Dreaming of volcanic sands, tasty tapas, and balmy weather? You may be wondering: is Tenerife expensive? From the cost of a cocktail to accommodation, we’ve pulled together everything you need to know to answer this question.
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, situated off the West Coast of Africa. The volcanic paradise attracts over 6 million tourists a year – particularly those with a taste for all-inclusive resorts, sandy beaches, and buzzing nightlife. A key draw to Tenerife is its relative affordability. So long as you book well ahead and follow some basic money-saving tips, Tenerife makes for a much cheaper vacation than other Spanish destinations, such as the Balearics.
So, how much money should you set aside for a trip to Tenerife? Let’s get a closer look at exactly how affordable Tenerife really is.
The average cost of a holiday to Tenerife
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to pay around $122 per day in Tenerife. Food will cost around $30 per day, while transportation can cost as much as $48 per day, depending on how much you’re planning on getting out and about. Accommodation comes in at around $85 a night for a double room in a hotel or $42 per person per night.
Of course, this figure will vary depending on the type of traveler you are. If you stay in a self-catered villa or apartment, you can certainly save money by cooking for yourself some nights. Supermarkets in Tenerife tend to be relatively inexpensive, so long as you steer clear of international brand names that are likely to have a markup. Similarly, opting for all-inclusive accommodation may mean spending a greater amount of money upfront, but you’ll spend much less on eating and drinking out once you’re in Tenerife.
Relaxing on the beach or by the pool is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Tenerife. If this is how you decide to spend the majority of your trip, you can keep entertainment costs pretty low. However, if you opt to head out on multiple excursions – be that up the volcano, to a water park, or swimming with dolphins – you’re likely to add a significant chunk to your spending money. For the more adventurous types who like to fill their vacations with multiple things to do, we recommend budgeting an additional $22 per person per day for entertainment costs.
The cost of flights is another factor that alters just how affordable Tenerife is as a destination. The collapse of Thomas Cook has meant that flights from the UK, for instance, have risen in price. Meanwhile, flying from the US is will certainly cost a pretty penny in comparison to taking a direct flight from a European destination.
Is accommodation expensive in Tenerife?
As mentioned above, the average cost of a double occupancy room in a hotel in Tenerife is $85 per night or $42 per night per person. However, as an island renowned for its all-inclusive resorts, you can certainly end up paying much more for accommodation in Tenerife.
The time of year that you chose to visit Tenerife will have a large bearing on how expensive your accommodation will be. As a family favorite destination, prices are inflated during school holidays. If you’re holidaying without children, you’ve got a good chance of finding a cheaper deal if you book outside of these peak times. Similarly, prices are cheaper earlier in the year, between January and April, when the weather is milder and much more manageable. While the island is still a popular winter destination, it’s worth visiting earlier in the year to avoid the crowds and access some cheaper deals.
All in all, the golden rule for Tenerife is booking well in advance. You’re much more likely to find a sweet deal that could even comprise accommodation and flights if you do your research and book ahead of time.
Is Tenerife expensive to live?
Considering a longer-term move to Tenerife? Luckily, it is not particularly expensive to live in Tenerife. This holds up even when comparing it to other local island destinations. Monthly expenditure for a single person renting an apartment will come to roughly €1300 per month. For two people sharing accommodation, this falls to around €850 per month. Local homeowners not needing to rent any accommodation can live very cheaply, with average expenditure being around €700 per month.
It is worth remembering that living on the island will be considerably more expensive during the summer months due to the high tourist season. As with many islands, you pay a premium for petrol in Tenerife. As an island with good transport links, you may want to think twice about bringing your car.
Is Tenerife expensive for foodies?
Generally speaking, food is not expensive in Tenerife. Restaurants here are by no means expensive. A meal at a reasonably priced eatery will usually cost you around €13. A three-course meal for two including wine at a mid-range restaurant will be around €45. It is worth remembering that the further you venture from the seafront, the cheaper the prices will get. Fans of a full English or continental breakfast will be thrilled to hear that this can be found for as little as €3. We reckon that an average tourist should budget around €30 per day for food.
A good way to save on your food is to rent a place with a kitchen and cook for yourself. You will save a considerable amount of money doing this as supermarket goods are generally quite cheap in Tenerife. The best way to save money on food is by shopping at the local markets. Plus, you can guarantee that locally sourced produce will be tasty! A visit to one of Tenerife’s local markets offers a window of insight into the less tourist-focused side to life in Tenerife; you’ll be sure to walk away with bags of tropical fruit, vegetables, and local seafood at brilliant prices.
Money-saving tips for your trip to Tenerife!
Use public transport instead of taxis
Not only are gas prices exceptionally high in Tenerife; but they also have a very well-functioning bus network. The combination of these means that while taxis and hire cars will be very expensive, the local buses are comparatively very cheap. Additionally, many of the main tourist attractions are within walking distance of each other. If you’re considering hiring a car for your stay, you may want to think again.
Drink local beer
Due to import costs, foreign beer costs almost twice as much as that brewed locally. Two local beers you will encounter are Dorada, brewed in Tenerife, and Tropical, from the neighboring island of La Gomera. Drinking these throughout your stay is bound to save you a few extra euros. The same principle applies to the local boxed wine, but connoisseurs might sniff at this prospect!
Make the most of the Menu del Día
At lunchtime, many restaurants will offer what is known as a menu del día, consisting of three courses and usually costing under €15. For those looking to eat out for the majority of their meals, taking lunch as your main meal of the day should save you a good deal of money.
Don’t wait until the airport to shop for tax-free goods
Tenerife is a tax-free island. This means that prices in the shops are actually cheaper than you’ll find at the airport. If you’re planning on stocking up on alcohol, perfume or cigarettes, make sure you take a shopping trip while you’re on the island.
Make Sunday museum day
Fancy a break from the beach? If you’re planning on visiting any museums on the island, make sure you try and go on a Sunday as you won’t have to pay for entry.
Buy your tickets online
When visiting the major tourist attractions in Tenerife, be sure to buy all your tickets online. This will end up saving you a reasonable amount of money as online tickets are almost always cheaper than those bought at the venue.
Avoid school holidays!
If you’re able to, book your holiday outside of the UK school holidays. This is when prices on the island really shoot up. Heading to Tenerife in the winter months of September to April will guarantee lower prices and a more peaceful stay.
Wondering how the cost of a trip to Tenerife compares with other European destinations? Don’t miss our average price guides to Zakynthos and Mykonos.
