For almost 20 years I’ve been working as a freelancer and as an employee of advertising agencies, software houses, media houses and corporations as a project manager, marketing specialist, strategist and content creator. I’ve been working remotely for over ten years. I know the digital nomad community on the islands very well.

I believe that my experience and knowledge can be useful to those who are planning to come to Tenerife or Gran Canaria to live and work remotely in the post-COVID reality. This is 100% reliable and self-tested information. Enjoy your reading.

For the first two groups, each of the locations is an ideal place for a holiday and work trip. In the case of the third group we are talking about the so-called “ground testing” for a longer stay, so the situation is a little different.

Group 1: Nomad in pursuit of adventure and sun, who takes off on a whim when there are travel-enabling funds or their prospect.  In the locations suggested above, at any time of the year, there is a guarantee of sun, party options, a full package of island attractions and adequate facilities for remote work.

Group 2: Remote worker fleeing winter, plans to leave during the cold months in Europe, October – March.

Group 3: Remote worker deciding on a long stay – the date of departure doesn’t matter here, as their aim is to stay for a minimum of one year in one or more places on the island.

Group 1: Nomad in pursuit of adventure and sun and Group 2: Remote worker fleeing winter – spend from 100 to 300 EURO per person depending on luck and commitment in search of flights (the cost of a round trip). More luggage will be a small additional cost.

Group 3: Remote worker deciding on a long stay only considers the cost of a one-way flight on a charter flight with as much excess baggage as possible. Cost up to 250 EURO per person. We do not take into account ferry transport, which is connected with a car trip through Europe and then entails a long ferry crossing, etc. Here, we want you to get to the island as quickly, comfortably and with as much luggage as possible.

In this case the answer is similar for all three groups. We take everything essential for our remote work. It is necessary to remember that many things on the island can’t be bought off the shelf or will be much more expensive than on the mainland.

Equipment for remote work, i.e. a fully operational computer, a new, tested charger, a few flash drives, memory cards, an external drive (I take two with the same backup for peace of mind) and gear to connect to Wi-Fi securely. Other necessary accessories – cables, batteries, etc. Equipped with these, a guarantee of remote work and a credit card with enough to survive on, you will get by, even in the most difficult moments.

Small price for peace of mind in the event of unpleasant, unforeseen situations. Mandatory!

Taken at least 72 hours before arrival on the islands along with an app installed on your phone. Currently, this is a requirement.

There is no point wasting space and money for luggage with large and heavy clothes. During the annual stay on the island, you will only wear them a few times or not at all. It’s either summer or spring on the islands. If it gets cold, buying cheap, warmer things won’t be a problem. Similarly, towels, cosmetics, etc. can be obtained locally at the same or lower prices.

If it is not your specialised equipment, and more like a fad do not take it. You can buy or rent all kinds of equipment for sea, air or land activities.

In case of Group 3: Remote worker deciding on a long stay – can use the possibility of transporting sports equipment by adding as much additional luggage as permissible.

If you need specialised drugs, buy them before departure and carry them in your luggage. It can be problematic to get prescriptions locally and the cost of drugs are higher.

Group 1: Nomad in pursuit of adventure and sun, for whom sunny location and fast Internet at the lowest possible cost are priorities, should choose a room in a larger apartment or villa with a group of like-minded people. The fastest option to find an attractive place, and often also cool companions for work and more, are groups of digital nomads on social media. Housing ads are regularly posted there. It is worth trying to ask on the forum if anyone is looking for a roommate. It works. The monthly rental cost should be €300-500 per person.

Group 2: Remote worker fleeing winter chooses the above option or looks for accommodation on real estate websites such as idealista or milanuncios. You can also try booking through Airbnb. 

In both cases, the prices are unlikely to be much lower than a holiday rental. It is possible to get up to 20% discount. You’ll have to pay a monthly deposit. In the case of an agent, an additional commission cost – up to a maximum of a month’s rent.

The price of renting an apartment for a short period in the locations mentioned above will not be lower than €800 per month. A high-standard apartment can be found in the €800-1200 per month range. The price should include the cost of utilities and good quality internet.

Some verified Facebook groups for remote workers in Gran Canaria and Tenerife:

• Canary Islands Digital Nomads & Remote Workers 
• Tenerife Remote Workers & Digital Nomads 
• Gran Canaria Digital Nomads 
• Tenerife Digital Nomad Community 
• Digital Nomads Spain 
• Digital Nomads Hub 

Note: let’s not get too excited about the prices of long-term apartment rentals. A short stay (less than a year) is not treated similarly in terms of cost. Of course, in colder locations in winter and around airports, highways, colder places on the island, the cost of accommodation will be lower. However, if you care about the comfort of your stay, when you want a summer feeling in winter, I suggest you give up on these options. In most of these cases, it will be a disappointment when you see the property in reality.

The monthly cost of renting a property for an annual stay in the previously suggested locations along with the cost of utilities, internet, swimming pool will be €800-1200 and more plus a deposit and a month’s rent commission for the agent.

Monthly costs during an annual stay:

Group 1: Nomad in pursuit of adventure and sun and Group 2: Remote worker fleeing winter – mostly choose to work from home. For a short stay, this seems to be the best option.

Group 3: Remote worker deciding on a long stay should consider coworking. On the one hand, living and working in the same place can be oppressive, on the other hand, working from a well-chosen coworking center facilitates contact with people and allows you to get to know the island faster – pure benefits.

To begin with, let’s dispel the myth of working remotely from under a palm tree at the beach. It is neither comfortable, effective nor cheap. It looks nice in photos on social media, but it does not work in reality. The sun reflecting on the screen, sand in the computer, noise around, heat, water, random events, high temperature, poor internet, battery problems – are some of the main reasons that should quickly put this type of remote work out of your mind.

3 reasons why working remotely from a coffee shop is a pain

Of course, I mean long-term, regular work, several days a week, for 5-8 hours a day. We are not talking about a 30-minute cup of coffee, during which we will upload files to the server, content on social media, or send 100 previously prepared e-mails.

Both in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, you will easily find a large number of well-prepared coworking spaces. They are run by people who know the needs of digital nomads and requirements of work online. Below I present verified, safe and comfortable coworking options in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

In the Canary Islands you will find a lot of offices ready for use right away. Most of them will be well equipped in terms of furniture and work equipment. They are often independent spaces within larger office buildings or commercial premises.

An alternative solution is to find and adapt a house or, for example, a climatic place in a picturesque spot on the island for the requirements of your team. Companies like Canary Islands Space will find the right location, take care of contracts and payment formalities as well as the interior design, according to the requirements of the employees.

If you would like to relocate your company or employees to the Canary Islands feel free to contact Canary Islands Space. We help with relocation, organisation of work and life in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.