A man recently visited Tenerife but was left completely floored by the cost of living. According to him, he can’t believe how different it is to living in the UK
A British man who ventured to Tenerife on holiday has been completely floored by the cost of living. He recently opened up about the matter in a TikTok video, as he can’t believe just how differently prices compare when shopping in the travel hotspot.
The man, known as deebolar, said the UK “no longer makes sense to him”, after he visited Tenerife. After spending a day exploring the area, he instantly began to notice a major difference between life in the UK, as he said there’s a huge contrast when it comes to the prices of popular every day essentials.
He said: “I’ve been here for 24 hours, and this supermarket is my best friend, bro. For context, €1 is 85p, so you’re seeing €1 here for like two plus litres of Fanta, Coke, 7up.
“I mean, it’s off-brand, but who gives a toss? It’s like 70p/80p – those bottles are like 50p. And eight litres of water for €1.50 – that’s like £1.20, bro.
“[The] UK is not seeing me again, that might be six Desperados for €1.71. It might be one as well, I ain’t got a clue. Anyways, look at this, eight litres of water, two litres of Fanta, look at the price – €2.39.”
Showing some goods on a table to the camera, he added: “Everything on this table, probably like £5 or £6 at most. I’m telling you, it’s nuts.”
The clip was captioned: “I have to go back to the cost of living crisis after this”, and the video has captured the attention of many. However, some people thought he needed to know some vital information.
One said: “Canary Islands have the lowest salary of Spain. This isn’t the paradise you think. Our rents are more than half our salary.” Another wrote: “Cheap for you. Unfortunately, Spanish salaries are every day lower because we pay more taxes and prices are increasing.”
A third replied, saying: “Nowhere is objectively cheap in this world. What is cheap for you might be expensive for the locals. This applies everywhere.”
Someone else asked: “Which supermarket is this? Going next week.” A fith also replied: “UK is expensive. Spain is cheaper, always.”
According to EasyFX, some Brits view Tenerife as an “appealing alternative” to the UK, as some see the cost of living as an attractive reason to move abroad. It states: “On average, rent in Tenerife is considerably cheaper than in the UK.
“A one-bedroom apartment in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, typically costs between €500 and €700 (£415 – £580) per month, compared to the £1,200 to £1,500 minimum you would have to spend to rent an apartment in London, for example.
“Like most places in Europe, the cost of renting in Tenerife will vary depending on the location and property type you decide on. Popular areas like Santa Cruz, and La Laguna and tourist hotspots such as Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje tend to have higher rental prices.
“For those who prefer to cook at home, Tenerife’s grocery prices are another highlight and much more affordable than the UK. Supermarkets such as Mercadona, Hiperdino and Lidl, offer competitive prices, while local markets provide fresh produce and regional specialties at great rates.
“Shopping at farmer’s markets throughout Tenerife can yield even fresher produce at lower prices, making it an attractive option if you want to stick to a budget without compromising on quality.”
Meanwhile, the average salary in Tenerife is thought to come in at around €32,239 (£27,849.18) per year, with skilled professions like healthcare, education and technical fields generally bringing in between €1,500 (£1,295.75) and €2,000 (£1,727.63) per month. Even though the Canary Islands’ wages have increased a lot since 1978, they are still said to fall behind the Spanish national average.