Switching hectic UK life for sunny Spanish island while cutting monthly rent by £2.3k if you're a remote worker - an ideal shift, indeed.
New and Improved:
Soaking up the sunset, a beach stroll with his partner and their five-year-old son, Ruben Diegz revels in the balmy breeze, the sweet sounds of the beach, and precious family time. But this idyllic scene isn't a vacation - they left the hustle and bustle of Britain behind four years prior, settling in Gran Canaria, Spain's Canary Islands, to chase their dream of island living and lower living expenses.
The Diegz family calls home a spacious four-bedroom villa-style apartment boasting stunning sea views, nestled in the heart of Maspalomas. Located just 150 miles off the coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are renowned among Brits for their cobalt blue skies, towering palm trees, and volcanic sand beaches.
In this tropical paradise, a pint costs about £1.50, cappuccinos average £1.40, and fresh seafood is plentiful. The family happily shells out £700 a month for their swanky apartment, which boasts an open-plan rooftop garden and balcony for sunset suppers. That's a third of the cost of a one-bedroom flat in London, which hovers around £2,000 a month, and £2,300 less than a similarly-sized property in Woking, their former home.
Ruben, 40, beams as he shares their/his happiness: "It was a snap decision, a life-altering one, but I knew it was the right thing for my family." The family now calls the Canary Islands their home, raising their son in a sub-tropical haven where the sun shines 300 days a year. Making the move was a breeze, packing up taking longer but worth the effort.
"Everyone is more relaxed and less stressed here," Ruben explains. "The best thing is our son is having an island upbringing." Dubbed a "miniature continent" and home to nearly 300,000 expats, Gran Canaria is the third-largest of the Spanish Canaries and one of the best places in Spain for British expats, lured by the balmy weather and cheap rent.
Maspalomas offers living costs that are half as affordable as London. In 2023, Gran Canaria welcomed a record-breaking 947,449 British tourists, a number expected to top a million this year. Airline company staffer Lisa and Ruben, who runs an online e-commerce business, have been together since 2010. They flew to Gran Canaria in March 2021, escaping lockdown and longing for a sun-drenched holiday.
Ruben reminisces, "Just flying out for a break was a huge relief. While we were there, a new lockdown began, and we were stuck on the island. Thankfully, both Lisa and I were able to work remotely." After six dreamy months in an Airbnb, they decided to ditch their stressful life in Woking for a less hectic one in Gran Canaria.
Known as an island archipelago paradise, the Canary Islands offerexpats a laid-back lifestyle, affordable housing, and a bounty of fresh produce. The family spends £90 a week on supermarket shopping, with milk costing 87p a liter, fresh bakery bread going for £1, and a dozen eggs costing £2.38. The couple enjoys eating out at local restaurants three times a week, with a three-course meal for two costing less than £40. A local beer is £1.15, while locally produced wine is £4.82 a bottle in the supermarket.
Gran Canaria is a hotspot for digital nomads, with a 29% increase in the number of digital nomads flocking to the island between 2021 and 2023. The family notes that joining local sports groups is an excellent way to meet other expats and find a new community. Ruben plays football with an expat team every Tuesday and Thursday, and the couple also plays Padel. The high education standard is another big draw for British expats, with Lisa's son attending a local international school for half the price of a British nursery.
The family's new lifestyle allows them to enjoy more quality time together and focus on their wellbeing. Since the move, Ruben's stress-induced alopecia has vanished. The couple knows they've made the right choice: "Living in Britain at home seems like a blur now - we're focused on sunshine, island living, and a better quality of life."
- Ruben, Lisa, and their son Ruben enjoy a fashion-and-beauty-conscious lifestyle, often dining out three times a week at local restaurants in Gran Canaria.
- The affordability of home-and-garden essentials, such as milk costing 87p a liter and fresh bakery bread going for £1, has improved their food-and-drink expenses.
- The transition to island living in Gran Canaria has allowed the family to foster stronger relationships, with Ruben playing football with an expat team every Tuesday and Thursday, and joining local sports groups being an excellent way to meet fellow expats.
