Essentials
- City
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife & Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Islands, Spain
- Population
- Approximately 950,000 (Tenerife Island total)
- Internet Speed
- High-speed fiber widely available, average 300 Mbps - 600 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: CaixaBank, Santander, BBVA
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink but high mineral content; most locals and nomads prefer bottled or filtered water (approx. €1.50 for 5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and Digi. Pre-paid 50GB data plans from €15/month
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and N26 are widely used; local accounts like Sabadell available for residents
- Accommodation
- Short-term via Airbnb; long-term via Idealista or Fotocasa. Average 1-bed flat: €900 - €1,400/month
- Cashless Friendly
- Very high; cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted even in small mountain kiosks
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and Flatio (specific to mid-term stays)
- Budget Accommodation
- Lagarto Backpackers (El Médano) approx. €25/night; Tenerife Hostel (Los Cristianos) approx. €22/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Costa Adeje for luxury/beaches; Puerto de la Cruz for authentic Canarian vibe
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Santa Cruz (urban/convenience), La Laguna (university/culture), or El Médano (surf/community)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Wolfgang Coworking (Santa Cruz) - €20/day, €185/month; Nine Coliving (La Orotava) - community-focused
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kaffeehaus (Puerto de la Cruz) or Terreza del Parque (Santa Cruz) - Good Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Tenerife Remote Workers & Digital Nomads Meetup group; Startup Grind Tenerife
- Social Events for Expats
- Language exchange at 'Cervecería Isla' (Santa Cruz) Thursdays at 20:00
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (limited availability), PideTaxi (most reliable island-wide)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Link (Superpedestrian) scooters in Santa Cruz; Bike Point Tenerife for cycling (€25/day for road bikes)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Playa de Las Teresitas (Santa Cruz) or Playa del Duque (Costa Adeje)
- Top Regional Airline
- Binter Canarias (connects islands from €30 for residents)
- Top International Airline
- Iberia, Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2 (flying into TFS - South or TFN - North)
- Highway Access
- TF-1 (Southern Motorway) and TF-5 (Northern Motorway) circle most of the island
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Intercambiador de Santa Cruz (Main bus hub - no trains on island)
- Public Transport Passes
- TITSA 'Ten+ Card'. Single rides €1.25 - €3.50; Monthly unlimited approx. €30 (for residents)
- Regional Travel
- TITSA Green Buses (Guaguas) cover the whole island; Fred Olsen Express ferries to other islands
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Universitario de Canarias (Public) or Quirónsalud Tenerife (Private/International)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Gayatri Yoga (Santa Cruz); many beach yoga sessions in El Médano (€10-15 drop-in)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- McFIT (Santa Cruz) - approx. €35/month; Dreamfit (La Laguna)
- Laundry Services
- LavaXpres (Self-service chain) - €5 per wash, €3 per dry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo and Just Eat
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Papas Arrugadas con Mojo (Wrinkled potatoes with spicy sauce)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sweet Home (Santa Cruz); Burger Mel (Vegetarian fast food chain)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pastelería Boutique Relieve (Puerto de la Cruz) - famous for artisan pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África (Santa Cruz) for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.es (note: Canary Islands have special customs, some items won't ship)
- Grocery Delivery
- Mercadona or HiperDino online delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Calle de la Noria (Santa Cruz) for bars; Las Veronicas (Playa de las Américas) for clubs
- Local Brewery
- Tacoa (El Sauzal) - oldest craft brewery in the Canary Islands
- Wine Bars
- Vinoteca El Gusto por el Vino (Santa Cruz)
- Street Food Stalls
- Guachinches (Traditional family-run temporary restaurants in North Tenerife)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Kaza (Santa Cruz) for Fusion; San Ho (Adeje) for Michelin-starred Nikkei
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Mount Teide (Spain's highest peak); Auditorio de Tenerife (Santiago Calatrava design)
- Museums & Art Venues
- TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes); MUNA (Museum of Nature and Archaeology)
- Historical Sites
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna (UNESCO World Heritage city)
- Religious Sites
- Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria
- Annual Events
- Carnaval de Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Each Feb/March - second only to Rio)
- Cultural Districts
- Old Town La Laguna
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Guimerá (Santa Cruz)
- Local Markets
- Mercadillo de Teguise (Travel to Lanzarote) or Costa Adeje Market (Thurs/Sat)
- Music Scene
- Plaza del Príncipe for open-air concerts; Búho Club (La Laguna) for live music
- Street Art
- The murals of Puerto de la Cruz (Puerto Street Art project)
- Cooking Classes
- La Cocina de San Sebastián (Santa Cruz)
- Art Galleries
- Circulo de Bellas Artes (Santa Cruz)
- Historic Buildings
- Palacio de Lercaro (La Laguna)
- Local Heritage
- Canarian Wrestling (Lucha Canaria) and Silbo Gomero (whistled language)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Anaga Rural Park (Ancient laurel forests); Masca Valley (hiking)
- National Parks Nearby
- Teide National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Avenida Marítima (Santa Cruz to San Andrés); TF-21 for high-altitude cycling
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirador de Humboldt; Mirador de Chindama
- Birdwatching Locations
- Teno Rural Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Regulated BBQ areas like Las Lajas (Teide) - fires only in designated grills
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correos (National Post); SEUR; DHL (Special customs forms required for islands)
- Tech Repair Services
- Banana Computer (Official Apple Reseller/Service in Santa Cruz)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Circulo de Amistad XII de Enero (Santa Cruz)
- Language Classes
- Spanish World Institute (Puerto de la Cruz) - approx. €180/week
- Libraries & Study Spots
- TEA Library (Open 24/7 during exam periods, very nomad-friendly)
- Community Centers
- Centro Cultural de Adeje
- Gaming Lounges
- Nexus eSports Center (Santa Cruz)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Santa Cruz (Hotel Mencey)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €152,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €88,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €210,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €114,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €256,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €136,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard 25% (But ZEC zone allows 4% for qualifying companies)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 19% (Can be 0% for EU/certain treaties)
- Tax System
- Spanish tax resident status after 183 days (worldwide income)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 47% (Varies slightly by region)
- VAT
- IGIC (Canary Islands Indirect Tax) - Standard 7% (Lower than mainland Spain's 21%)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Spanish CFC rules apply
- Property Tax
- IBI (Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles) - Annual, approx. 0.4% - 1.1% of value
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITP (Property Transfer Tax) - 6.5% for resale properties
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Beckham Law (Fixed 24% for 6 years) or the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa (specific tax perks)