Compare islands
Family focus — schools, healthcare, housing, transport, and storm exposure. Switch to all fields for connectivity and property rules.
Select 2–5 islands to compare
Maximum of 5 islands — deselect one to add another.
Balearic Islands
Canary Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Isle of Man
Galápagos Islands
St Lucia
Tasmania
Antarctic coast islands
Aleutian Islands
Andaman Islands
Scottish Islands
Hawaiian Islands
United States Islands
Remote islands
China Islands
Popular tourist islands
9 fields differ across these islands — highlighted below.
Swipe or scroll sideways to compare islands
| Field | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Lanzarote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residency | |||
| Residency (US passport) | Schengen short-stay (90/180): U.S. citizens may enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period. Longer stays require a national visa (e.g. non-lucrative, digital nomad, work, or family reunification) before arrival. Canaries are part of Spain and the EU — same immigration rules as mainland. · verified 2026-06-11 | Schengen short-stay (90/180): U.S. citizens may enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period. Longer stays require a national visa (e.g. non-lucrative, digital nomad, work, or family reunification) before arrival. Canaries are part of Spain and the EU — same immigration rules as mainland. · verified 2026-06-11 | Schengen short-stay (90/180): U.S. citizens may enter Spain visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period. Longer stays require a national visa (e.g. non-lucrative, digital nomad, work, or family reunification) before arrival. Canaries are part of Spain and the EU — same immigration rules as mainland. · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Education | |||
| Schools (K–12)differs | British School of Tenerife; Colegio Internacional Costa Adeje; Colegio San Benito (La Laguna) verified 2026-06-11 | The British School of Gran Canaria; Colegio Heidelberg (Las Palmas); Colegio San Antonio María Claret verified 2026-06-11 | Colegio Arenas International School; Colegio La Candelaria (Arrecife) verified 2026-06-11 |
| Early years (preschool / nursery) | None documented on island | None documented on island | None documented on island |
| Higher education | None documented on island | None documented on island | None documented on island |
| Healthcare | |||
| Hospital on island | Yes — full hospital on island Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (HUC) (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Yes — full hospital on island Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Yes — full hospital on island Hospital Universitario Doctor José Molina Orosa (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Evacuation notesdiffers | Two university hospitals (Candelaria south, La Laguna north) plus H. Universitario de Canarias. Complex paediatric or tertiary cases may transfer to mainland Spain (Madrid, Barcelona). Servicio Canario de la Salud (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Dr. Negrín (Las Palmas) is the main tertiary hospital. Complex neonatal or specialty care may transfer to mainland Spain. Servicio Canario de la Salud — Gran Canaria (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Single main hospital (Dr. Molina Orosa, Arrecife). Complex cases typically airlifted or ferried to Gran Canaria or Tenerife. Servicio Canario de la Salud — Lanzarote (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Cost of living | |||
| Rent band (monthly, USD)differs | €900–€1,800/mo (2BR; Santa Cruz/La Laguna vs south coast premium) Idealista — Tenerife rental listings (2025–26) (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | €850–€1,700/mo (2BR; Las Palmas city vs south resort belt) Idealista — Las Palmas rentals (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | €750–€1,400/mo (2BR; Arrecife vs Puerto del Carmen) Idealista — Lanzarote rentals (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Groceries vs mainland USdiffers | 5–15% below mainland Western Europe average (VAT-exempt status) Gobierno de Canarias — IGIC (Canaries tax regime) (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | 5–15% below mainland Western Europe (IGIC-exempt regime) Gobierno de Canarias — IGIC (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Similar to other Canaries — IGIC-exempt; import freight adds modest premium Gobierno de Canarias — IGIC (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Island cost premiumdiffers | Lower than mainland Spain for many goods (IGIC); south-coast housing commands resort premium Numbeo — Santa Cruz de Tenerife (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Las Palmas city is relatively affordable; Maspalomas/Arguineguín carry tourism-driven housing premium Numbeo — Las Palmas (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Moderate — smaller market than Tenerife/GC; tourism demand in coastal zones Numbeo — Arrecife (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Climate & risk | |||
| Hurricane / cyclone exposurediffers | Very low — subtropical Atlantic; trade-wind climate. Calima (Saharan dust) and occasional heavy rain in winter. AEMET — Canarias weather service (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Very low — stable subtropical climate; occasional calima dust events and winter rain bursts AEMET — Canarias (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Very low — arid volcanic island; strong winds possible; minimal tropical cyclone exposure AEMET — Canarias (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Daily life | |||
| Language(s)differs | Spanish (official); English common in south tourist zones CIA World Factbook — Spain (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Spanish (official); English in south tourist areas CIA World Factbook — Spain (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Spanish (official); English in resort towns CIA World Factbook — Spain (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Car necessitydiffers | Highly recommended — limited inter-town transit outside Santa Cruz metro; steep terrain in north TITSA — Tenerife public bus operator (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Recommended — GC-1 motorway links Las Palmas to south; interior villages need a car Guaguas Municipales — Las Palmas bus network (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Essential — spread-out resorts; limited bus network outside Arrecife corridor Ayuntamiento de Arrecife — transport (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Taxes | |||
| Top income tax rate | 45% combined marginal ceiling (state + Canarias regional, 2025) Agencia Tributaria — Spanish IRPF (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | 45% combined marginal ceiling (state + Canarias regional, 2025) Agencia Tributaria — Spanish IRPF (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | 45% combined marginal ceiling (state + Canarias regional, 2025) Agencia Tributaria — Spanish IRPF (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Income tax bands | Same Spanish state IRPF scale as mainland (9.5%–23.5% slices). Canarias autonomic rates are lower than most regions — roughly 8.5%–23% regional surcharge. Special IGIC (VAT) rate 7% and ZEC corporate incentives do not replace personal income tax. Personal minimum and deductions per Agencia Tributaria rules. Agencia Tributaria — Spanish IRPF (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Same Spanish state IRPF scale as mainland (9.5%–23.5% slices). Canarias autonomic rates are lower than most regions — roughly 8.5%–23% regional surcharge. Special IGIC (VAT) rate 7% and ZEC corporate incentives do not replace personal income tax. Personal minimum and deductions per Agencia Tributaria rules. Agencia Tributaria — Spanish IRPF (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 | Same Spanish state IRPF scale as mainland (9.5%–23.5% slices). Canarias autonomic rates are lower than most regions — roughly 8.5%–23% regional surcharge. Special IGIC (VAT) rate 7% and ZEC corporate incentives do not replace personal income tax. Personal minimum and deductions per Agencia Tributaria rules. Agencia Tributaria — Spanish IRPF (opens in new tab) · verified 2026-06-11 |
| Transport | |||
| Ferry linksdiffers | Gran Canaria (~2.5 hr (Fred Olsen / Armas)) — Fred Olsen Express / Naviera Armas | Tenerife (~2.5 hr) — Fred Olsen Express / Naviera Armas | Gran Canaria (~8 hr (overnight) or flight ~45 min) — Naviera Armas / Binter Canarias |
Shareable URL: /compare?islands=tenerife,gran-canaria,lanzarote&passport=US&view=family
Canary Islands for families — school list and summaries
School tuition and healthcare access change. Verify with schools and providers directly. Disclaimer