is the sheer number of beaches. Plus 5 reasons not to live in Mississippi. One of the biggest draws is the great year-round weather, which is complemented by the great scenery and amazing food. Airlines and travel companies that fly regularly are British Airways, Easyjet, Iberia, Jet2, Norwegian, Ryanair, Thomas Cook and Tui, giving visitors and homeowners from many regions of the UK a choice of flights every day. Trying to get an email answered on this island is like waiting for the first snowfall on Teide, it may or may not happen. Smaller islands like El Hierro and La Gomera have smaller expat communities, but youll still be able to find people to befriend. Be wary when viewing cheap properties because estate agents often have a habit of skirting over any issues. Importantly, food is much cheaper and is pretty much always good quality. In short, the islands are one of the few European destinations with mild weather all year round. Our Spanish living costs were very low for the lifestyle we had. Few natural disasters compared to the rest of the state. Cons: Public transportation is a huge problem; therefore, you have to own a car. Im thinking the opportunities they have here, they wont have there. Tenerife has some fascinating towns, yet many visitors miss out on the best bits of them. 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. Perhaps all the engineers are at the beach. Is it better to rent or buy in the Canary Islands? I enjoyed reading your website content about Ten Highs and Lows of Living on Tenerife and I decided to mention it on our blog. Nature is very good at providing information which is difficult to spin. Tenerife Turismo are also good sources of information. Those postal costs apply both ways. The cost of living on the Canary Islands is surprisingly low for a tourist destination. Chow! Pros. Obviously, seafood is big here, but theres no shortage of meat and veggie options too. But if youre willing to spend more, you can find some amazing villas for around 500,000. So being able to just focus on Spanish will be a relief. OMG. To make sure you get the best value for money, compare international health insurance options from various providers to find the best deal. So if everything happens in Spanish on Tenerife then that is already a step up from Barcelona Here, the local CAP only answers the phone in Catalan, work contracts are only issued in Catalan (even from government research institutes), tax forms are usually only obtainable in Catalan as the Spanish ones are out of print, etc. I really want to learn as much as I can about any family history as well. ), and have no idea whos in the finals of The Great British Bake-Off or Strictly Come Dancing, I am bothered about missing cultural, music and foodie trends, and we have to rely on research, family and friends to keep us in the cultural loop. Living in the north of Tenerife, we could not have got by if we didnt speak Spanish. Benefits of Living in a Condo. While learning Spanish will help in the long term, it wont matter as much during the buying process as it might in mainland Spain. There are a few nightclubs in the city, such as Cine Mas Copas and Terraza Isla de Mar, which have a very bad atmosphere. Even on 600 euros of net income we could keep a car and eat out at least once a week. After just a few months of living here, I felt stuck on the island, and I just wanted to get away. As someone who lived in Tenerife for oneyear, I believe I can show you some good and bad sides of the island. The national average is $216,000. The South has better weather and more touristy vibe, the North is colder but with more long-term people. I think it's the best of the Canary Islands for remote workers. After his parents emigrated to France in January 2020, Jacob has a special interest in all things expat related and even plans to retire abroad himself someday. Pros - the local food scene's solid (probably one of the best for a city of Vegas' size, especially in the Spring Valley area), it's in a great spot in terms of proximity to large cities like LA and Phoenix and national parks, and there's a very long list of entertainment options in normal times - I don't think I'd ever felt bored once living here pre-COVID. Living in Tenerife, cons. Although housing is cheaper in Florida than it is in most other states in America, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research the overall cost of living in Florida is on the high side. The state has a thriving economy, and the cost of living is relatively low. Hi i m 79 years old and would like to move to Tenerife mainly for the weather lots of sunshine iam not well off a pension of 800 pounds a month would it be possible to survive on that kind of money obviosly i would need to rent somewhere to live possibly outside the main towns. Like any other place in the world, Marbella has its advantages and disadvantages. There's just something in the air when it comes to New York City. There is a plethora of art galleries and cultural centers for you to see. [More Information], Our hotel reviews only include hotels across Tenerife we've stayed in. Intense summer heat, humidity, and allergies. El Hierro is a good choice if you want a quieter life in the Canary Islands and dont mind travelling for larger shopping trips and days out. Pros: - Lots of nomads. Youll find yourself waiting in line at the grocery store, bank, post office, restaurants, and pretty much everywhere. If you want to eat at a regular restaurant, youll need to spend more money (somewhere between 20 and 25 per person), but still less than in some other