Gran Canaria holidays? Bliss. We all enjoy holidays to Gran Canaria but what’s it like actually living here?
Photo By Szeke
There are pros and cons to living anywhere and many people who come to Gran Canaria or any of the Canary Islands on holiday and fantasise about living here one day. You can break the group down into:
- Young people in their teens and early twenties who dream about working in a bar (with free alcohol thrown in, of course) at night and laying on the beach all day.
- Slightly older people who want to buy a bar or restaurant in the sun.
- Older people who want to retire in the sun.
Photo By Saimens
Unfortunately it’s not quite that easy. People say to me all the time, “oh you’re so lucky living here” but luck has nothing to do with it! I decided to move over, sold my possessions and moved over. It had nothing to do with luck.
Holidays in Gran Canaria vs. Actually Living Here
If you want beach holidays Gran Canaria is a great resort. If you want to live here permanently, you won’t be laying on the beach all day. Well, maybe you will if you have enough money to buy a property and live without working. If not, you will have to work for up to nine hours a day for an average of thirty six euros. It’s like being back in Blighty but with nicer weather! I’m not being cynical - that’s just the way it is. You have to pay rent and bills and you have to work. The wages are lower than back home but rent is about the same. Expect to pay 450 euros upwards for a one bedroom apartment or 600 euros upwards for a two bedroom place.
This is a good job search website: http://www.canaryinfo.com/4/en/1/Search_a_job_Canary_Islands_Spain
Photo By Vlokkie
Life for an Ex-Pat
For some people, living here is a dream come true. You get the sun every day (almost) and a relaxed pace of life.
For others, they make the decision to go home after a few months or a few years. The pace of life being “relaxed” isn’t always a good thing. I had to wait six months for a phoneline to be installed. The post office doesn’t deliver half my mail. Smaller shops open when they feel like it rather than when it says in their window. The place comes to a complete halt between four and seven o’clock, when it is “siesta” time. If you live here, you can adjust to all that, but it does take time!
Photo By ShanePapaDiesel
How to Find Work
The first thing to do is to look for cheap holidays to Gran Canaria. When you come over, remember that you need at least enough money to pay several month’s rent. Don’t assume you will find work immediately. If you can get a cheap package holiday or a last minute deal to Gran Canaria, you won’t have to get an apartment right away and you have your return ticket in case you decide not to stay after all.
If you have a trade (mechanic, builder etc) it will be very difficult to find work without speaking Spanish. The staff speak English in most of the restaurants, bars and shops in the resort areas but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try to learn a few phrases.
If you have any questions about living in Gran Canaria, just reply to this post and I’ll get back to you!
2 responses so far ↓
1 Paul // Aug 25, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I totaly agree with the above.
But if you are seriously thinking of coming to live here permanently. It really is a lovely life , as you settle in with the canarian community here.
You will not get much of a life living in a tourist apartment, (if purchasing) with tourists coming and going all the time. Noise all night long, worry about your belongings (with so many strangers about) No permanent friendships made daily. You really need to think about living like you do in the country you are leaving. A NORMAL EVERYDAY LIFE. You can do that here if you purchase within a canarian village,/urbanisation.Many english irish, german scandinavian people do this and have lovely lives/permanent friendships made here.
There are NEW properties being built, away from the tourist complexes. In Playa Mogan but easily accesible to go out and have some fun also.
You do not also have to be stuck up in the hills either.
For instance Playa Mogan, has a valley further on which is very flat and only two minutes from the Playa and port by car. (You can even walk it.) There are a few new build affordable from 205.000 euros 3 bed duplexes for sale there at the moment complete with fitted kitchens, all electrical appliances, dishwashers, even washing machine included. Nestling amongst the fruit fincas and local canarian houses, and just past the local garden centre.
It is best to sell everything up and not bring anything with you, and buy new here. (furniture ,electricals etc)
Many people are now renting and buying in the countryside here. To experience the true Canarian way of life.
There is even RENT TO BUY scheme where as the rent you have already paid, is then used as the deposit to purchase your property.(basicaly you get all the rent you have paid back, on purchasing the property.) after the 6 months rental agreement expires. It is a less stressfree way of buying and settling in and finding your bearings.And gives you time to settle things up properly, from the country you are leaving.
2 Victoria // Aug 27, 2008 at 7:16 am
Thanks Paul, there’s some good advice in there.
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