places in Europe. Unfortunately he was an alcoholic and we had a bar in Los Gigantes..I left in 1997. Ottawa has been ranked as "the best place to live in Canada" for over 10 years now. On the negative side, your pension will go up or down in line with fluctuations in the exchange rate between sterling and the euro so you need to ensure you dont over-commit yourself financially. Its no secret that the Canary Islands are heavy on tourism. That made us laugh out loud! In the middle of the island is Mount Teide, the highest point in Spain at 3,7000m. Tennessee is a great place to live, offering residents a wide range of activities and attractions. I love your site and have been visiting Tenerife since my parents first took me there in the early 80s, there were only a handful of hotels in Americas then and a large open area separated them from Torres Del Sol on the edge of Cristianos. Its very frustrating that you cant just take a car and get away. The Canary Islands are a popular holiday destination thanks to their great weather and constant proximity to the sea. 1. While there are many, many great things about Japan, it also has its downsides. As a result of Brexit you will also have to apply for residency and there will be criteria to meet in order to be allowed to stay beyond 3 months. However, if you wish to experience a more authentic, Canarian experience, you'll be better off in the north. And although the cost of living is relatively low, the cost of housing can be high in some areas. Although online banking is common, few people use it and prefer to stand in line to deal with a person. Excellent article, very informative, thank you. The Spanish influence is obvious, and seafood is a big thing here. At roughly 100km from the African coast, the Canaries boast better weather than southern Europe. Thanks! Way above the clouds. Your email address will not be published. Comment with your question below and we will do our best to help. However, there are many good nightclubs in the south of the island. Required fields are marked *. Theyre home to four national parks, two of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But I personally think that moving to Tenerife can be fun only if its short-term. Such a mild climate without hush extremes is considered one of the healthiest climates for us, humans to be in. 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. plan, research, and do not hesitate. At weekends the broadband gets inexplicably even slower. As a result, it has the best connections to the UK and other mainland destinations, making it a good choice if you plan on taking frequent holidays. We complain constantly that Tenerife is allowing itself to become over developed but there is still lots of room to breathe and vast areas where you can walk for hours without seeing another soul or hearing the sound of a road. People in Portugal are very friendly. Concerts do happen, but usually in the summer season, and usually only on the main islands. . 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. Home insurance in the area costs between $871 and $1,179 per year, or $72 and $98 per month. Canario language is more cuban than mainland as many cubans settled there many many years ago. Hi Lisa, Hi Malcolm, yep, there are plenty of places to rent property long term. We are retired so on fixed income. Here in the north were lucky enough to also get a half decent amount of rain a couple of months a year, so we get the best of all worlds, great summers, spring-likewinters and lush landscapes. The price of utilities isnt as low as youd expect. As lots of people go to the Correos to pay their bills, that means posting something can take anything up to 40 minutes waiting to be served. Finding a cheap apartment depends on many factors. Its also the most highly favoured by Brits, among other tourists. Yes, it is safe to live in England. [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 . These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. I can go on and on! Tough to get around. Toronto is an amazing place for artists and people who love the arts. My advice would be to go to an official source for an answer. Buying a ticket to cross the border: This is mostly a mistake that tourists make, but some expats do it too, the . As with any place, Spain has its drawbacks. List of the Cons of Living in Tennessee. Cons of living in Japan. Arguably the best upside to living in Denver is its close proximity to the outdoors. It also rains very rarely and not too much. Every decent supermarket also has a comprehensive fishmongers with a bewildering assortment of freshly caught fish and seafood. The answer depends on what youre looking for, and where. Broadband is rubbish There are many pros and cons to living in Australia vs the USA. 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. When it comes to trying to run a business or being self-employed, Tenerife would try the patience of a Saint. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The cost of living is cheaper in the Canary Islands than in the UK, USA or Northern Europe. I loved your article about the Canary Islands. As far as autonomos go, I think Spain is better than its reputation. It might seem obvious, but living on an island does take some adjustment. There's Just Nowhere Else Quite Like It. Those who pay taxes in the Canaries have the perception that they are making an honest payment, in exchange for a decent lifestyle; When it comes to getting around within the island, I recommend you to rent or buy a car, so you can easily reach every place. You can either be self-employed and run your own business or look for employment in various retreats and resorts. If you're partial to warm climates and hearty helpings of sunshine, Las Vegas is a great place for you. We own a holiday home in Alcossebre (1 hour north of Valencia) since 2003. Hi. 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. Do you know how easy it is for a local to offer me temporary employment? It isnt expensive to live in the Canary Islands. Housing Is Affordable. On top of relocating to an entirely different country - which can be difficult in and of itself - there's one thing that's absolutely one of the worst cons of living in Canada: bureaucracy. The first time I visited San Cristobal de la Laguna, which is only 7 km from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, I experienced the big temperature change in short distance. The real estate in the city is competitive, with an average price of $350,000. Los Angeles, CA San Francisco, CA New York, NY Miami, FL Houston, TX Savannah, GA. Toll Free 800-599-0190; USA 562-408-6677; A large number of people visit the island every year. At the Correos (Post Office), everything except postcards has to be weighed and stamped. I am autonomo so can work and live anywhere and Northern Tenerife was one of the candidates. With routes to our favourite sights, museums, galleries, parks, plazas, restaurants and more, these guides are your key to Tenerife towns & Cities. We are a couple in mid 50s and would not be working. Its also worth paying for independent surveys before agreeing to a sale. People who have lived in multiple European Countries have found Cyprus one of Europe's safest countries. Available from Amazon. Of course, the major islands like Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Fuerteventura are heavier on expat communities. ; 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 . Fuerteventura is still popular with tourists, but it was discovered much later than the larger islands. Basically, if you are looking to live in Spain for a short time only then we suggest a busy area such as one of the cities or . But it all depends on personal circumstances. It's furthest north of the seven main islands and comes with a bunch of pros and cons to consider. To protect the economy of the island in Tenerife there is a custom tax to be paid on almost all the goods entering and leaving the island. 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. Tenerife north is usually less expensive than the south, where you'll find many more renting options. 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. Thanks for any info anyone can provide. Although I'm clearly biased, I think I managed to keep my list fairly balanced. It's not possible to just jump in your car and get away for a weekend like you can while living on the mainland. Culture. The island you choose does matter, but its also really easy to hop between islands for day trips. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Any recommendations, websites, or information you can share would be greatly appreciated. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. This is despite the overall low tax burden. That restaurant looks awesome. Second-hand cars are more expensive than on the mainland. Very accessible. And for personal recreation, safe bicycling routes? Are the Canary Islands a good place to live? In short, living on the Canary Islands offers everything you might have experienced while on holiday there. Its capital, Las Palmas, has a lively food and shopping scene too. If youre considering moving to the Canary Islands, its likely you wont mind being around plenty of expats. If so, you might want to think about moving to where the majority of ex pats live ie the south of the island. I loved visiting the writers' museum in Dublin, the Yeats house in Sligo, retracing the footsteps of Millington Synge in the Aran Islands. Hi. Holiday lets are big business, and this means you can often find a good deal during the winter months. Luckily, down South, the value of a dollar still goes a long way. I was based in Las Palmas and the south of Tenerife for 1.5 years from January 2021 to June on this year. I would be interested to hear a bit more about how will the proposed law (July 2022), Mr Sanchez (the current president) proposed a few months ago, aimed to be deployed during the state of alarm (Covid 19 from 15/03/2020 to 30/06/2020 was one such event) whereby citizens private property may be ceased for public use. In this city, the median home cost is $337,837, while the median rent is $1,032 per month. The quality of the local Canarians and European xpats in terms of education and worldly knowledge is shockingly low in the south of Tenerife where the majority of particularly the English are big Trump supporters not surprisingly! Summer temperatures wont get much higher than 25 degrees C and the winter drops to around 16. I went to one in Tenerife where opera singers came out and performed pieces from famous operettas while you ate - in full costume and everything. Again, this isnt really a downside, but if you want nightly operas and ballets, the Canary Islands just arent for you. Do you intend to learn, or do you already speak Spanish? 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. Cons of living in Ashville, North Carolina. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Tenerife is known as the Island of the Eternal Spring. i say go for it. In short, we give you all the pitfalls, pros and cons of living in different areas of Spain. However, if youre concerned, take a translator with you.